Character Personalities

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Last semester I was enrolled in probably the hardest class of my college career: Marketing 300. While the concepts of marketing are interesting, the way it was presented in this course was only slightly more interesting than doing laundry, and this, paired with the fact that the professor was an incurable braggart made the class nearly impossible.

That being said, there was one single part of the class that actually turned out to be very helpful. One assignment for the course was to take the online VALS survey to discover our marketing personality (of which there are four according to the survey) and in doing this I discovered a truly helpful way to test the characters I was creating. By taking the survey and answering the questions the way I thought my characters would I found a concrete way of making sure my characters remained consistent throughout. The survey results would also give me an interesting character summary to stick to.

So try it out some time! Take one of your characters, go to http://www.strategicbusinessinsights.com/vals/surveynew.shtml, fill out the survey based on the character analysis you've already done, and see what you come up with.

Inspirational Rules for Writing Courtesy of P.D. James

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P.D. James, award winning novelist and author of several books including The Children of Men and Innocent Blood, has compiled a list of her five "Rules for Writing," and while there are MANY of these lists out there, I found hers to be incredibly inspirational. So take them in, embrace them, or even disreguard them and create a list of your own, but appreciate the fact that there are always ways for you to grow as a writer should you take the time to do so!

1. Increase your word power. Words are the raw material of our craft. The greater your vocabulary the more ­effective your writing. We who write in English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the world. Respect it.

2. Read widely and with discrimination. Bad writing is contagious.

3. Don't just plan to write – write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.

4. Write what you need to write, not what is currently popular or what you think will sell.

5 Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other ­people. Nothing that happens to a writer – however happy, however tragic – is ever wasted.

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Idea? Check. Characters? Check. World? Check. Story?

After much work, planning, and brainstorming you’re finally ready to write your novel, right? The answer: almost. Some experienced writers say that some of their best work is the result of impulse writing or drafting without plans and allowing the characters to end up where they may. While this is definitely an admirable method of crafting a novel, for us first-timers it might prove to be a little trickier than that. Without a plan, writer’s block can set in pretty thoroughly, and for a first-time author it can be the barrier that keeps you from finishing your manuscript.

To combat what I like to call the “15,000 Word Wall,” or the point at which I had my first writing crisis: Chapter 4, Page 1, word 15,032, I suggest you at least create for yourself a brief outline based on the chapters you want to write, how long they should be, and the major plot-points  you want them to contain. You don’t have to stick to this, but it is definitely helpful to have something to go back to when you just don’t know what to say next.

A few outline basics are:

1. Number of Chapters.
This can really become a useful list of goals as you attempt to finish your novel, and telling yourself that you want to write at least 10 chapters acts as an excellent motivator.

2. Key moments.
Designating a few key moments  to happen in each of you chapters as well as making a list of back-up of events for moments of writer’s block is also a great idea.

3. Character Arcs .
You know where you want your story to end and where you characters will be when that end is reached, but you should be careful that you don’t lose some of your characters along the way just to have them reappear at their designated ending when your novel concludes. To achieve this, jot down individual storylines for each character. You should avoid introducing flat characters just to move your main character along. If they’re present, give them purpose and guidance, let them be a part of the story as it evolves.

With all of this mapped out, you really won’t ever feel lost as to what your next move should be, and avoiding that discouragement can go a long way towards seeing your novel through to the end! You should be excited about unveiling each key moment every time you sit down to write and deciding in advance what these moments will be and when they will occur can only help your progress along.

World; universe: everything that exists anywhere

Now that you have undoubtedly crafted several characters that are sure to entice and entertain your readers, it’s time to give them life. Right now your characters exist only in your mind as thinking, feeling beings and the next step to crafting your tale is to give them a place, a world, where they can share their personalities.

Based on your genre and storyline brainstorming you probably have an idea about what this world will entail, but now it’s time to examine that world from every angle and carve a niche for each of your characters to exist in.

I could go on for pages and pages about the specifics involved in this process, but because there are so many possible unique genres and individual worlds they can encompass I think it’s best to cover a couple of broad tidbits of advice. Remember, these are just a few ideas to get you started, they are in no way all-inclusive, and I urge you to take from them what you choose and add or alter them to your liking!

1. World Generation.
If you are creating a world within your writing that is completely unique, remember that readers will have millions of questions about every little detail. So, if your main characters are the Timindi people who live in the mystical world of Yrdnual that exists through the invisible portal behind every washer and dryer, you better be prepared to describe their looks, where and how they live, what they eat, what they do for fun, etc. These worlds can be incredibly fun to create, but also very taxing, so prepare for an imagination workout should you choose to undertake the generation of a new world. If this is the route you are choosing, I would create a notebook full of the ideas you wish to represent in your writing as well as questions your audience might have and your answers for them.

2. World Description.
In order for readers to become immersed in your characters’ lives, it helps for them to be able to visualize the character’s surroundings. Because of this, it is wise to give a pretty good description  somewhere early on in your writing. This is by no means something that must be done as there are several examples of novels where minimal description  is used to the readers advantage. If they are given no details, they have the opportunity to completely create the world in their minds. It all depends on the demographic your novel is catering too. The best advice I can give is to examine those novels you wish to emulate and take note of some of the methods they employ as far as description is concerned.

Forget the Legos, It’s Time for Some Character Building!

Just like those towering contraptions we used to construct out of Legos as kids, crafting a novel is very much a work in progress. The tools you have and the ideas you have come up with are those blocks to be stacked, and the glue that holds them together includes all of your characters. You can’t have a plot readers will enjoy without first having compelling characters for them to relate to in some way.

Your newest task in the novel-writing process is to get to know the characters, or the people you want living in the world you are manufacturing. I really haven’t found a sure-fire formula for doing this, but I think any reader and aspiring writer knows what works and what doesn’t. Some possible methods for achieving such characters include:

1. Establish the number of characters  your story will focus on. Keep in mind that in order to help your readers become attached to your characters they must empathize with them. If the reader can become entangled with the life of a character, feel their feelings, and genuinely worry about their fate, their enjoyment of your story will be amplified.

2. One effective way to help readers to feel for your characters is to build your character with depth. Rather than a skeleton, give readers the flesh and blood version. This can be accomplished through back-story , but the most accessible characters are those that grow with the story and allow readers to learn a little bit about themselves at every turn.

3. One idea for achieving this involves something I have already talked about: brainstorming. Divide pieces of paper into four squares and in each square write the name of a character you want to bring to life. Underneath the name list a DETAILED description. In this description, you should include: age/birthday, nicknames, favorite food, fears, desires, habits (bad or good), hobbies, skills, weaknesses, personality traits  (organized, motivated, sloppy, hot-headed, etc…), and everything else you can think of.

4. Use your descriptions to really get to know your characters, and by the time you go to write their first scene you will know without hesitation what they would do. If you develop them clearly enough, it will be as though they were standing right beside you whispering answers in your ear.

5. Lastly, don’t be afraid to make your characters flawed. Not only are flawed characters more entertaining, they are easier to write as well.

Brainstorm, Brainstorm, Brainstorm

Now that you analyzed yourself to the point of no return, you’ve hopefully come up with an general idea for what you would like to write. Let’s say you’ve decided to write a romance novel about a former zoo-keeper who must find a way to rescue her favorite monkey from captivity. You’ve found a way to combine some of your interests, and now all you need is to develop your storyline. Some Brainstorming methods I have come across that have worked for me include:

1. Free writing.
I know we’ve all been forced to use this method in some form or another since we started grade school, but there is a reason for that—it works. Just sit down, start writing and don’t stop. Even if the bulk of what you’ve written is completely nonsensical, I can guarantee that there will be some nugget of genius tucked within the gibberish that you will be able to use. It might even be the once sentence that inspires you to write an entire chapter.

2. Journal.
If you already keep a journal , look through what you’ve already written. Is there a particular passage you find funny, interesting, saddening, maddening? Is it something you can elaborate on or create a story around? It can be an amazing catharsis to write about key moments in your life and analyze them. What would happen if you’d said something different? What if you’d have been sick that day and missed the experience entirely. These real-life adventures can make for even better stories, and best of all, you can alter them any way you want to. Give your arch-enemies their comeuppances or crown yourself homecoming queen; the decisions are all yours to make!

If you don’t journal, I really suggest you start. If writing is something that interests you, journaling is an excellent way to practice. Besides, looking back at old entries can be entertaining, enlightening, and really helpful when want to flesh out a character in your novel.

3. Observe and Record.
This method really works for me, but I think it mostly has to do with the fact that I am an incurable daydreamer. Every little thing sets me off. Whether it’s a broken doorknob in a university classroom or a person with a casted leg walking down the hall, I often find myself crafting stories about them. What if a student crept in and slept overnight in the classroom with the broken knob? Would they be able to make it through the night without being discovered? Why are they there in the first place? Before I know it, I have an entire storyline floating around in my head, and if you simply teach yourself to be observant this could really work for you too!

Just as easily as I get these ideas, however, they can disappear. So, for creativities sake, I carry around a spare notebook and write these ideas down when I get the chance. Sometimes I look back at them and realize they are utterly ridiculous, but every once in a while a good one will stick.

Just remember, jotting down a funny story or scene that you’ve witnessed or summarizing a conversation you’ve overheard or were part of takes all of five minutes and can become infinitely useful in the long-run.

Go ahead! Get out there and try one or more of these out and let me know how it works for you! Also, be sure to let us know of any other methods you find useful!

So You’ve Decided to Write a Book, Now What?

Now that you have decided to sit down and write a novel, one of the most difficult parts is out of the way. Oftentimes, finding the motivation to start a project can be the hardest step, and now that you have done it things can only go up!

So you’ve decided to write a book, now what? Well the first thing you need is an idea, so ask yourself these questions:

1. What am I interested in?
Do you have a hobby  or are you passionate or knowledgeable about something in particular?

2. What do I enjoy reading?
When it comes to writing, it’s definitely important to choose a topic that you have a lot to say about. If you absolutely can’t stand sports, it’s probably a bad idea to write a novel where the main character is a professional athlete.

Look at the novels you enjoy reading. Do you enjoy diving into mysteries and solving crimes, or are you more likely to swoon over a good romance novel? The best advice for this particular area is to write what you know and, most of all, write about something you would enjoy reading yourself.

3. Is there are particular genre I would like to be a part of? (Science Fiction, Supernatural, Romance, Comedy, Mystery, etc…)
When it comes time to get your completed manuscript published, the genre  and target audience  will become incredibly important, so while you are thinking about what type of novel you would like to write, try to keep these things in mind. You might enjoy fugitive apprehension and animal grooming, but will you be able to write about these topics in a way that will be inviting and entertaining to readers? If you can, then go for it!

Next, take these answers and use them as a basic guide for developing your ideas as you BRAINSTORM, BRAINSTORM, BRAINSTORM!

"Yeah, I have a website, OK, it's more of a blog, and yeah I've haven't been on it in a while..."

Writing a novel is a HUGE undertaking and I'm sure very few authors knew what they were getting into when they sat down and wrote their hearts out. Now, a novel isn't just a story, it's a product, and an author isn't just a writer, she's a sales executive. Here's a funny video I came across the other day that really exemplifies what we're all getting ourselves into. So fire up those Twitters, Facebooks, blogs, and Youtube pages and prepare for the day when they become less of a source for mindless entertainment and more of an integral aspect of getting your book noticed!

Dream Big, Little Girl

We all have a list, a list of things we want to accomplish before it becomes too late, and if your list is like mine, it can look a little overwhelming. For the past four years I have slowly been making my way through my life’s list, and I am finally at the task that I am most excited about: writing a novel. So far, this has been one of the most difficult of my undertakings which have run the gamut from conquering my fear of roller-coasters to getting a full-ride to college.

This goal is one that I am most excited to accomplish, and if, like me, you have always wanted to sit down and try your hand at writing a book, I will be sharing with you everything I have learned from my experience thus far. Like most of you, completing a novel is something I have never successfully attempted before, so to get through it in one piece I relied heavily on the support of my friends, family, and professors who helped me to battle one of my arch-enemies, procrastination.

So in the spirit of anti-procrastination, let’s get started! In this blog you can look forward to tales of triumph, tragedy, and a few motivational tidbits here and there to help you along the way as you plan, prepare, and attempt to get your manuscripts published.

“And by the way, everything in life is writable if you have the outgoing guts to do it and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” Sylvia Plath