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writercisesOriginal posting 26 Nov 2010
Your stuffing comes true? Anyway... Hope you all are enjoying Thanksgiving if you celebrate that, Black Friday if you prefer raw consumerism, or just lazing your way into the end of November. Whichever, as we approach the end of nanowrimo, here's a few more words about things that might help you grinding out the stories.
http://community.livejournal.com/writercises/147701.html talks about goals, motivations, conflicts -- the GMC that drives characters, which of course, are at the heart of every story. First, consider various possible categories of goals, such as artistic, attitudes, career, education, family, financial, physical, and even public service. What kind of change or achievement does your character want? When? Why? What makes them desire this, what do they think are the benefits or pay off that they are working toward?
Next, how do they plan to get there? What are all little steps along the way? What are the obstacles or competition? Why can't they just this do it now? What happens if they don't succeed?
And then there's the notion of SMART goals. Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound. Realistic goals that can be achieved.
Lay out those goals. Figure out what drives the characters to achieve them. And then, put obstacles in their path. The story of how your character does in the cross-plot run to achieve their goal, that shining lamp just over the horizon... hey, that's what you want to write, isn't it?
Okay? Just...
WRITE!
Your stuffing comes true? Anyway... Hope you all are enjoying Thanksgiving if you celebrate that, Black Friday if you prefer raw consumerism, or just lazing your way into the end of November. Whichever, as we approach the end of nanowrimo, here's a few more words about things that might help you grinding out the stories.
http://community.livejournal.com/writercises/147701.html talks about goals, motivations, conflicts -- the GMC that drives characters, which of course, are at the heart of every story. First, consider various possible categories of goals, such as artistic, attitudes, career, education, family, financial, physical, and even public service. What kind of change or achievement does your character want? When? Why? What makes them desire this, what do they think are the benefits or pay off that they are working toward?
Next, how do they plan to get there? What are all little steps along the way? What are the obstacles or competition? Why can't they just this do it now? What happens if they don't succeed?
And then there's the notion of SMART goals. Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound. Realistic goals that can be achieved.
Lay out those goals. Figure out what drives the characters to achieve them. And then, put obstacles in their path. The story of how your character does in the cross-plot run to achieve their goal, that shining lamp just over the horizon... hey, that's what you want to write, isn't it?
Okay? Just...
WRITE!
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