Late last year I completed the draft of a novel—the first novel I’ve managed to finish!
Fiction is my passion, but it seems at this point in my writing career I write mostly nonfiction. Not sure why that is. I’ve started as many novels as I have published nonfiction books. Those novels sit partially written, collecting electronic dust.
As I spent time in December 2019 seeking God’s plan for 2020, the one word I got was write. Actually I got write, write, write. I couldn’t be more delighted. I come alive when I write. And for a writer that’s how it should be!
My little fingers will flame with fiction this year—along with some blogging.
First on the list is my current WIP “Sally and the Cowboy.” I spent most of December 2019 doing revisions. I discovered the story needed deep revision not only to the plot, but also to the main characters. All drafts need deep revision…what mine needs is deeper than I anticipated. Ugh.
Character development is essential to any great story. For me, it’s part of what makes a story memorable and worth reading over and over and over.
My main character seemed depressing and complaining. Granted, at that point in my revision I had focused on developing her inner conflict, so maybe my perspective was a little skewed. Skewed perception aside, Sally needs major character development.
For help in the task, I’ve turned to Donald Maass book Writing the Breakout Novel—an excellent book and one I recommend often. Chapter 5 tackles character development. Maass states:
Conflict is the first principle of plot construction, and it is also the underlying secret of great characters.
I’ve been re-examining Sally’s…
- Inner conflict (what is it, is there enough, too much?)
- Story goal,
- Story arc, (how will she grow as a person as the story progresses?)
- History,
- Personality,
- Strengths, and
- Weaknesses.
I read a few paragraphs from Maass, then I pick up pencil and paper and make notes, ask questions, and am drawing out from my imagination a more compelling and memorable Sally. Yes, I’ll be doing the same thing for the Cowboy.
Virtually all readers unconsciously seek out novels for an experience of human life that is admirable, amusing, hopeful, perseverant, positive, inspiring, and that ultimately makes us feel whole. ~Donald Maass, Writing the Breakout Novel
Does your fiction fit into that list anywhere? Do your characters possess any of these characteristics? Maybe not at the beginning of your story, but do they discover they have something on that list by the end of the story?
Within that quote from Maass is an aspect that I believe accounts for today’s popularity of superhero movies: an experience that is admirable, hopeful, positive, inspiring.
Don’t settle for surface-level revisions on your novel. Dig deep. Perform invasive surgery on that sucker.
- Are your characters as memorable as those from your favorite novels?
- Ask yourself if you’d enjoy reading your own story over and over.
Take your favorite novel and examine the protagonist and antagonist.
- What character qualities does he/she have?
- How has the author developed the character?
- Use what you learn to revise your own protagonist and antagonist.
If you haven’t yet begun your novel, do this deep work ahead of time. You’ll be glad you did!
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