So... now don't get too mad with me. Alright, I don't have a good excuse, but I know this time it was a really long time. Sorry. But, because of my absence it gave me an idea for a post.
You have that secondary character. You absolutely love them, but... you know they aren't adding to the story and they should probably be cut. "No!!! I can't cut my baby", you scream with your notebook/computer clutched to your chest. And so, your favorite Brookie ever is going to give you some tips on how to make your character worthy of staying in the story. Yay for Brookie! Now you're not so mad with her for ditching you, right? Right...?
If you haven't already, give them some backstory. This will automatically make her deeper and more important. After she has some backstory, give her a goal. Now her goal is a key thing here. Give her a goal that in some way crosses with the MC's. Maybe the MC is trying to save the world? Maybe for some reason this character can't let that happen. What if the antagonist is threatening this character's family if she helps the MC? What if she's looking for her lost father and the MC's goal distracts her from that. Use anything. Remember keep your imagination open and once you figure out their backstory don't set it in stone, SC's backstories can add immensely to the MC's. :)
The key thing I believe when creating and developing characters is to make every character the MC. Because that's what they think they are. So treat them like it. Just remember that their goals are the only things that can't be as big as the MC's. Otherwise they start to take over the story. Don't let your love for this character trump your love for your MC's or it's back to the start to completely replot everything. If you really get attached consider writing something on them later.
I am putting up a poll for you all to vote on! So don't forget to check that out before you leave. :)
Do you have any other tips to share? Are you going to tear me apart for being gone so long? Let me know in the comments!
Showing posts with label Just plain writing tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Just plain writing tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Friday, October 24, 2014
Small words are nice, but...
Everyone loves Anne Shirley. But most people disagree with the way she writes. Why use big words when you can use little words?
But I ask, why use little words when you can add some spice to your story using the occasional big word?
Oh my gosh. I just asked you to oppose everything you've read on writing. Using big words is forbidden though, Brooke!
But really, what's the matter with using a mammoth word here or there? The pros tell you to find your characters voice. But then they tell you not to use big words. What then for the geeks, the English majors, the exaggerators? Are they going to be made dull because they aren't allowed to speak the way they normally would?
Also, do we want the future generation to grow up knowing next to nothing? We need to give people a challenge here or there. I dare you to add one big word to every chapter for a week. Then the next week put one on every page. Then if you're really crazy like I am, find a small word, then look up the synonyms and use one of those big ones that you've never either heard of or used.If you don't like it, go back to the small and easy words.
But don't go overboard. I do agree that Anne had a few too many big words. ;) Hide them, make them little gems that only the true readers will find. :)
Do you agree that there should be more big words in our novels? Or maybe you're going to yell at me for filling everyone heads with nonsense?
Brookie
But I ask, why use little words when you can add some spice to your story using the occasional big word?
Oh my gosh. I just asked you to oppose everything you've read on writing. Using big words is forbidden though, Brooke!
But really, what's the matter with using a mammoth word here or there? The pros tell you to find your characters voice. But then they tell you not to use big words. What then for the geeks, the English majors, the exaggerators? Are they going to be made dull because they aren't allowed to speak the way they normally would?
Also, do we want the future generation to grow up knowing next to nothing? We need to give people a challenge here or there. I dare you to add one big word to every chapter for a week. Then the next week put one on every page. Then if you're really crazy like I am, find a small word, then look up the synonyms and use one of those big ones that you've never either heard of or used.If you don't like it, go back to the small and easy words.
But don't go overboard. I do agree that Anne had a few too many big words. ;) Hide them, make them little gems that only the true readers will find. :)
Do you agree that there should be more big words in our novels? Or maybe you're going to yell at me for filling everyone heads with nonsense?
Brookie
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Who am I and what am I doing here?
Or what we're going to address, who is my character and what are they doing in that book?
I like to talk about the MC, but today we'll talk about that character who doesn't know what they're doing.
I have one of those right now. Her name is Sadie, and she's going to marry the MC's brother. But other than that... well, right now she's useless. I will figure it out as soon as November comes. NaNaWriMo people! My first year of the 50,000 word goal. :)
So let's talk about Sadie, and whoever is in your book that needs a job. Let's first ask the question; Do you love them? Do they absolutely have to stay?
No. Then cut them out.
"The moment you write a character who doesn't add to the story, you've written one too many." W. G. James
Yes. Keep reading.
If you can't find the heart to get rid of them then it means work, just to warn you. Give them a bit of a background, it doesn't have to go deep. But what are they passionate about, why and how do they know the MC? Ask yourself the basics, you don't have to go really deep unless... well we'll discus that in a moment. What do they do for a living? Are they going to help or oppose your MC? This is one of the biggies.
Now, can you give them a bit of a twist? What if originally they're the MC's friend, but then towards the end they betray them. Maybe it's not even because they are evil, but they thought doing it this way was best. Or maybe they've got a deep background, what happened before they met the MC? Were they famous? Bullied? An alcoholic? In a gang? What if their past comes to bite them and in the process trips up the MC?
Or do they have something important to share with the MC? Did they get into a similar situation in the past, maybe they have some advice. Use your imagination, it's not just for little kids you know. Now that you're older you can harness it and use it to do what you love, write. :)
What do you think? Anything you'd like to share? Or maybe share an instance where you had a character who at the beginning was a nobody, then turned out to be really important to the story?
P.S. I did get the title from my worldview curriculum if you were wondering.
Brookie
I like to talk about the MC, but today we'll talk about that character who doesn't know what they're doing.
I have one of those right now. Her name is Sadie, and she's going to marry the MC's brother. But other than that... well, right now she's useless. I will figure it out as soon as November comes. NaNaWriMo people! My first year of the 50,000 word goal. :)
So let's talk about Sadie, and whoever is in your book that needs a job. Let's first ask the question; Do you love them? Do they absolutely have to stay?
No. Then cut them out.
"The moment you write a character who doesn't add to the story, you've written one too many." W. G. James
Yes. Keep reading.
If you can't find the heart to get rid of them then it means work, just to warn you. Give them a bit of a background, it doesn't have to go deep. But what are they passionate about, why and how do they know the MC? Ask yourself the basics, you don't have to go really deep unless... well we'll discus that in a moment. What do they do for a living? Are they going to help or oppose your MC? This is one of the biggies.
Now, can you give them a bit of a twist? What if originally they're the MC's friend, but then towards the end they betray them. Maybe it's not even because they are evil, but they thought doing it this way was best. Or maybe they've got a deep background, what happened before they met the MC? Were they famous? Bullied? An alcoholic? In a gang? What if their past comes to bite them and in the process trips up the MC?
Or do they have something important to share with the MC? Did they get into a similar situation in the past, maybe they have some advice. Use your imagination, it's not just for little kids you know. Now that you're older you can harness it and use it to do what you love, write. :)
What do you think? Anything you'd like to share? Or maybe share an instance where you had a character who at the beginning was a nobody, then turned out to be really important to the story?
P.S. I did get the title from my worldview curriculum if you were wondering.
Brookie
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Choosing a name
First I must say I am so sorry. But my excuse will calm your complaining. We found out my dog has Cancer last week. I volunteered to organize sponsoring a child for my youth group. I went on a fast of only going online once a day for a week. And we had guests.
But I am taking some of my precious time and writing you patient people a post. ;)
Today we will talk about choosing a name. Let me just say beforehand that I am not going to give you a bunch of rules like most posts on naming character do.
So...
Rule #1: Always- Just Kidding ;P
Now I like examples so this post will probably have quite a few.
When starting a story you might already have the name or you might just have the plot. But either way most likely you'll change it. I have two WIPs that I'm working on and I've changed both of MC's names. Plus several minor characters names.
One I started out with Bell, then it changed to Bella Quest, (Because I like the name Bella better), then I realized that 'Bella' and 'Quest' both have five letters and apparently that's a big no, no in the writing world. So I decided on Bailey Quest. The last name Quest had really gotten stuck on me and it's also part of the theme. And the 'B' also was something I didn't really want to get rid of.
There is also the 'rule' of why is your character named what they are. Bailey doesn't really have a background to her first name. Robin and all the other characters from Falconston do. They are in a world where they worship birds. So everyone has a name that is somehow connected to birds. Robin, Caique, Sparrow, Blue, and others.
Then from the WIP that Owyn and I are working on together, I have A' Mercy. Her full name is Anna Mercy. Her mother's name was Anna. Her mother was very brave and outgoing, but then she died. A' Mercy is a bit on the shy and quiet side, and she doesn't feel she deserves the name. So she shortened her own to be 'A' Mercy'.
Now see how not every character has some back-story to their name. I don't suggest giving every character something. But I do suggest that you give at least one character in every book you write to have some back-story. And mix it up as much as you'd like. :)
Then we also have the 'rule' of not giving two important characters names with the same amount of letters. I try my best to avoid that one. But it's one that, 'Really? Suck it up, readers.' ;P
Give characters age appropriate names. Don't give the new-born baby a name like Mabel. I personally like the name, but nobody names their kids Mabel anymore. If you're writing historical novels research the most popular names during that period. Not when the book takes place, but when they would have been born.
And lastly, choose a name that you like. If you name your MC Harold, but you don't like the name, do you really think you're going to want to come back to the story? And please use names like John, Josh, and any other popular names to a minimum. ;)
Don't give your character first and last names that have the same amount of letters
Don't give two characters names with the same amount of letters
Give at least one character in each WIP a background to their name (It really is kinda fun)
Give age and era appropriate names
Choose names that you like
But I am taking some of my precious time and writing you patient people a post. ;)
Today we will talk about choosing a name. Let me just say beforehand that I am not going to give you a bunch of rules like most posts on naming character do.
So...
Now I like examples so this post will probably have quite a few.
When starting a story you might already have the name or you might just have the plot. But either way most likely you'll change it. I have two WIPs that I'm working on and I've changed both of MC's names. Plus several minor characters names.
One I started out with Bell, then it changed to Bella Quest, (Because I like the name Bella better), then I realized that 'Bella' and 'Quest' both have five letters and apparently that's a big no, no in the writing world. So I decided on Bailey Quest. The last name Quest had really gotten stuck on me and it's also part of the theme. And the 'B' also was something I didn't really want to get rid of.
There is also the 'rule' of why is your character named what they are. Bailey doesn't really have a background to her first name. Robin and all the other characters from Falconston do. They are in a world where they worship birds. So everyone has a name that is somehow connected to birds. Robin, Caique, Sparrow, Blue, and others.
Then from the WIP that Owyn and I are working on together, I have A' Mercy. Her full name is Anna Mercy. Her mother's name was Anna. Her mother was very brave and outgoing, but then she died. A' Mercy is a bit on the shy and quiet side, and she doesn't feel she deserves the name. So she shortened her own to be 'A' Mercy'.
Now see how not every character has some back-story to their name. I don't suggest giving every character something. But I do suggest that you give at least one character in every book you write to have some back-story. And mix it up as much as you'd like. :)
Then we also have the 'rule' of not giving two important characters names with the same amount of letters. I try my best to avoid that one. But it's one that, 'Really? Suck it up, readers.' ;P
Give characters age appropriate names. Don't give the new-born baby a name like Mabel. I personally like the name, but nobody names their kids Mabel anymore. If you're writing historical novels research the most popular names during that period. Not when the book takes place, but when they would have been born.
And lastly, choose a name that you like. If you name your MC Harold, but you don't like the name, do you really think you're going to want to come back to the story? And please use names like John, Josh, and any other popular names to a minimum. ;)
Don't give your character first and last names that have the same amount of letters
Don't give two characters names with the same amount of letters
Give at least one character in each WIP a background to their name (It really is kinda fun)
Give age and era appropriate names
Choose names that you like
Friday, July 18, 2014
How well do you know your character
I know I've done a very similar post before, but that was quite a while ago, back when we were a very tiny blog. Now we're a tiny bit bigger, so I'll do it again.
How do you get to know your characters? Do you have a folder full of interview questions, or maybe you date your characters like Rachel Coker does.
But I like obstacle courses. I like to take my characters and put them in situations that aren't necessarily in the book, but will give me more of an idea of how they would act at different events. Of course first you need to have at least a basic knowledge of your character's background history. I like to do one for every big scene.
(Note: The obstacle course should be close to your original scene)
You can also do almost prologue scenes. It's a helpful way to know how your characters felt at an important moment that will effect them throughout the book. This is the kind I'll use in the example.
I'll use my latest MC this time.
Basic info:
Name: Bella
Age: 15
Living in: The Colorado mountains
Parents: Mother died, father left
Guardian: Aunt Renee
Siblings: Three brothers, Liam, Jackson, Preston
Faith: Christian
You might want to gather a little more information than that, but this is all I'll use for the example.
Bella snuggled under her covers. She could see the sun just peek his yellow head over the distant horizon. She wondered if her mommy could see it from Heaven.
Bella heard a slam of the gate out front. She jumped from the bed. Daddy wasn't supposed to leave for work for another hour. Maybe he had another headache like he often did in the mornings after Mommy's death and was just heading to the lilac bushes to sooth it. Although she hadn't heard him leave at all last night.
She threw on an old sweatshirt and ran out the front door. The truck was just being started up.
"Daddy wait! You didn't give me my goodbye kiss yet!" Bella ran as fast as her legs could carry her. But her father was already out on the road driving away.
"Dad!" Her big brother Liam raced past her trying to catch the old Ford. "Dad wait! Don't leave. Please!" Liam collapsed on the grass when he realized he couldn't catch him.
"Liam, why is Daddy leaving so early? He didn't kiss me goodbye either." Tears were building in Bella's eyes.
Liam handed her a rumpled note that he had been carrying.
I can't take care of you anymore, I can barely take care of myself. I've been out of a job for months now. Call your Aunt Renee, she'll care for you much better than I did. Liam take good care of your siblings.
~Daddy
Tears streamed down Bella's cheeks. "Why doesn't he love us anymore?"
Liam got up and hugged Bella. "He does, he just doesn't know it," he whispered.
That beautiful, warm sunrise, was now the worst one that would stay in Bella's memory.
Wow. I could have kept writing that scene forever. ;)
So now when I write more scenes I can keep her reaction to this in mind, and it will help me write her so that she is consistent. :)
What methods do you use for getting to know your characters? What do you think of the obstacle course?
Brookie :)
How do you get to know your characters? Do you have a folder full of interview questions, or maybe you date your characters like Rachel Coker does.
But I like obstacle courses. I like to take my characters and put them in situations that aren't necessarily in the book, but will give me more of an idea of how they would act at different events. Of course first you need to have at least a basic knowledge of your character's background history. I like to do one for every big scene.
(Note: The obstacle course should be close to your original scene)
You can also do almost prologue scenes. It's a helpful way to know how your characters felt at an important moment that will effect them throughout the book. This is the kind I'll use in the example.
I'll use my latest MC this time.
Basic info:
Name: Bella
Age: 15
Living in: The Colorado mountains
Parents: Mother died, father left
Guardian: Aunt Renee
Siblings: Three brothers, Liam, Jackson, Preston
Faith: Christian
You might want to gather a little more information than that, but this is all I'll use for the example.
Bella snuggled under her covers. She could see the sun just peek his yellow head over the distant horizon. She wondered if her mommy could see it from Heaven.
Bella heard a slam of the gate out front. She jumped from the bed. Daddy wasn't supposed to leave for work for another hour. Maybe he had another headache like he often did in the mornings after Mommy's death and was just heading to the lilac bushes to sooth it. Although she hadn't heard him leave at all last night.
She threw on an old sweatshirt and ran out the front door. The truck was just being started up.
"Daddy wait! You didn't give me my goodbye kiss yet!" Bella ran as fast as her legs could carry her. But her father was already out on the road driving away.
"Dad!" Her big brother Liam raced past her trying to catch the old Ford. "Dad wait! Don't leave. Please!" Liam collapsed on the grass when he realized he couldn't catch him.
"Liam, why is Daddy leaving so early? He didn't kiss me goodbye either." Tears were building in Bella's eyes.
Liam handed her a rumpled note that he had been carrying.
I can't take care of you anymore, I can barely take care of myself. I've been out of a job for months now. Call your Aunt Renee, she'll care for you much better than I did. Liam take good care of your siblings.
~Daddy
Tears streamed down Bella's cheeks. "Why doesn't he love us anymore?"
Liam got up and hugged Bella. "He does, he just doesn't know it," he whispered.
That beautiful, warm sunrise, was now the worst one that would stay in Bella's memory.
Wow. I could have kept writing that scene forever. ;)
So now when I write more scenes I can keep her reaction to this in mind, and it will help me write her so that she is consistent. :)
What methods do you use for getting to know your characters? What do you think of the obstacle course?
Brookie :)
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Pleasing your reader at the end
I don't know how many of you have finished a novel. Let me first say, I haven't. But I've learned this from personal experience, the ending is no excuse to write in a passive voice.
I just finished a beautiful book called 'The Pearl Maiden'. I loved it. It's based on a Christian girl around 70AD - 80AD. It had romance, war, lots of suffering, and it was historical, I absolutely love anything that will teach me about the past. ;)
Warning, spoiler alert!
Now there was one thing I just couldn't get over, at the end, Marcus and Mariam finally get married in the last chapter. But... they didn't describe the wedding, the most perfect kiss that I had been waiting patiently for the entire book, or anything. I followed them around, watching them get separated time, and time again to get this. Here is what it said about the wedding:
"With the dawn came celebration, for there upon the deck if the ship Luna, Marcus and Miriam, whom the Romans called Pearl Maiden, were wedded by the bishop Cyril. The Centurion Gallus gave the bride in marriage, while the white-haired, fierce-eyed Nehushta stood at their side and blessed them in the name of the dead mother whose command had not been broken."
It didn't even say 'And they lived happily ever after," or "Their kiss that they had waited for, for years was blah, blah, blah" That's all I wanted people, a single kiss at the least! But this is all I get after following them around for 371 pages.
I guess it was written by a guy. But don't guys know that there need to by kisses at the end of a romance?
Anyways, my point is. At the end of your novels, don't take away a pleasure that the reader has been looking forward through the whole thing.
Brookie
I just finished a beautiful book called 'The Pearl Maiden'. I loved it. It's based on a Christian girl around 70AD - 80AD. It had romance, war, lots of suffering, and it was historical, I absolutely love anything that will teach me about the past. ;)
Warning, spoiler alert!
Now there was one thing I just couldn't get over, at the end, Marcus and Mariam finally get married in the last chapter. But... they didn't describe the wedding, the most perfect kiss that I had been waiting patiently for the entire book, or anything. I followed them around, watching them get separated time, and time again to get this. Here is what it said about the wedding:
"With the dawn came celebration, for there upon the deck if the ship Luna, Marcus and Miriam, whom the Romans called Pearl Maiden, were wedded by the bishop Cyril. The Centurion Gallus gave the bride in marriage, while the white-haired, fierce-eyed Nehushta stood at their side and blessed them in the name of the dead mother whose command had not been broken."
It didn't even say 'And they lived happily ever after," or "Their kiss that they had waited for, for years was blah, blah, blah" That's all I wanted people, a single kiss at the least! But this is all I get after following them around for 371 pages.
I guess it was written by a guy. But don't guys know that there need to by kisses at the end of a romance?
Anyways, my point is. At the end of your novels, don't take away a pleasure that the reader has been looking forward through the whole thing.
Brookie
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