Fiction Writing: How to Capture Your BIG IDEA
I do most of my thinking at night. My mind is like a highway, with one thought leading to another like endless exits to new locations. The bright lights of oncoming traffic are flickers of ideas. Most of them pass by, barely warranting a casual glance. They flash white, and then fade to dull red in the review mirror.
And then it hits.
The BIG IDEA bears down on me like a huge, rumbling tractor trailer. I feel the adrenaline surging and I’m wide awake. This thought just can’t wait until morning. If I go to sleep now, I might lose it forever.
Many people have great ideas that could soar, but they never get those ideas off the ground. The idea is so big that it’s frightening or overwhelming. Sometimes the main idea gets lost in the flurry of smaller ideas whirling around as the tractor trailer swooshes by.
Have you ever felt like this? Maybe you were watching a movie or reading a book when your BIG IDEA came along. Now that you have it, what should you do with it?
I don’t wait. I get up and rush down the dark hall to the office. The yellow legal pad and pen are waiting for just such occasions. Bleary-eyed, I scrawl out the BIG IDEA in chicken scratch.
Will I be able to read the writing come daybreak? Hopefully. Sometimes I look at my notes the next morning and wonder what alien left that foreign lettering. But the important thing is that I wrote my idea down. I’ve captured it.
What’s the Point?
The best part of beginning a new creative project comes with laying down the framework of the BIG IDEA. It’s exciting to think of settings and scenes or explore brand-new characters.
But a bunch of scenes and a jumbled list of character concepts don’t make a novel. Your novel needs direction. How are you going to add focus to this BIG IDEA of yours?
Writing for the sake of writing is fun. Sometimes you can ramble and the novel evolves on its own. At some point, though, you have to decide exactly what your story is about.
Think about what you want to accomplish? Are you making a political statement? Do you want people to think? Are you trying to evoke strong emotional response in your readers? Are you writing to entertain? Even the most humorous novels have a goal.
When is it Happening?
What period does your novel take place in? Is it the era of the wild frontier? Does it take place in a medieval time long ago? Maybe you’re the contemporary type – does your story happen in the here and now?
The time of your story place helps shape many aspects of a novel. The era affects character views and beliefs or the methods they achieve their goals. Whether your novel is a mystery or a romance, the “when” molds events, reactions and conflicts that occur in your characters’ lives.
If you have a specific period in mind, be prepared to do some research in order to make your story believable. Even fantasy and science fiction novels have enough reality in them to make them ring true in the reader’s imagination.
Where are You?
Now that you can imagine when your novel takes place, think of your setting, your stage and its props. Does the whole story occur in a single room in a tenement slum? Do events happen in the sprawling high country of the Colorado Rockies?
If you look around your own environment, you can come up with a million details that help describe your life and personality by the objects you have around you. Your office, your bedroom, your house, and your car all contribute to the perception of how the world sees you and how you see the world.
Even the city or town you live in says something about you.
Become your character. Imagine that person’s life, the objects that surround them. Picture them in your mind. Where do your characters live? What do their homes look like? What places do they frequent?
This is just a start. Your tractor trailer BIG IDEA now has a little more life, doesn’t it? It’s not just aimlessly barreling down the road on some unknown highway in the middle of nowhere.
No, this tractor trailer is going somewhere. It’s hauling something. It has a driver, too…
…and that driver is you.
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Harry, this is a very motivating piece. I can almost hear that tractor trailer… the first piece of advice you give, I have been living for over a year and I guess it is a key part of GTD and Zen Habits stuff – capture everything on paper so you don’t forget it, so you can clear your mind to think, rather than remember. I think my wife considers me a bit crazy to carry pen and paper everywhere, but it works.
And then once your mind is free, dream the dream.
Thanks for the words.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@ Brett – You can say what you’d like. We’ve got you out of Spam but lost in some silent area where we receive no notifications of you sneaking around leaving comments. Quite baffling, really. The result is that we watch for you like a hawk, now. Sheesh.
I have pens and papers littering my desk. I have a calendar, two whiteboards on my fridge, one to-do list, a Gmail calendar, a project manager, and one thing I say often is, “I have to [insert task here]. Remind me.” There is nothing like getting something OUT of your head to free space.
Like Harry, I jot down ideas the minute they arrive or they’re gone. I refuse to discuss my memory.
@ James – hmm, I’m a big fan of stealth technology and I just watched “V for Vendetta” last night, so maybe that’s the reason… I promise I won’t hold your blog for ransom, though. MUAHAHAHAH!!!
I have enough trouble remembering the names of all my children (I usually just go through the list until the eyes light up, then I know I’ve hit the jackpot). So being the trendy guy I (think I) am, I carry a Hipster PDA and a Moleskine (short-term and longer-term notes). Then I keep a rolling task / to-do / could-do whatever list on Google Docs so I can get to it from anywhere, my Google Calendar, and a wipe-off 1-year wall calendar. I actually use that one to play “don’t break the chain” with my writing and exercise.
Anyway, where was I going with this? Oh yeah – good thing I wrote it down…
We are all on the same page. We have better things to do with our minds than remember “stuff”. That’s what pens & paper are for.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
Reminds me of my mother – she has five kids and scrolls through each of our names until she hits the right one. Or just gives up and calls us whichever name comes to mind. Never mind that I’m the only son living nearby and the rest of my siblings moved away long ago… *rolls eyes*
It’s really embarrassing though when I call one of the boys “Aimee”…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
Harry,
I keep paper and pencil right beside the bed, roll over and write ideas for clients, blog articles, etc. in the dark. I don’t like to let the sleepiness get away, because sometimes the idea is part of the dream state, and also because at 39, I know I might not get back to sleep if I got up. Little things about getting older that bug me… I transcribe the next day, when I can read it. A book of those would be pretty funny.
While I haven’t done any fiction writing for years, I have always been addicted to pen and paper next to me for ideas, lists, etc. I have 20x more ideas for blog articles than I’ll ever get to, scratched first on paper, often while stuck in traffic or while stuck on a client’s project, then roughed into computer. Memory? I think because I always let the idea flow out on paper right away I never developed one. The funny thing about it is, I can always “remember” things that way, better than folks who try to store it up in their heads.
My mom has called me by my sister’s name since my sister was born, two years after me. In spite of the fact that she always hated that her mother did that to her.
Regards,
Kelly
P.S. Wrote you back on my post, which of course you may never know, because, see title below…
Kelly’s last blog post..Why TypePad Doesn’t Want Your Comments
@Kelly – that’s pretty funny about TypePad. I’m going to read your post.
@James, Brett, Kelly – I try to keep pens and paper handy but with a 2 year old running around grabbing everything I don’t want him to, they seem to disappear. Of course I keep the pens away but the little stinker likes to crumble up my paper!!!
Also, I wrote a post about Jott. Have you guys (and gal) heard about this? It’s basically like a voicemail that you can call into and email people, write a blog post, or leave yourself a message (and have it emailed to you) as a reminder. I have a video of how it works in my post. Pretty cool stuff for when you’re in the car and come up with that BIG idea but you’re driving.
@Harry – still like the new Submit Comment button much better.
Thanks for the post. I enjoyed it. Brought back memories when I wrote my novel. I was sitting in my office (a.k.a. bedroom) and was trying to think of another world’s environment where my character grew up and the area he played at often with his sister.
I was spinning in my chair and then my eyes zeroed in on a tranquil picture I had hanging on my wall of a pond during sunset. That ended up being the area they played in and I described everything down to the smell all from that one picture.
When reading your post, two words kept popping into my head: be observant and ready.
Also, these thoughts you put out there can apply to anything that deals with writing. Years ago I was in a band and my friend who was the song writer always kept (and still does) a pen & paper handy for when those song lyrics popped into his head. If he doesn’t write them down immediately, they’re gone forever.
Good post and I’m Digging it now.
And like you said, many times when he checks his newly written chicken scratch he just tosses it aside and thinks “what the hell was I thinking?”
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
@ Kelly – wow, just read your post, what a great example of “not so good” customer service by TypePad…
@ John Hoff – I have the same problem (sort of – three-year old triplet set… the 6-year old isn’t so bad, though). So we have funny little shelves in different spots in the house. Like “panic shelves” that they can’t reach!
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
John,
It’s clear you do not have enough traffic where you live. I once did an entire restaurant kitchen layout while jammed up on I-95. Of course, it was on the back of every receipt in my purse, had to be redrawn, but luckily there were enough receipts. No need for Jott.
I think I’ve lurked about your place before. I’m off to be persuaded by your latest post right now. (Oh, how I love CommentLuv…)
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Why TypePad Doesn’t Want Your Comments
Brett,
Ah, but you did not comment. This is just playing into Harry and James’ hands, you see.
I actually read several web postings about how to go WP this morning, and it’s all their fault. Well, not really, the winter of my discontent was already here, but they are fanning the flames. Naughty!
*humble part*Thanks for looking in, *not so much*don’t forget to Stumble, subscribe, tell friends, etc.
Regards
Kelly’s last blog post..Why TypePad Doesn’t Want Your Comments
@ John – When reading your post, two words kept popping into my head: be observant and ready. I would say instead, “Be open – and be willing to drop everything to seize opportunity.”
YAY! We got a DIGG! YAY! (Thank you!)
@ Brett – Yuppers. One toddler equals 6 foot shelves.
@ Kelly – You don’t know what you’re missing… and I think you’re fooling yourself in thinking WP is more work than TP…
As for hours, yes. We keep strange ones. I’m on EST and crash from 10.30 to 5am. Harry’s on PST and crashes from 1am (my time) to about 8am (my time. Our shop’s nearly covered 24/7.
@ Kelly – don’t worry, I’ll be back (two of my four munchkins are barfing up a storm today, so my train of thought keeps getting derailed, or something like that…) – if it is any consolation, your page is still open as a tab in Firefox and I *will* be back to have a look again today!!!
PS – you’re now in my feed reader…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
Added Kelly to mine, too. No pressure
Thanks, guys. Let the love flow!
(Brett, my daughter was doing same on the Friday in question at my last post. I just didn’t think it added to the picture.)
*bites nails* Oh, no, J-J-James Chartrand is reading the MCE Blog… he’s a FUTURE A-LISTER, y’know…
Wait! In my own vastly different niche, I am a future A-lister, am I not? (See how humble?)
James, Harry, you’d better bite your nails… I’m reading you.
—Kelly
P.S. Why do some readers think your comments go way OT here?
Kelly’s last blog post..Why TypePad Doesn’t Want Your Comments
You guys have been busy this morning! And here I am late to my own party…
Yes, writing everything down is a must. Not only might I forget it during the day while I’m getting bombarded with a lot of little things to do ASAP *glances at James*, but it also helps me sleep at night because I don’t have to keep chewing on what I have to do the next day. I can let it go and not worry about it until I wake up.
I always think of that episode from Married with Children where Kelly Bundy tried to become smarter. Each new thing she learned deleted something else in her brain to make room for the new information.
@Kelly, thanks for the heads up. When it comes to working with a new platform, they all seem like more work in the beginning because we don’t know how they work. We’re used to doing things a certain way and it takes time to learn the new way. I’d be lost and frustrated if I had to switch to Type Pad right now, so I understand what you’re saying. But when it comes to having happy readers and being able to keep track of what’s going on on my blog, WP is so worth it.
*chuckles* Go ahead, read away. I dare you.
You’ve been in my feed reader since the first time I visited your site. I star the topics so I know to go back and check the comments – which is okay, just another process to get used to 
Harry,
Thanks. Clearly you are the less scary of the two Men, since I still have nails to bite even though you’ve been reading.
I keep a special folder “& COMMENT” in my bookmarks with everything I comment on, then all I have to do is scroll down to bookmarks with TypePad in the address to check back in once in a while. But it does mean that nothing instantaneous and rollicking usually gets going on those blogs, because they don’t bug me in my inbox. *Sigh.*
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Why TypePad Doesn’t Want Your Comments
Harry is the less scar- Hey! What the…?!
I haven’t personally met either James or Harry, and they are pretty nice guys on here, but Harry does live in *Vegas*, so maybe that is a few mod points on the “scare-o-meter”?
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@Kelly: Thanks, you made my day.
@Brett: Add to that scare o’meter the gear I need to wear this time of year on the bike.
@ James:
@Brett – Hey! I live in Vegas!
And about the funny shelves, yeah, you do weird things when you have kids. Your house never looks like ordinary houses do.
@Harry – hey bud, nice to see you show up
Good post, bro.
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
@ Harry – you’ll have to post a pic of you in your Darth Vader getup.
(that was one tough lookin’ dude, even 30 years later)
@ John – Vegas is the coolest city I’ve not been to (yet). I don’t gamble at all, and I think I could get lost there for days… and you are right, people invite us to visit them all the time and bring our clan, and I’ll say, “why don’t you come to *my* house first, to learn how to ‘Legree-proof’ your place”
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@Brett: With or without lightsaber? Seriously though, I’m not one for posting my pic on the net. You’ll just have to wait until you come to Vegas for a visit.
@John: Maybe you and Brett could start your own trend in interior design? Bet you could make a show out of it.
@ Harry – either way, that whole “force choke from across the galaxy” thing was nasty… I could use that in Monday morning meetings!
I hear you, that’s why the pic of me I put on my proto-blog doesn’t show my face, and besides, I’ll be in Vegas soon enough.
I’ll be the crazy Canuck carrying the Quebec liquor.
Unless of course James beats me there first. Then I’ll be the *other* crazy Canuck carrying the Quebec liquor…
Interior design? I have seriously thought about making a side business in child-proofing houses.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@Harry and Brett – yeah and we could call it, “Child design by nature.”
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
Big ideas do tend to come along at the strangest times… just as you’re drifting off to sleep, while you’re doing dishes, or giving the dog a bath. I think being relaxed triggers these ideas, because I always get them in the shower. Or maybe it’s the water, I don’t know. I have more ideas than time to work them out. Sometimes I feel like I am that tractor trailer — a machine that manufactures ideas. I want to know how to process all of them!
But I do always write them down.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Eleven Buzzworthy Online Screenwriting Resources
How come your posts always remind one of old TV shows — there was the A-Team in the comments of a recent post. Now, I’m going to bring up another: BJ and the Bear.
BJ would have been a great writer
Anyway, great post. I’ve been keeping a 3.5×5 notebook with me at all times, along with a Zebra F301 Compact pen, so that I can jot down ideas as they come.
Still waiting for the Big One — no, not the earthquake, but the earth-shattering idea for a novel or a 50-part blog series…
Nez’s last blog post..7 Principles I’m Teaching My Kids
@ Melissa – big or small, I agree with you that ideas come along when your mind is at ease. I drafted my last blog post in my head at about 2 am today, then got up for some water and jotted down the points.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
Oh, I forgot:
Men with Pens
Truckin’ good Writing
Nez’s last blog post..7 Principles I’m Teaching My Kids
@Melissa: Relaxation is the key, something I’m not right at the moment. Thanks for the timely reminder. I think it’s time to scrap what I’m working on, go do something else and start over later.
@Nez: 10/4 good buddy! Never watched BJ and the Bear, but I do watch a lot of movies and tend to think in images instead of words.
@ Nez – Ah, but some of the best novels develop on their own from the smallest ideas… and everything starts at the beginning, does it not?
(Heheh, yeah, our daily tagline!)
@ Melissa – I hear you. I wish my BIG IDEAS happened at the computer. Though I’m sure Harry wishes I had fewer BIG IDEAS than I do already
@ John – I already knit. I am *not* getting into interior design.
@ Nez – I thought I was the only one who remembered that show… wow, that’s a blast from the past…
@ Harry – apparently that’s how kids start to learn words initially, through images – so perhaps no matter how old we get, we are all kids at heart. Or something like that.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
LOL James. It’s funny you say that because yesterday my wife was telling me she wishes she knew how to knit. She wants a blanket for our baby-on-the-way. I said, “hey, maybe James will knit one!”
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
Really? I can do that… would she really like one? Would she actually *use* it?
(okay, shaddap all you people laughing at me getting excited. It’s a nice thing to do. Babies deserve gifts.)
I wasn’t going to say anything. Honest. I think any expectant mother would be thrilled to get an official MwP baby blanket!
Just kidding. It’s a nice idea, very thoughtful, James.
Hey, everybody has to have some sort of useful and oddball skill.
You can knit, and that is useful. Me, I’m certified to repair Roots-type blowers and rotary piston vacuum pumps.
(I also possess an Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator. Okay, I made that part up.)
Somewhere in there, is a plan for *World Domination*.
Harry & John, what can you add to the mix?
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@ Harry – so, what you’re saying is, James is knitting a MwP baby blanket for Naomi? Schweet.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
Of course I would use a baby blanket – it just better not say “Men with Pens” on it!!!
The nursery is baby yellow and sage green. That’s pretty impressive that you can do that. I wish I could! Thank you so much.
Brett – as far as what I’m useful for; I’m useful for kicking John in the ass and making him do whatever I want.
Nice to meet everyone. I read, hear, and talk with John about your comments all the time.
Lindsey Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
@ Lindsey – it sounds like you have the same talent then, as my lovely wife Cathryn.
Pleasure to meet you too!
I have a boss. At work. And then, I have a REAL boss. Guess which one I listen to?
@ James – I’ll take a toque with MwP on it, if you’re taking orders… heh heh
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@ Lindsey – It’s a pleasure to have you here – and it’d be my honor to make something nice for the upcoming heir (or heiress). I promise, no logo. Don’t tell me it’s due next week, though. I’ll have performance anxiety!
@ Brett – Dude. I can do toques, too. Considering where you live, you need one.
@ James – I’ll have to pay you for it though.
Unless you need a vacuum pump repaired, or something.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@ Brett -I think you men are good at making it seem like you listen to us and then doing what you want to anyways!! As long as you don’t cause too much trouble we let you get away with it!
@ James – It will be a second little heir Ethan Tyler…and not due tomorrow though that doesn’t sound bad. He should be making his grand entrance to the world around April 24th.
Thanks for welcoming me. I usually just tell John what to say for me but this time he thought I should say it myself. It’s a pleasure meeting all of you!
@Lindsey: What a pleasant surprise, thanks so much for dropping in. *offers her the comfy chair by the fire* James will make something nice for you for sure.
(Uh-oh guys, I think she figured us out…)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@James – I’m gonna remember the spelling of, shaddap. You guys are killing me over here! I love it.
I think that would be totally cool that you’d consider knitting a blanket for my son. I really appreciate that. That’s really cool. I know you’re busy, though. I don’t want to put you out, so I understand if you are unable to.
@Brett – you’re cracking me up with the I’m certified to repair Roots-type blowers and rotary piston vacuum pumps.
I didn’t know trees grew in engines and vacuums had pistons?
As for what I can add to the mix, hmmm . . . well after thinking for awhile my wife said, and I QUOTE: “You are very good at doing the dishes and cleaning up the house.”
Yeah, what was that you were saying, Brett, about the boss?
I suppose I don’t have any weird titles but what I am known for in my family is free tech support for their computers. You see, I have this damn computer degree that advertises to my family “FREE COMPUTER HELP.”
It’s so bad that for Christmas my wife bought me a shirt that says, “No, I will not fix your computer.”
And yes, I wear it.
John’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
I can do valve adjustments on the VTX…anybody need one? No? Good. I hate doing them.
On the other hand, I can barbecue and grill like nobody’s business. Who’s bringing the steak?
@Harry – the way I first read your comment was you were being very polite in offering my wife a chair but then YOU told James to go get her like a drink or something, LOL.
What kind of drink is it James you’re making?
Oh man, we’re like WAY off topic. Sorry guys.
John’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
@ John and Lindsey – I think it’s even cooler that some little tyke will have a blanket people will admire and say, “Did you knit this?” And you’ll answer, “No, actually, the guy from Men with Pens did.”
Seriously, it’ll be good for me to spend some time on this. I’ll enjoy it and have good memories.
@ Brett – Considering you’ll actually have to explain the logo on your toque, that’ll be payment enough
@ Harry – You are. Feed me.
@ John – He’s always bossing me around. See what I have to put up with? Have a Moosehead. S’good for you.
And yes. We get off topic. I will eventually have to do something about it. Not today, though
@ John – it’s one of those real-life examples of the old saying, “our differences make us stronger”, we are such a collection of eclectic knowledge… and that is cool.
You take 10 people and put them in a room together to solve a problem, and you’ll always be amazed at how much raw power there is there, if everyone works together.
Umm, yes, the boss. Funny how you & I share the same talents. I loaded and emptied the dishwasher twice today. And I also need one of those shirts.
I don’t have the computer degree (no, I have a useless certification to repair pressure and vacuum blowers, which is even worse!) – but everyone asks me for help.
Even at work. People call me instead of the Help Desk. Seriously.
I suppose the bright side of this, is that people don’t ask me to fix Roots blowers for free
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@ James – I shall wear it with pride.
(mmm, Moosehead, wish I hadn’t drank all my beer the other night…)
@ Harry – you spark up the grill. I’ll bring the shark.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
@ Harry – OK I will say a quick comment about the topic, I personally am not a writer but my Father is a published writer and the things that you said are very true of the way he works. He gets up in the middle of the night and will write several chapters. I tend to get my best ideas when talking with others throughout my day…I have only written for my high school yearbook though. I think this was a great post and it will make me pay more attention to ideas that come to me in the middle of the night!
Thanks for the comfy chair!!!
I can’t wait to see my one of a kind “Men with Pens” baby blanket from James
@ James- I hope April is far enough away to keep the “performance anxiety” under control!
@ Brett – Of course you are figured out…women are smart we just play dumb sometimes!
@Brett – the funny thing is, I was emptying the dishwasher for the second time today when my wife read me your post!
You know, take a look at the title of my last post below. Why is it that I can apply these strategies everywhere but home? My mental powers have no effect on my wife!
@James – never had Moosehead. Is that beer? I’ll look for it next time I buy beer, but for now, I think I’ll grab my Fosters. By the way, remember that time I mentioned when talking with people to listen for the type of words they use (sight words, hearing words, etc). I have the link to the guy who taught me about that. He’s a very intelligent guy and has a lot of useful thoughts on his blog. He’s taught me a lot about real estate investing. His blog is definitely just for him speaking his mind.
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
@John: I guess that comment was a bit disjointed. I meant he’ll make a nice blanket. I’m not the pushy type. That’s James’ department *points to “Feed me” remark*
@James: Yassir, massah James, I’ll get right on that there steak for you…
By the way, if you guys ever have time, I have a small favor to ask. Doesn’t have to be tonight or anything. I’m trying to show some activity in my community forum. Thus far I only have one other guy on there who’s helping me fine tune it.
I’d really appreciate any help you could give by posting one or two times in there. Maybe marketing ideas, seo stuff, writing stuff – whatever.
Also, after I’m finished working on my web development page I’m considering installing a wiki on my site. Got a pretty good idea flowing in my head on how to use one for entrepreneurs. –> and yes, I wrote it down like Harry suggested
Also (again), here’s some stats if you’re interested.
I mentioned in the last post on MwP that one of my blog articles hit the front page of del.icio.us Saturday night. I’m not sure how long I was on there but it was longer than 4 hours (time I monitored it).
My blog subscribers went up from 2 (one being me
) to 24.
I had 71 visitors on that day
I’ve had 25 visits in the last 4 hours
306 people have bookmarked my article on del.icio.us
And the comment section for that article skyrocketed – well, for my blog anyway.
Just thought you might find that info insightful.
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
Harry – great points – especially re: concentrating on the character. When I first tried to write novels, I set out with some great plot ideas, but the characterisation came last. And as a result, the characters just didn’t come across as real.
Concentrating on the character and their surroundings is important isn’t it? An exercise that I’ve found useful is to think of ten random objects – then write down what those objects mean to the character.
CatherineL’s last blog post..11 Star Quality Customer Service Tips
@ Lindsey – umm, I can’t really say anything here! This is one of those things like the “do I look good in this dress” questions. The wrong answer is whatever the man says…
(I know, I answer it incorrectly, every time, even after 10 years of marriage. The safe thing to do is take a bite of a sandwich or something, and then mumble your answer…)
@ John – you sound like my long lost brother!
As far as why your strategies don’t work. Hmm. The force is strong in our wives, our Jedi mind tricks do not work…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception
That’s a great idea Catherine! Get to know your character and their background, even if not put in the story.
John Hoff’s last blog post..The Art of Persuasion (Part 1 of 3)
@ John – Yup. And that discussion is coming up in our series.
Geeze, I leave for a weekend and look at all that I miss!
@Brett – the correct answer is “I am not worthy”, followed by bowing. You men-folk get it wrong every time…
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Invincibility
@ RLD – I’ll remember that one…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..reflective perception