NANOWRIMO: Pixar #15: Honestly?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting November 15, 2013

Halfway! That means 25,000 words? More or less? And here's some advice for injecting credibility, making the most incredible, unbelievable, weird situation feel real! Which is probably just what you need as you add more words and head for the home stretch! Right? Here's Pixar:

"#15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations."

Imagine being the character in that situation. How would you feel? Falling out of a zeppelin? Sneaking through the enemy lines? Dancing with the Prince as the clock strikes 12? Whatever the situation, be honest about how that feels. That's what makes it feel real. The emotional reaction, the scramble to understand, trying to figure out what to do... As the character walks us through those very human reactions, we believe there really is magic in the air, a chance to fight for the right, something real underneath the words.

Put yourself in the character's place, and tell us how it feels to be there. Grabbing that dangling rope, looking at a sleeping guard, feeling your ball gown turn into rags... whatever it is, show it to us through the character's eyes and ears and feelings and reactions. And be honest about just how scary some of that stuff is.

Be honest about the relief, the joy, all of those good feelings, too.

Now back to the keyboard, and let's make nanowrimo jump! Words, words, words...