.

After making my worksheets on character development, I decided, let’s try it out. For my main character who I felt that I didn’t know well enough, it appears that behold! I do actually know her. In fact, I know quite a bit. Whew! And the worksheet has just served to help me see what I already knew and now I can hopefully carry it through a little better than I was. So, it looks like I may have another edit coming. On the other hand, I think it will be quite useful in learning who my characters are in a piece I am just starting.

One thing that sort of jumped out at me with the worksheet was the whole ‘ethnic background’ context surrounding the character and its influence on making them who they are. This is something that I have not thought about. I suppose because in real life, it isn’t something that I take into account. I don’t look at my friends and say, ‘”Ah, yes. That would be their German heritage influencing their behaviour right now.” I suppose, really, I know very little about the different ethnicities and the behaviours, attitudes and philosophies that come with them. Is that because of the wonderful melting pot that Canada is? Out my way, are we just a mish-mash of humanness?

In a lot of ways, I think we are quite removed from our ethnicities. For example, I have Irish, Scottish and Finnish heritages. But I don’t think they particularly influence me–at least not in a large, noticeable way. I think there are much, much larger influences in my life. For example, the way other kids treated me in elementary school has influenced my attitudes and behaviours a lot more than my ethnicity.

So, despite my lack of awareness in regards to ethnicity, it is an interesting part of the character development study.

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Where have I been?

Well, I’ve been to London to visit the queen. Well, no. Actually I went on a nice trip and exhausted myself with lots of people watching, ocean viewing, geocaching and hanging out with family.

Anyway, while I was gone, I did submit the odd blog post as I read The Stranger, a bit more of Linda Seger’s book, Creating Unforgettable Characters, and I also came up with about a zillion story ideas as I watched all sorts of interesting characters. If you ever feel blocked, just try people watching. Wow. There are some excellent characters out there–especially if you let your imagination run wild.

Anyway, as I read through the first chapter of Seger’s book, I decided to make myself a worksheet that would help me develop the context for my future characters as well as to solidify some of my current characters that need a little more depth. Then as I was forming the worksheet, I thought, well, why not share it? So, if you are interested in developing your characters a bit, check it out. The worksheet focuses on things like social background, religious background, education and occupation. I have posted the worksheet in my favourite stuff area over on my main page. Feel free to use it, adapt it and share it.

Tags: character development, worksheets, writing by Jean
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I am quickly easing my way through The Stranger by Albert Camus. It was recommended by Noah Lukeman in his book as something to read through to study narration. And it is an interesting, bare bones narration that is devoid of the usual emotional involvement. This is astonishing, not because I usually read chick lit which is chalk full of emotion, but because emotional events are happening to this man and he seems more concerned with the heat. For example, his mother dies, his girlfriend asks him to marry him, he witnesses abuse, and he shoots a man. And he is rather removed from it all.

So who is this guy? How can he be so indifferent and polite about what is happening in his life? For example, when asked if he was nervous about being on trial, he says ‘no’ as “the prospect of witnessing a trial rather interested me; I’d never had occasion to attend one before.” In a move of genius, Camus doesn’t let on why the protagonist is so removed until you are hooked into the story.

It is true that I am not yet finished the book and that the protagonist is starting to show some emotion during his trial, but his emotions are in relation to others. For example, he feels emotion when he realises that everyone in the courtroom despises him and when he realises that the pimp is indeed his friend. That’s what makes him emotional. Otherwise, he seems to be a ’stranger’ to his emotions and to himself.

Intriguing, very intriguing and how he manages to convey it all so simply and with so few words.

Tags: writing by Jean
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Linda Seger, in her book on Character Development recommends you do some old fashioned people watching.

Therefore, since I am out and about where there are lots of people at the moment, this is a perfect opportunity. On the ferry the other day, I studied some people and slipped into an old game of trying to figure them out. What kind of house do they live in, what do they do, how did they meet their significant other, what is strange or unique about them and the like. So, I saw this serious looking woman who had made herself at home on the ferry, kicking off her shoes and leaning back in the sunshine, etc. She seemed like a tough sort of a woman who wouldn’t take any guff. I was dying to find out what she was reading as she seemed to be taking it very seriously. Was it Smithsonian? Was it a magazine related to her work? Know what it was? She pulled off her red reading glasses, tucked her grey hair back and swiveled in her seat and closed…a celebrity gossip magazine! What? Hmm…maybe that is the idiosyncrasy in her character? (I’m supposed to watch for those too.)

So like in the Jack Johnson song, this week, “I’m just people watching…”

Tags: writing by Jean
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Here is a quote that I would like to share from Noah Lukeman:

…writers are often unwilling to sketch out the action or events of their work in advance; instead they progress by instinct, relying on either vague plot ideas or the characters themselves to answer all their questions. This often works partially but not completely, and can result in alternate bouts of progression and stasis (”fast” and “slow” sections), can result in a general lack of maintained progression and in an ending lack culmination.

 I hear you! This is what I like to call the Panster Method.

Panster alone ends in focus and progression problems for me. But using the Plotster Method (outline and details laid out before you write) alone ends in drab. Where is the fun? You’ve already told the story in your little plotting notebook. Where is there to go from there?

BUT if, you combine the two forces you can end up with something that needs very little editing and is still fun to write. I like to call it the Plotster-Pantster Combo. And by very little editing, I mean less wholesale yanking sections in and out and rewriting half the thing and end up hating it so much you would throttle it if you could. Instead, you end up just hating it. So, if you are like me and are going to hate whatever it is that you write by the time it reaches the ‘good stage’ anyway, try the plotster-panster combo.

So, you ask, what exactly is this plotster-pantster combo? Well, I am glad you asked. This combo involves a little work upfront, but still holds its fun factor. You need to do a bit of character work ahead of time as well as a bit of a plot highlights. Once you have the basics down–a foundation of sorts–you can go to town with your pantster writing. You’ve got the plotster part down, so go for it. You can always add a sunroom on in mid-build, but it isn’t likely that you will have to move the basement!

Yay! Let’s hear it for the plotster-pantster combo!

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I figured out what is wrong with one of the beginnings to one of my manuscripts. I’m not leading anywhere fast enough. I keep yammering on about the same things, trying to show a certain bit about my one character and instead don’t progress the story enough. That could also be why one agent thought the story wasn’t particularly original. Well, yeah, you’re right. I can see it now, I keep having the protagonist and her friend moan on and on. After the comment, I realised where the problem was, but I didn’t know the name until last night when I read this chapter instead of sleeping.

The plot, however, I feel is original. So, that means I can go in there and do some rewriting and I can fix it. I think.

I’m like the little train that could. I think I can. I think I can.

But, I need to wait awhile. Otherwise all my characters will be murdered wholesale. It will be a virtual slaughterhouse and I will be reduced to Lady MacBeth type behaviours. “Out damn spot!” Although, I’ll be more like, “Out damn paragraph!” and “Out you bloody fool! OUT!”

Hey! It sounds like time to work on my new project again! Either that or read the book I just got on character development, as that will likely help that progression issue. Because really, I think it is the root of the progression problem. I fear that I am not illustrating just how hard up this character is for a good man, thus my need to hammer away scene after scene on this same issue. And thus the plot doesn’t get to progress. And honestly, I would hate to have to fix this type of problem AGAIN in a newer project. So I may as well learn how to avoid it before I do it again.

Still on the subject of progression, I fear (with a different manuscript) that I am not making the readers work hard enough for the story, and that I am just handing it to them. “Here you go folks. It’s like cotton candy. You don’t even have to chew.” Sweet, dude.

So, I suppose it is back to the books again, eh? It’s a good thing I just finished three books this week. (Big Bonedby Meg Cabot. And yes, Heather FINALLY gets Cooper. Thank god. I can hold off on having that aneurysm. I am one chapter away from finishing As Seen on TVwhich has been predictable, but unpredictable and good. And sadly, I am now at the end of my Lukeman Overhaul as I have now, officially, finished The First Five Pages. <Sob> That book, if I ever get published, will definitely be the reason why. If you are a writer–go buy it. Seriously. Now. Go.)

Tags: books, writing by Jean
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What impression do you want to make? Which details will you choose in your setting to make this impression? I’m paraphrasing Lukeman here, but I find these two ideas to be very helpful. And man, there are a lot of things to think about when writing a scene. One day, I am sure it will all be second nature, but until then, I guess I will have a lot of sticky notes pasted around the desk.

The idea of setting and details and which impression you want to make reminds me of getting ready for a job interview. There was this one time where I wanted a job as a librarian. So, I figured, if I want to get this job, I need to dress the part. I need to create the impression that I AM a librarian. So, I put on my most serious long brown skirt and a plain white silk blouse along with this awful brown vest. It was a very ‘librarian’. I drove there in my little car that was plastered with stickers and all painted up with flowers. I parked it down the street and walked in and got the job. I made the librarian impression that I wanted to make. I guess when they figured out who I really was, it was too late. Not to say that I was dishonest, because I wasn’t. But what I did was give them a visual impression. I created the right setting.

I guess that is why when I threatened to break someone’s legs (in jest) a good year or so later, they were shocked and surprised. That first impression held more strongly than the accurate one that I let slip out over time. So, I suppose, be careful what impression you create with your characters and settings because the first one sticks. From this chapter, I really liked the idea of the setting interacting and affecting what is going on in the story. Sometimes, as a person who is not particularly visual, I forget to clue the reader into things like climate, character appearances and the like. Therefore, when I have a thin setting, it isn’t able to interact and participate. I do think I am getting better at it though. For example, a TV ending up being the stimulus for relationship break-up. A couch becoming a physical barrier. That sort of thing.  However, in some cases, I think I could fall into some ruts. Twice, I have had a character slip on ice while wearing heels and have a guy catch her. The only time that happened in real life to me, my car caught me, not the guy. (Dang.)  

Part of me feels that there can be too many details which can detract from the story. Where is the balance? I suppose it all comes back to the whole focus chapter where everything adds up to the whole. If it doesn’t have a purpose, leave it out. If it doesn’t add to the cumulative effect you want, cut it. So where is the balance? When you get your head into your work, it can be hard to tell what is important and what isn’t after awhile. Details help solidify the overall impression and ground the reader in what is happening, but which ones? Which ones are doing the adding up to someone who is reading for the first time and doesn’t know what is going to happen? Tough stuff. I guess that’s why I’m not bored yet, there is so much to learn and it is different every day.

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Guess what?

In my first ever writing contest, I placed 6th! Wow! I know it is 6th and not in the top three, but it feels like I have climbed Everest and am happily, blissfully even, staring at the beautiful world before me! I couldn’t be happier! I am so proud of myself!

I submitted the first scene of There’s No Place Like Home a month ago and pretty much forgot about it, believing that the scene stunk. Okay, not really. I liked it when I sent it off, but since a round of editing on the manuscript after entering the contest, I have developed a hate relationship with that piece. Seriously, I hate it. I hate all of my writing right now. I think it is a great time to go on vacation–which I will be in a few days. Thank goodness for a well-timed break!

Anyway, word came back today and I got 6th! 6th! In the Grand Beginnings contest. Wow! You are only allowed to submit the first five pages. One judge gave me 56 out of 60! Wa!!! The other judge, well, not so much. But still! The one judge said if she was in the store and she read those pages she would have bought the book in order to find out what happened. Wow.

I looked at the contest website again and I think I was one point off having an industry professional judge my opening. Wow. So close. So close, I can practically taste it. And judging by the way it smells, it is going to taste waaaaay better than chicken. And I like chicken.

The agent who rejected a different story last week gave me some brief feedback which indicated that I had a good hook. One of the judges also said that this story had a good hook. Thank the lord! I can hook! The writing gig doesn’t seem so bleak and difficult right now. I can do this! I really can!

Ahhhhh….

Tags: writing by Jean
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I was recently asked something along the lines of what do I think makes a writer? Is it a natural predisposition? Is it a nature thing or a nurture thing? Are good writers born or is it a technical/mechanical thing? Is writing an art or a science?

I thought it was a great bunch of questions that got me thinking. I also have about a million different answers for each of the questions–which indicates that I really don’t know! Anyway, I’ve posted some of my thoughts here:

Do you really want to open to the nature vs. nurture can of worms? I felt that a great deal of the nature vs nurture argument was bunk before I had a child. I felt that the ‘nature’ aspect was a bunch of anomalies gathered together to make an argument. Now, not so much. There is a lot more to the ‘nature’ aspect of the argument than I would like to admit. There is some gender stuff that is totally nature that gets my feminist hackles up. But we won’t go down that path.

As for writers and nature vs nurture? Well, honestly I have never thought about it. Possibly certain dispositions lend themselves to ‘better’ writing. But then we could get philosophical and ask what is ‘better’? I think everyone can write. Some are just able to express themselves in a ‘better’ or more ‘pleasing’ way that makes sense and is able to reach others on more than a superficial level. This is where the mechanical/technical aspect comes in. Although I could naturally express myself from a young age (language development tends to be a female thing–stupid nature argument coming into play here), my mechanical/technical aspects probably needed help. I think to a certain extent, this can be taught (nurture). But like anything, some are able to grasp this quickly, some are ‘born’ with it (nature?) whereas others can’t ever really achieve the ‘flow’. I guess, really, when it comes down to it, writing is like anything else. Some are good at football, some are good at fixing things, others writing. (Among the zillion other things people can be good at.)

I believe that writing is art grounded in science. If it is merely a science, it is nothing but words. Meaningless. If it is simply art, again, meaningless. You need to combine the two to make something truly dynamic.

What do you think?

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Hey there.

I am playing with the blog’s theme again. Slowly, things will shape up and change, so if you see some strange things, fear not. So things will shape up or I will discard the whole thing and start over. (Again.) I wanted to pull my banner into the blog, but I’m having trouble finding a suitable theme to bastardize. My hacking skills when it comes to code is very limited.

 Hang in there and let me know what you think of the new theme/look.

Tags: blogs, website development by Jean
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