Character Building, Part Two

Here are a few more tips on character building...

(1) Don't make your characters perfect. They have to have a flaw. The story will be too unrealistic if your characters are perfect. For example, I have a character named Honor. He's captain of the guard(called Draedenai in my book), and he is great at making strategies...but...he has this habit of constantly twirling his dagger around and around in his hand. Now, I had no intention of this habit showing up, but nevertheless, Honor won't quit spinning his dagger around, and in the end, it stuck with him.
(2)Start simple--perhaps you've thought of a cool name--write out a short description and maybe one prominent character trait...then let he/she/it develop as they want to.
(3)A character must grow, change, and mature--I guarantee it--no character you create will stay the way they started.

Now, this goes along with my first point. It is a quote by Madeleine L'Engle...
"The hero has great flaws, and the villain has a heart."
Quite cool to think about, isn't it?

Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Character Building, Part One

Hola, Hello, and Good Day,
The Writer's Guild discussed Character Building in the last meeting. We took so many notes that I have decided to post a few at a time and eventually get through them all in the next few days.

First of all, one must reveal things about a character rather than telling. Slowly reveal things about the character as you go throughout your story. Don't try to give their whole life story and personality upon introducing them.

It takes time to get to know a character, whether he/she/it is yours or not.

Don't put your character in a box--don't claim to know more about them than your readers. Sometimes you just have to let the characters do what they're going to do. I can give an example from my own writing. I recently started another book, which I intend to turn into a trilogy. Anyway, this girl named Remedy gets pulled into another world by the wind. As soon as the wind let her go, I was going to have another character native to this otherworld find her, but instead, the following dialogue flowed from my fingertips.

"...Ah, a newcomer."

"Welcome, welcome, welcome."

"Adonai gives freedom, freedom, freedom, tortured daughter."

Remedy ran forward, away from the voices, shouting, "Who's there? Leave me alone!" She ran for quite awhile, but the voices did not cease. "Stop!" she yelled. "Stop following me!"

"Sad, sad, sad, she will not listen."

"She is scared, scared, scared."

"We should be silent awhile."

"Why, why, why?"

-----------------------

Before you know it, I've got talking trees in my next book. Funny, isn't it? Turns out the trees are source of the wind that pulled Remedy into the otherworld, which is called Iverna, by the way. (pronounced ee-VAIR-nah)

Maybe I'll post my entire first chapter. Should I?

By the way, I'd like you YCF people to know that I will do a post about false Christianity soon...It seems you all have beat me to it, but I didn't want you to think I wasn't going to fight this battle with you!

Write On!!!

Shelby Marie

To Become A Writer...

Well, we had another meeting of The Writer's Guild on Tuesday, and had quite an interesting time editing a children's story that my friend is writing...but that is a tale for another day.
While in our meeting, we also discussed a few tips about writing in general. Here they are...

TO BECOME A WRITER:
1. Think of yourself as a writer--this one is first and foremost.
2. Write what you are passionate about! It will turn out much better when you write about that which you love.
3. Study--this one is self explanatory.
4. Practice! Write every day!!--Look, I know it's hard, but TRY! Take a few minutes out of your day and write anything, everything, whatever's on your mind!
5. Write at a regular place and at a regular time each day--whenever and wherever you feel most comfortable. For me, this is late at night up in the loft at my mom's house. When and where is your very favorite place to write?(that is, if you're a writer...)
6. Set a deadline for yourself--I tried to do this with the book I'm writing...I gave myself a year, beginning on my thirteenth birthday and ending on my fourteenth. Guess what? My fourteenth birthday is in about three weeks, and sadly...I won't be meeting my deadline. My lesson in telling you all that random stuff about it? Don't rush yourself too much! Be reasonable in setting your deadline.
7. Last but not least--Pick your subject and your audience...in other words, pick what you're writing about and who you're writing for.

Well, I hope those tips help the writers who see this...I know there are at least a few!
In other news, Kailani (sp?) has joined the Young Christian Force! Welcome, friend!!!
God go with you all,
Write On!!!
Shelby Marie

Second Meeting

Writer's Block? No problem!
Check out these tips and advice on Writer's Block that we discussed yesterday afternoon at the Writer's Guild.

1. Keep your pen/fingers moving--write something else, skip to a different scene, write a poem, a Bible verse, anything!
2. Pray--it always helps.
3. If you are working on something long, like a book, take a different scene and do a little editing.
4. Physical stimulus--play some music that fits what you're trying to write, and keep objects that create the mood of your current work nearby.
5. Keep pen and paper handy--ideas can come when you least expect it.
6. Try visualizing the scene as a movie in your head.
7. If all else fails, walk away for awhile, but don't give up. Take a walk, pray, ask advice from family and friends, and then get to work again.

Good luck and write on!!!
Shelby Marie

First Meeting

The Writer's Guild held its first meeting yesterday, and it went very well. There were six or seven people there, and I think we will all share a very intimate friendship. We spoke mostly of what we wanted to accomplish through this group and we told each other what we were most comfortable writing. It has been decided that next week, we will tackle ways to get rid of -gasp- WRITER'S BLOCK!!! That should be interesting...lol. Anyway, this is a wonderful way to begin the new year, in my opinion. I'm very excited about where this group will go and what kind of accomplishments we will make together in the next few years.

The Writer's Guild is a Go!

This just in:
The Writer's Guild will hold its first meeting on Tuesday at 3:15!
I don't know how I can express my excitement over this! All I can do is continue to praise God and give Him the credit for it. I'm really looking forward to getting together with other writers at my school and sharing our work and comparing ideas. My English teacher says that it will also be a fun way to learn new things about writing. This is going to be great!

Answered Prayer

Unbelievable! My English teacher pulled me out of class two days ago along with another of my writing friends and says, "I've been thinking. We should put together a writer's club. Are you interested?"
My mouth dropped open and I said, "Of course! I was just going to talk to you about that today!"
I'm so happy! Thank you Jesus!!!

Writing and Such...

I've only recently become aware of just how many people at my school are attempting to write books. There are several in my small class, and many more schoolwide, even a teacher or two. It would be wonderful to have a writer's group at my school. We just need someone to take the initiative and get it started.
I want to be that person. I want to step out and begin The Writer's Guild. I want a set time and place where aspiring novelists, poets, and journalists can get together and just write. To share our work, to brainstorm, to talk, to support, to just be.
In my opinion, writing a book is such a bold venture, traversing a long, adventurous path. Why not share it with others that are going down the same path?
What do you think?