Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)

by Lisa Cron

Now it’s your turn to pick a character to develop. If you’re writing a romance, your protagonist’s beloved is a great place to start. If you’re writing a mystery or a thriller, then your best candidate is the bad guy (or spy, or political operative—in essence, your protagonist’s nemesis). If, like Jennie, neither of these apply, look over your list. Is there a character who’s madly waving his or her hand in the air, screaming, Choose me, choose me? If so, go for it. Otherwise, start with the character who will appear first in your novel. Remembering that your goal is to create a character who’ll either challenge or reaffirm your protagonist’s misbelief, ask yourself, What, in general, might this character open my protagonist’s eyes to? Write it down, even if it’s just a wisp of an idea, even if it feels fleeting and wobbly, or cliché.