tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3665219998721819479..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Oh, Woe Is Me: Strengthening Character GoalsJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-30527596600231940062020-04-01T14:17:43.512-04:002020-04-01T14:17:43.512-04:00Thanks! So much of plotting is character motivatio...Thanks! So much of plotting is character motivation, so it's useful to know why our characters are doing what they're doing. <br /><br />I love those small hints, too. They make all the big reveals and turning points feel inevitable without telegraphing it. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-69616236737586673352020-04-01T14:15:24.498-04:002020-04-01T14:15:24.498-04:00That's tough. You might try looking for nuance...That's tough. You might try looking for nuances in how they respond that suggest growth. For example, maybe it made them sad the first time, but this time the sadness is lighter, or they're closer to acceptance. Or maybe the still feel something, but it isn't as strong and that shows they're dealing with it better. <br /><br />You might also try looking at the steps the character goes through and how they change at every step, then look for ways to describe that. If they're not any different, then maybe you don't need to show that reaction.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42072632959343143302020-03-31T19:29:45.000-04:002020-03-31T19:29:45.000-04:00Great advice for breaking down characters. I often...Great advice for breaking down characters. I often have issues with trying to figure out how to get a character to move forward, so all these different motivations will be useful. Like to exploit fear, flaw, or weakness. This is a great way to make a character choose the wrong choice, or for them to prove they have a lionheart's and get past that fear. I find characters often do things recklessly without being given a reason to feel so desperate, exploiting them in a more personal way and give good substance to those bad choices.<br /><br />I also love 5, because I'm a person who loves laying the groundwork and hints towards latter events that you don't realize until the major event happens. Then when you think back about the plot, you realize that a small moment meant so much more. It's always a great reason for a second read too since it changes how you might perceive those early events.<br />Claire Makernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17655621334041552522020-03-06T14:21:39.857-05:002020-03-06T14:21:39.857-05:00The biggest problem I'm facing at the moment i...The biggest problem I'm facing at the moment is repetition in my character's responses to changes in the plot. I often like to write about gradual changes in a character - but then the fear settles in that the character's response, though slightly different, is pretty much a rehash of what I've already written.ERCWritinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12251594364251487212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18785462659164131762015-07-04T14:14:00.961-04:002015-07-04T14:14:00.961-04:00I'm so glad you reposted this because I missed...I'm so glad you reposted this because I missed it the first time. Thanks!Jackie Laytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921544145225306649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-27100075786663699492015-07-03T18:07:45.707-04:002015-07-03T18:07:45.707-04:00Janice,
Great advice - I struggled with my latest ...Janice,<br />Great advice - I struggled with my latest novel, getting my main character engaged. So - I pushed him to find his goal(s). It works! Thanks.<br />Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/2605673795663748524https://www.blogger.com/profile/00747834658699660832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-13051003904353234302015-07-03T09:32:49.593-04:002015-07-03T09:32:49.593-04:00Thanks for reposting this excellent post! Thanks for reposting this excellent post! Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8214836969180667522012-12-23T08:50:35.361-05:002012-12-23T08:50:35.361-05:00Tiffany, I'm not sure what you mean by title a...Tiffany, I'm not sure what you mean by title as a goal. The goal will be whatever your character wants that she's spending the book trying to get/avoid/stop. (whatever the situation is). In Lord of the Rings, it's about destroying the One Ring. In a mystery, it's solving the mystery and catching the bad guy. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-89597767152994062592012-12-22T22:52:42.154-05:002012-12-22T22:52:42.154-05:00I haven't read this yet but this is my title A...I haven't read this yet but this is my title A goal for my character? She hasn't got one and I'm 20k into my novel I guess that's what you call great. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02735408898805201533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39361041289992983202010-06-02T09:10:43.289-04:002010-06-02T09:10:43.289-04:00Thanks all! Like Melissa said, a lot of the things...Thanks all! Like Melissa said, a lot of the things I do were "things I just did" for a long time. I started trying to find ways to explain what I did when I was doing a lot of critiques and getting involved in writer's groups. Doing crits is great for that, because yo need to be able to articulate how to do something to help someone. I'm glad that's still working :) And it helps me, too!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-69226405494596321672010-06-01T18:50:25.824-04:002010-06-01T18:50:25.824-04:00Thanks so much!Thanks so much!Ronda Laveenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902846545309643023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73862976206157523062010-06-01T02:45:41.765-04:002010-06-01T02:45:41.765-04:00I love the idea of slamming characters between roc...I love the idea of slamming characters between rocks and hardplaces and then feel the need to drop something heavy on them from above. All and all, I am sometimes truly terrible to my characters. Thanks for sharing such an interesting post with so many great points for us to ponder. Am tweeting this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-53116154405770309642010-05-31T20:26:58.264-04:002010-05-31T20:26:58.264-04:00Another excellent post on the writing craft. Thank...Another excellent post on the writing craft. Thanks for this.<br /><br />P.S. You probably get a lot of these, but I gave you an award on my blog. Cheers!Krista Van Dolzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830193414560232842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17444604555490011732010-05-31T19:28:09.779-04:002010-05-31T19:28:09.779-04:00Wow, this is the best post I've seen yet on th...Wow, this is the best post I've seen yet on the topic. I can't wait to read more on your writing tips.Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22223263199100139782010-05-31T18:02:37.549-04:002010-05-31T18:02:37.549-04:00Melissa is right. You break it down into easy step...Melissa is right. You break it down into easy steps. Of course, we need to be sure we apply all the steps to the story.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-54476718771742839542010-05-31T10:47:24.327-04:002010-05-31T10:47:24.327-04:00I have no idea how you do it. I mean, characteriza...I have no idea how you do it. I mean, characterization is my strong suit, my charcters are always the strongest part of my story. It's not like I have a problem with them. But you, you break everything down in such an easy, comprehensible fashion that all these things that were so instictual (or the things I struggle with) go from being abstract to solid reasons and breakdowns. I don't know how you do it but I'm so thankful I found your blog! I love when I can actually explain things to myself and no longer just have it as "that thing I do."Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25112143399578252372010-05-31T09:04:27.001-04:002010-05-31T09:04:27.001-04:00Any time I get stuck, odds are it's a characte...Any time I get stuck, odds are it's a character issue, not a plot issue. If I can throw something at the character, that will lead the plot in the right direction.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.com