If The Viewpoint Character Is A Secondary Character, Have You Established Who He is?

If The Viewpoint Character Is A Secondary Character, Have You Established Who He is?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

I have said above that if a secondary character tells the story of the main character, then the spotlight should be kept on the main character.

This shouldn’t be taken to the extreme though.

In other words, you don’t just write the story of the main character without telling your readers a bit about your secondary character.

Unless the reader understands the reason a secondary character is telling the story, it will seem peculiar that the main character isn’t telling it himself. It is, after all, the main character’s story.

So, the following have to be answered…

* Who is this secondary character?
* Why is he telling the story instead of the main character?
* What is his connection with the main character?

Weave in some information about the secondary character so we can gain a better understanding of his role in the story.

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Does The Title Reflect The Story?

Does The Title Reflect The Story?
by: Nick Vernon


Short Story Writing Tips –

We all have different tastes in what we like to read. Some have a particular taste for horror, while others prefer romance or fantasy or crime stories, etc. My favourite genre in short stories is horror, so once the title grabs my attention, I will enthusiastically read the story.

You may want to leave your readers in no doubt of the type of story you have written. That’s fine. You want to grab all the fans out there and/or recruit new readers into the genre you are so fond of writing.

So, how do you select a title that reflects your story?

Should the title always reflect the story?

Not always. But your title must have some sort of connection with your story.

Is There A Connection Between Your Title And Your Story?

If you choose not to have the title reflect the story that’s fine too. But there should be some relevance between them.

If, for instance, your story is about a man walking on the moon, then it wouldn’t make sense to title it, ‘Walking on Mars.’

If your story is an uplifting tale about two characters finding love, then your title isn’t going to mention death, unless of course one of the characters’ die.

At first your title may not give away the nature of your story. But once having read the story, the reader will understand the connection. Let me give you a few examples…

‘The Fire In The Sky’

This can be the title of a story in which an airplane explodes in midair or a story about a meteorite on its way to earth, etc.

‘An Angel Amongst Us’

Can be the title of a story about a person with extraordinary kindness or about an angel that leaves the heavenly realm to reside on earth, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~

You can be ambiguous in your title if you wish. Your title doesn’t always have to reflect your story. Having more than one possible meaning intrigues the reader but remember…

There has to be a connection between your title and your story.

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Does Your Story Have A Theme?

Does Your Story Have A Theme?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

It should.

A theme is a one-line explanation of your story.. Every story should have one because our stories are about something.

When I say should, I mean that this isn’t always the case. Especially so for beginner writers, who may not know, that the theme carries the story. Or even those who’ve been writing for years may not be aware of the importance of a theme.

And a theme is important.

A theme is what will keep you on track as you write the story.

What happens if you write without a theme in mind? Two things…

1. You stray from the subject

or

2. You write more than one story.

Let me give you an example of a story written with a theme in mind…

The theme to a story I once wrote was, ‘Vanity Leads To Destruction.’

Very briefly, this story is about a female character that believed herself to be so beautiful, in the end she lost everything.

Writing this theme on a post-it note and sticking it on my computer, I was always reminded that my story had to revolve around this theme. Having a theme helped me stick to the story I had intended on writing and not stray from it – not even a little. It also helped me to focus only on what was essential to my story.

So according to my theme, ‘Vanity Leads To Destruction’…

* Every action my character performed was to show her vanity
* Her goals sprung from her vanity
* What motivated her was her vanity
* Her words (dialogue) showed her vanity
* How she handled situations showed her vanity
* The interaction with other characters showed her vanity
* The conflict was a result of her vanity
* The highest peak in my story, the climax, showed an intense moment of whether her goal would be met (whether her vanity would work for, or against her)
* And the ending? The ending showed how she was led to destruction because of her vanity

By following my theme, everything in my story was precise.

If I showed my character not being vain in any instance, then I would’ve strayed from my theme.

Does your story have a theme?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you didn’t consciously write with a theme in mind, then your story won’t have one. Chances are, your story isn’t focused. But then again there is the other possibility… At times we fluke things.

Perhaps without consciously knowing, a theme is running through your story.

Check your story to see if this is the case. If it is, are you sticking to the theme?

If you find that some parts of your story are straying from the theme, those parts will need to be changed to accommodate the theme.

Now the other possibility…

You don’t have a theme and none is running through your story. That’s okay. We can still save it. Read through your story and see what it’s about. Then come up with the most appropriate theme to it - A theme that makes sense yet won’t mean too much work to change the story.

Rewrite those parts that don’t accommodate the theme.

It is easier if we come up with a theme while we are at the plotting stage. It saves all that rewriting but not to worry… You won’t make the same error again in your next story!

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Does Your Theme Contain Character, Conflict, Resolution?

Does Your Theme Contain Character, Conflict, Resolution?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

For a theme to work and the story, which will revolve around the theme, it has to contain three things…

1. Character
2. Conflict
3. Resolution

What’s the reason for this?

If your theme doesn’t contain these three essential elements, then you won’t be writing a proper short story. It might turn out to be an essay instead.

Because without…

1) Characters

You can’t achieve emotional depth. Readers become engrossed in stories because of the characters in them. They either become the character (sympathize), or read about an interesting person (empathize).

Emotional depth is achieved when readers use their imagination and senses and/or experiences to live the story through the characters.

2) Conflict

Your story will be boring. Why? Without conflict, something to stir things up, nothing happens. And a story, in which nothing happens, is one not worth writing about.

Your characters don’t lead carefree lives. Well, not in the instance you are writing about them. In that part of their lives they are faced with a problem. They want something and can’t get it because of the conflict, which is preventing them to do so.

And it’s that conflict and the struggle the characters has to undergo that keeps us readers interested and in suspense. Will the character succeed or won’t he? And when is this all going to happen? And how is it all going to happen?

3) Resolution

Something that starts has to finish, one way or another.

Once you have created great characters, which the reader will come to care about, and you have placed them in conflict, that conflict at the end of your story has to be resolved. The characters will achieve their goals or they won’t.

That doesn’t matter.

You can end your story as you please and as it suits your story – but you have to end it. Ending the story means resolving the conflict.

Does your theme contain character, conflict, resolution?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Is The Theme Running Throughout The Story?

Is The Theme Running Throughout The Story?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

It’s no use coming up with a theme and not using it. Short stories are about a character or characters and about one situation or happening in those characters’ lives.

By concentrating on that one thing, our stories are focused. You will need to focus to maintain a level of intensity and sticking to the theme enables us to do that.

Let me give you an example…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scenario One

Let’s say your story is about a young man (main character) who is being harassed (one situation) by the school bully (secondary character.) Let’s place the setting in grade school.

Now if we focus on that single happening and in our story say….

* What started the bullying
* What the main character felt, confronted with this problem
* What the main character did to overcome this problem
* If the main character won or lost against the bully…

Then we’ll be focusing only on that incident which is what our story is about.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scenario Two

Now if we took that situation further and in our story said that this character grew up and was bullied in high school and then later by a colleague…

That will be listing three incidences, which will weaken our story because we are not focusing.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember a short story is short.

We don’t have too much leeway to develop too many things so we have to be selective with what we choose to concentrate on. Short stories work best when they span over a short period of time.

Like in scenario one, this incident might span over a couple of days or a week, where in the second scenario, it spans over a number of years. The shorter the time span the more intense the story.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Your theme should begin at the beginning, run through the middle and conclude in the end. So let’s put a theme to the first scenario…

‘Strength Comes From Within And In The End Prevails.’

How can I have this theme running throughout my story?

Initially I will portray my main character as a weak individual. But I will excuse his weakness, by saying perhaps that…

“He comes from a closely knit, loving family and initially doesn’t know how to deal with such a conflict.”

As my story progresses, I will gradually show his inner strength and I will do this through incidences, which will show his maturity, like…

• He helps out by caring for his younger siblings and contributes with the housework.

And

• I can show him cutting the neighbours’ lawns or delivering newspapers before school to show that he contributes economically too.

If I do this, my ending (when he wins against the bully) will be believable because I have developed his inner strength. My theme would have run its course.

Is your theme running throughout the story?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
mail@we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Have You Tested Your Theme Against Your Plot?

Have You Tested Your Theme Against Your Plot?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

How we usually begin the preparation stage in the writing process is…

* We think of an idea for a story
* We think of a suitable theme
* We plot

Once we come up with a theme and we begin plotting, we have to see how the theme and the plot match up. Sometimes as we plot we find that the theme we had initially chosen won’t do.

For example…

‘Winning The Lottery Makes Your Life Easier’

Plotting with this theme in mind, we have our characters pay off all their debts, go on endless shopping sprees, go on holidays, etc. We find though that this won’t make a very interesting story. So we spice it up, adding to the theme or coming up with a different one.

“Winning The Lottery Makes Your Life Easier But Everything Has Its Price.”

We can show the characters living the life of the rich for a while before they realize that being wealthy has its problems too...

* They now fear for their safety
* Their friends and relatives are constantly harping at their door asking for assistance
* Etc

This second scenario creates more problems for the characters, so it’s more interesting for us readers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The preparation stage is there to prepare before you write. It’s our workbench where we figure everything out. We test our theme, we test our plot and once everything passes the test, then we begin writing.

You can change the theme as many times as you feel it needs changing, while you are in the preparation stage.

The main thing is to make your story interesting.

It’s not a good idea to keep changing the theme when writing the story because then you will have to keep changing the story. This means rewriting.

Figure everything out then write.

Have you tested your theme against your plot?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
mail@we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Does Each Element of Your Story Further The Theme?

Does Each Element of Your Story Further The Theme?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

Whichever theme you choose, all the elements, which make up your story, dialogue, conflict, scenes, etc should be written with the theme in mind.

Your theme should progress the story.

If you find that anything in your story doesn’t progress it, it should be cut when you are in the editing stage.

Before we see an example of elements written with a theme in mind, let’s think of a theme and a story….

The theme is…

‘Arrogance Leads To Humiliation’

Very briefly, this story is about a character that believes he is better than his colleagues.

His goal is to get promoted to a managerial position. What will prevent him from reaching his goal, is the fact that management are aware of his arrogance and they don’t believe, with his attitude, he is the right person to manage the staff.

To meet his goal, the character will take on more work than he can handle. He will do this to prove to management, that he is the right man for the job. But in the end, he will make a grave error and his arrogance will lead him to humiliation.

Now let’s take a look at the elements of this story…

Dialogue

The character’s dialogue will show his arrogance, by the tone of his voice and the words he chooses to express himself.

Characterization

I will show my character is arrogant by the way I describe him and from how other characters see him.

Motivations

I will explain what makes him think he is better than everyone else.

Goal

I will state his goal and show how it arises from the fact that he believes himself better than everyone else.

Setting

The setting is going to be in an office environment. I can show his arrogance through the setting by perhaps describing the contents of his desk (trophies) and his desk area in general (diplomas on the walls.) etc.

Conflict

The conflict will come from himself. He is the one that creates it by doing and saying things, which create dislike.

Climax

The climax is the highest point in my story where the conflict and his arrogance will come to their peak. Here we will see how he tries to overcome the conflict and reach his goal by taking on more work.

Ending

I will end my story with my character’s humiliation. He takes on more work and makes an error in judgement. Which not only prevents his promotion but also gets him fired.

My theme here would have run its course.

Does each element of your story further your theme?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Can Your Theme Be Proved In Your Story?

Can Your Theme Be Proved In Your Story?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

Your theme has to be something you can prove in your story - It doesn’t have to be a universal truth. This means that your theme doesn’t have to be something that happens in real life all the time (providing our logic can accept it, in order for us to believe it).

Whatever story you choose to write, be it a contemporary or a story which requires elements of fantasy such as in horror, science fiction etc… the events of that story have to appear logical.

What is not logical and consequently not believable is…

A character that has no knowledge of computers and overnight becomes a computer whiz

A car that goes over a cliff, bursts into flames and the character manages to escape unscratched

Etc

These are not believable because they can’t and don’t happen in real life and our logic doesn’t accept them.

Your theme will be believed when you prove it (providing of course you can.) Let’s see how you can do that.

We’ll start with a theme…

“Hard work leads to success.’

Our story is about a character whose goal is to reach a managerial position within the company that he works. For the reader to see how the character will reach his goal I will show him…

* Working hard
* Working long hours
* Using his initiative
* Being responsible

And all those qualities, in the end, will secure him the promotion he has been aiming for.

So my theme here will be proved that ‘Hard work leads to success’ because my character succeeds in the end.

>From the examples I have given so far, you may have noticed that my stories end on a happy note. Yours don’t have to. The ending will depend on the story you are writing and how you, the writer, prefers to end it.

I could have done the reverse with this theme. I could have said,

“Hard work doesn’t lead to success.”

My story will be the same but in the end I will have the character missing out on the promotion. Both themes will be proved because I have proved them in my story.

Any theme can work in a story providing you can prove it.

Have you proved your theme?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com >>Read more...

5 Benefits of Keeping a Personal Journal

5 Benefits of Keeping a Personal Journal
by: Patti Testerman


Everyone who has kept a personal journal knows that writing is a therapeutic process that helps integrate seemingly unconnected life events. Some believe the process works because the physical act of writing (using your hand-eye coordination) occupies your left brain, leaving your right brain free to access emotions, intuit connections, and create new insights.

How else can journaling help?

1. Journaling reduces stress by getting “monkey mind” thoughts out of your head. Mind chatter is a powerful stressor, stressor is a powerful health-buster, and journaling the chatter is a proven chatter-buster.

2. Writing about problems gives your right brain food for creative problem-solving. It’s amazing what happens when the creative part of your nature starts working on a problem—you’ll soon find solutions bubbling up from your subconscious.

3. Keeping a daily diary is one of the best techniques for discovering patterns, particularly those that are self-defeating. For example, a diary kept over the course of several months will clearly show any reoccurring difficulties like overeating, stress eating, poor (but similar) choices in relationships.

4. Want to better know yourself? Journal. Writing can help clarify your thoughts, your emotions, and your reactions to certain people or situations. In addition, as you read back through past journals, you’ll have ample evidence of the things that make you happy and those that are distressful.

5. Journaling can help clarify events, problems, or options. When you’re beset with a mind full of fuzzy, disconnected thoughts flitting here and there, writing about the event or issue will help bring focus and clarity. It will also help you decide on which action to take, or option to choose.

About The Author

Patti Testerman is content manager at JournalGenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Want to discover self-defeating patterns, or find better ways to communicate in a relationship? Check out our site.
patti@journalgenie.com >>Read more...

Have You Settled On First Choice When Choosing A Title?

Have You Settled On First Choice When Choosing A Title?
by: Nick Vernon


Short Story Writing Tips -

We’ve established what a title should be and we’ve also established your title is your selling tool. So if it can make or break the sale of your story, then we’ll have to agree that it is extremely important. How much emphasis have you placed when selecting a title?

1. You can’t write a story before titling it, so you jotted down the first thing that came to mind.
2. You added it as an afterthought when you completed the story.
3. You put a lot of thought into it and selected the best one.

I hope it was the latter – and I hope you did this…

1. You noted down as many titles as you could think of
2. Then crossed out the titles you thought were ‘so-so’
3. And kept the most grabbing title of them all?

You did do this, didn’t you?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com >>Read more...

Have You Tested Your Plot?

Have You Tested Your Plot?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

Our plotting stage is our testing area.

Everything in the plot should be tested for its effectiveness before we put in into our stories. If you believe something in your plot could be better, make it better.

Figuring everything out in your plot will save you time rewriting later.

So how do you test your plot?

Start with everything that has gone into it.

For example...

* Are the events interesting?
* Does your plot contain problems for the character to solve?
* Have you given your character a goal?
* Is the conflict strong?
* Is the resolution of the conflict interesting?
* Is the character interesting?
* Is the setting of the story interesting?
* Will the incident or situation be interesting to your readers?
* Etc

Make a list of what your plot contains. Comb through it carefully and tick off each item. If you find that some things need to be worked on some more, work on them.

I know to some this might be tedious work, but…

“Every one-minute you spend in planning
will save you at least three minutes in execution.”
Crawford Greenwald

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
>>Read more...

Does Your Plot Suit Your Characters And Vice-Versa?

Does Your Plot Suit Your Characters And Vice-Versa?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

When an idea comes to us for a short story, we either think of a story line first or a character first. Whichever we think of first, and later on build, we have to make sure the plot and the character suit each other.

Example one – We think of a story line first.

Your story is set in a rural area. A company opens a factory and employs workers from that small town. The residents welcome this, as there aren’t many jobs going around. The management takes advantage of that fact and exploit the workers.

Using a technicality in the system, perhaps listing them under different job titles in their books, they pay them less than they are entitled. Your main character sees this injustice and leads the workers to rebel against the management.

Now in a plot like this you will need your main character to posses certain qualities. Like…

Leadership

To be able to lead the people to rebel.

Convincing

The workers are from a rural area. Some might be uneducated and not aware of their rights. The main character has to convince them that what the management is doing, is wrong.

Persuader

Living in a rural area, jobs are hard to find. Most of the workers will view the company as their saviour. Their thinking will be that receiving little money is better than none at all. The main character has to persuade them that being in a rural area the company needs them as much as the workers need the company.

Strong Personality & Confident

We need a strong character that will see things through to the end. We don’t want someone giving up when things get tough. He will also need to be confident that he is doing the right thing (not to make things worse for the workers) and believes in himself (knowing what he’s doing is right).

Strong people skills

To be able to speak and relate to people on all levels.

Negotiator

To negotiate a solution with management and workers.

Public speaker skills

To be able to address this mass group of workers, in a voice that is confident, persuading, authoritative etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So these are the qualities we will need our character to have.

Now let’s see if we can make him believable. Remember he lives in the same rural area, so what makes him different from the rest of the workers who are willing to settle for less?

I could say he recently move to that rural area from the city. He used to work as a union leader and wanted to get out of the rat race. But having fought for workers rights his entire career, he can’t stand now to see injustices and comes to the decision to fight for them and himself.

So this character would suit our plot because we need someone like him for our story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Example two – Thinking of a character first

We notice a man on the street. Something about him triggers our interest so we decide to write about him in a short story. So at this point we will build the character first and then work a story around him.

Let’s go back to where we saw him…

He’s walking briskly along a busy street. He’s in a hurry. He’s dressed in a three-piece suit, which indicates he might be a businessman. He’s got a stack of documents under his arm; a briefcase in his left hand and his right hand is occupied by holding the phone to his ear, which he’s shouting into.

Let’s observe him closer…

He’s in his mid thirties. He looks authoritative. Perhaps he has his own business. Why is he shouting into the phone? Perhaps one of his employees made a mistake, which has cost the character a lot of money.

What if this employee made the mistake on purpose? What if he’s secretly working for the opposition, planted to destroy the main character’s company? What if the owner of that opposing company is the main character’s own brother? Etc…

So as we analyze this character and ask questions about him, our plot begins to unfold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plots and characters have to suit each other.

When we have finished plotting and are ready to write the story, they shouldn’t be ill-fitting pieces of a puzzle – They should be a perfect match.

Does your plot suit your characters and vice-versa?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
>>Read more...

How Are You Plotting?

How Are You Plotting?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

Writing is a creative process and how every writer chooses to create, is individual to them. Likewise, with plotting, every writer plots at a level they are comfortable with.

Some just plot the bare essentials. They have a firm idea of the story they want to write and have a good memory to be able to memorize everything.


Others go into more detail. These writers prefer to figure everything out before they write the story.

How you plot will also depend on your level of experience. For the beginner, it’s recommended to plot thoroughly.

Before writing, think of every possible situation. Plot events thoroughly, plot scenes to the last detail and generally leave no questions unasked or unanswered. This way you will always know where you’re going.

_____________

Are You Using The ‘What If’ Technique When Plotting?

Your short story of 500, 2.000, 10.000 words or whatever word length you choose to write, will spring from a single idea - Perhaps a one-sentence idea.

So when you are still in that one sentence stage, using the ‘What If,’ technique is a good way of generating ideas to build on that initial story idea.

While you are in the plotting stage, experiment. Your aim should be to write the best story you can. Experiment to see what bits and pieces you can put together to write the best story ever.

So using ‘What If,’ ask yourself questions then answer them…

1. What if the character was like this?
2. What if this happened to him?
3. What if I placed him in this situation? How would he react?
4. What if I took this away from him?
5. What if his worst fear came true?
6. What if he doesn’t get what he wants? What will he do?
7. What if I placed this obstacle in his path? What will he do?

You’ll be surprised what you come up with, if you take the time to experiment.

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
>>Read more...

Have You Completed A Character Questionnaire?

Another good article from Nick

Have You Completed A Character Questionnaire?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

Complete a character questionnaire for each of your main characters or even secondary characters that play a vital role in your story. This way you will know your character(s) well before you start writing about them.

Fill in as much information about them as possible. Don’t only answer what you will need in your story. The objective here is to get to know your character till he becomes a ‘live’ person in your mind.

So let’s begin…

1. In a few sentences write down a summary of the plot

2. Character’s personal details
1. First name
2. Surname
3. Age

3. In a few sentences write down the character’s back story (a bit about his background)

4. The role of the character in your story
1. What are character’s goals?
2. What are character’s motivations?
3. What is the character’s conflict?
4. How will the conflict stop the character from reaching his goal?
5. What is he going to do to overcome the conflict?
6. What problems will crop up during the story?
7. How will those problems get worse?
8. What will the character do to overcome those problems?
9. How will he resolve the conflict?
10. How will your character’s background influence how he behaves in your story?
11. What is the relationship with other characters, if any, in your story?

5. Physical Descriptions
1. Height
2. Eye colour
3. Hair colour
4. Hairstyle
5. Hair length
6. Complexion
7. Shape of face
8. Body type
9. Weight

6. How does his expression change when…
1. He’s with a loved one
2. He’s with someone he dislikes
3. He’s with his boss
4. He’s with a colleague

7. Personality
1. Type? (shy, outgoing, insecure, dominant etc)
2. Distinguishable traits?
3. Mental scars? (Complexes etc)
4. Ambitions?
5. Sense of humour?
6. Fears?
7. Anxieties?
8. Phobias?
9. Overall personality?
10. How does his personality change when he’s experiencing different emotions?
11. How does he act when he feels confident?
12. How does he act when he feels inadequate?
13. What gestures does he use when he talks and thinks?
14. How does he walk? With confidence? Does he slouch or stride?
15. What mannerisms does he have? (Does he fold his arms? Does he flick his hair?)
16. How does he speak? (Clearly, mumble, confidently, drawl etc.)
17. His voice? (Rich, loud, soft, etc)
18. His vocabulary? (Casual, formal, illiterate etc)
19. What does he think when he’s alone?
20. Does he have any secrets he hasn’t disclosed to anyone?
21. His prejudices?
22. Dominant motives?
23. Values most?
24. Desires most?
25. How does he treat those around him? (children, superiors, etc)
26. Any vices or virtues?

8. Likes and dislikes
1. Favourite colour, food, etc
2. Favourite music?
3. Taste in clothing?
4. Does character like something in particular?
5. Does character dislike something in particular?

9. Lifestyle
1. Where does the character live (country, city)?
2. Does character live in a house, apartment etc
3. Does character like where he lives?
4. Does where he lives reflect what kind of person he is?
5. Does he have a favourite room? (Or a piece of furniture or other object etc)
6. Does he have a car? What type? Does the car reflect the person he is?
7. Any hobbies? Personal habits (neat, sloppy etc)

10. Background
1. Parents names
2. Parents occupations
3. Describe relationship with parents
4. Any siblings?
5. Describe relationship with siblings
6. What kind of childhood did the character have?
7. What kind of adolescence did the character have?
8. What kind of schooling did character undergo? (Private or public? Has this shaped who he is?)
9. What was the highest-level achieved in school?
10. Citizenship/Ethnic Origin?
11. In which country does he currently live?
12. If the country he lives in is not where he was born, why does he live there?

11. Character’s current position
1. Any friends?
2. Any enemies?
3. Acquaintances?
4. Has character been married before?
5. Has the character been engaged before?
6. Any children?
7. Most meaningful experience?
8. Any disappointments?
9. What is the character’s goal in life?
10. Attitude towards the opposite sex?
11. Attitude towards life?

12. Employment
1. What kind of job does character currently have?
2. What kind of jobs has the character had previously?
3. Is character content in current employment?
4. If not, what would be their dream job?

13. What do you feel for this character?
1. Admire
2. Love
3. Hate
4. Dislike
5. Like
6. Pity
7. Envy

Whatever you feel for this character, your emotions must be strong. If they are not, either build on this further or begin building another character altogether.

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
>>Read more...

What Can Go Into A Plot?

What Can Go Into A Plot?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

We all tackle plotting differently. How you plot will be individual to you, as it is with every writer.

Below is an outline of what can go into a plot. How much you choose to develop each point is entirely up to you.

So some basic questions to ask are…

1. Briefly what your story is about
2. The theme?
3. Main Characters
1. For main characters it’s best to write a full biography of them.
4. Secondary Characters
1. Who are they?
2. What will their role be?
3. What is their relationship with main character?
5. Beginning of the story
1. Viewpoint – who will be telling the story?
2. Setting – where will the story take place?
3. How will you introduce main character?
4. How will you introduce other characters?
5. How will the story begin?
6. What will happen in the beginning?
7. What is the conflict?
8. What is the character’s goal?
9. How will the conflict prevent the character from reaching his goal?
10. What’s motivating the character?
6. Middle of the story
1. What will happen in the beginning section, of the middle of your story?
2. How will this be tied to the beginning of your story?
3. What will happen in the middle section, of the middle of your story?
4. What will happen in the end section, of the middle of your story?
5. What events are going to occur?
6. How will you show your character’s personality?
7. What problems are you going to introduce? (List each problem and how the character solves it)
8. How are you going to make things harder for your character?
9. What will happen in the climax?
7. End of the story
1. Will the character achieve his goal?
2. How will he or won’t he achieve it?
3. What’s going to happen in the end?
4. How are you going to end your story?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Or if you prefer you can plot in scenes…

First, figure out how many scenes your story will contain. Then plot each scene.

Scene one

1. Setting
2. Introduce characters
3. Introduce conflict
4. Introduce goals
5. What will happen in the first scene?
6. How will your first scene develop the character and the story?

Scene two

1. Introduce first problem
2. What does the character feel about this? What does he think?
3. Have the character solve the problem
4. Begin making things harder for him
5. How will the second scene develop the character and the story?

Scene three

1. Throw another obstacle in your character’s path
2. Have him solve it
3. How will the third scene develop the character and the story?

Etc…

How you plot doesn’t matter. The most important thing is To plot.

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
mail@we-recommend.com
>>Read more...

Do You Plot With Your Character In Mind?

Do You Plot With Your Character In Mind?
by: Nick Vernon


Creative Writing Tips –

You are plotting the story. You write down what will happen, what problems will arise, what obstacles you will place so the character won’t reach his goals immediately, what he’s going to do to overcome these problems etc…


So all these things will be happening to your character since it’s his story we are telling.

Does it make sense then to have your character in mind as you plot these things?

It does. Because it will depend, based on the type of person he is, how he will face these problems, what he will feel, what he will think, what he will do.

Different types of personalities make up our world. Some people worry too much, so whatever problems come along, they will worry with the same intensity. Other people view the lighter side of life. Minor problems do not affect them as largely as major problems. To some challengers are welcome - they thrive on them. To others, challengers are viewed with fear and uncertainty.

As you’re plotting the events of your story they have to correspond with the type of personality your character possesses.

What happens when you plot without thinking of your character?

He will act ‘out of character.’ He will do, say, think, feel things that don’t suit his personality.

For instance…

If your character is a worrier and you place him in a situation where he doesn’t worry, then that’s making him act according to how you want him to act in your plot.

You’re manipulating him to suit your plot - You’re not writing with his personality in mind.

As you plot the events in the story, simultaneously build your character.

Cross-reference what you have written about your character and the situation he is in. Do they correspond?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com
>>Read more...