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compelling characters in books

Writing Prompts to Keep You Writing

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Is writing a bit like eating your vegetables? Like eating our greens, we know it’s good for our mind and creativity to write daily, but it’s alright to admit that it’s hard to find daily ideas.

Even if you’re in the midst of a novel, screenplay, or short story, it’s normal to hit the occasional roadblock. When writer’s block strikes, that’s when it’s more important than ever to keep writing. But how and what?

Have Fun with a New Subject

I’m a big proponent that one should always write for your enjoyment. Pick a subject that is of interest to you. You don’t have to be an expert, but you do have to want to learn more about your subject. Half the fun lies in the research. There’s a big world out there. You just have to discover it via the printed page. 

Writing is a bit like exercise in that the more you do it, the easier it gets. And, like exercise, you should write on a regular basis. Coming to your computer or that pad of paper regularly keeps your “writing muscle” engaged. The more frequently you write, the more you develop your writing muscle.

You Don’t Have to Write Just One Story at a Time

However, sometimes project that we are currently working on doesn’t come to fruition. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good project. It just might not be the right project for you, right now. Stephen King offers lots of advice on his writing process. One thing he states is to start multiple projects at one time. While this might be confusing for some writers, King admits that not every project resonates with him. He has stated that sometimes he just stops feeling passionately for one project. That’s when he turns his attention to another. By having multiple plot lines developing at once, he is sure to find the one that becomes his next hit.

By the way, King has published 65 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, and five non-fiction books. He has written over 200 short stories. Obviously, his method works well for him. 

Stay Calm and Keep Writing

Don’t let King’s prolific writing quality get you down. There aren’t many people that have a resume like him. The point of this blog is to inspire you to always find something to write about. Do it daily. It can be a letter to your younger self. For that matter, it can be a letter to your dog or cat. Just write. 

And, when you absolutely can’t think of what to write, here’s a list of writing prompts compiled by FIU Libraries (Florida International University).

Perhaps set a writing goal to try one new prompt each week… in between your current projects. Happy writing!

Writers Need to be Readers

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Writers Need to be ReadersSometimes the “rules” of good writing are a mash-up of contradictions. Be original, but follow the rules of those who have come before you. Don’t plagiarize, but take lessons from classic story structures. To find the perfect balance, writers need to be readers.

I recently read a literary comparison between The Great Gatsby and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It implied that n its witty title it stated that Holly Golightly was a different version of Jay Gatsby. National Public Radio listed both of these novels in their “100 Best Characters in Fiction” list with Jay Gatsby hitting first place and Holly Golightly coming in at number 11.

Number 11 out of 100 is nothing to sneeze at considering that this article implied that Truman Capote, who wrote Breakfast at Tiffany’s, must have followed my belief that writers need to be readers. Does that mean he plagiarized from F. Scott Fitzgerald? Not necessarily… Let’s take a closer look.

Here are the similarities between the two books: 

Physical character traits:

  • Characters who are attractive, charismatic and enigmatic.
  • Distinctive speech patterns. Jay uses phrases such as “old sport” while Holly calls everyone “darling.”

Their world:

  • Connections to organized crime.
  • Characters who love to host parties.
  • Parties that stop once the characters find romance.

Their journey:

  • Humble backgrounds.
  • Altered identities.
  • Living vicariously through more glamorous neighbors.
  • Driven by dreams.
  • Dreams ultimately lead to their death and exile.

Technical similarities:

  • First person narratives.
  • Beautiful imagery to describe the setting and supporting characters.
  • Visits to the main character by someone from their past.

Is this comparison meant to imply that Breakfast at Tiffany’s doesn’t deserve to be on the 100 Best List? Absolutely not. I love the book and could watch the movie on continual loop. What Truman Capote did with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story is to recreate and change it for his own purposes. They say there are only seven story plots. These are:

  • Overcoming the Monster
  • Rags to Riches
  • The Quest
  • Voyage and Return
  • Comedy
  • Tragedy
  • Rebirth

This means you have to take basic principles of good storytelling from previously told tales, but then, you put your own style to it, add your own unique details, envision how your character will be different. 

So keep writing your stories, but educate yourself by remembering that writers need to be readers, too.

Create Colorful Characters

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Create Colorful Characters

If a reader calls your book “formulaic,” it might mean that the plot isn’t compelling and you need to create colorful characters. If you’ve created a character “type” that we’ve seen too many times before, chances are the reviews won’t be stellar. Yet, we’re all exposed to the same stimuli; and therefore, it’s hard to think of new scenarios. One of the best ways to encourage your plot and your sales to soar is by ensuring that your characters are new and exciting. Learn how to create colorful characters.

Ask yourself ‘what if’ …

I like to ask myself “what if”… Let’s suppose my main character is a suburban mom. If you’re going the comedy route, you could ask, “What if she’s mistaken to be a pop singer/actress/porn star while on vacation? … And decides she likes it!” If it’s a suspense thriller you’re writing you could ask, “What if her husband embezzles a fortune, goes on the lam and she’s forced to protect the kids and herself from the thugs that come after them?”

Create colorful characters with a fatal flaw

Is there one particular thing that will just set off your character? For instance, maybe they’ve achieved a certain level of success in their lives. They have a good job, a beautiful family, but they can’t get over the fact that their neighbor seems to have it just a little bit better? How do they react when they see their neighbor driving a brand new car? Or, when that same person invites them over to celebrate their latest job promotion? If your character were to suddenly go off the handle and yet, we’ve gotten to know and like him prior, you’ve created a colorful character in the fact that we both sympathize with him and also see a train wreck about to occur.

Create colorful characters that are relatable

I love those mouth-dropping-open moments in films or television shows when you just can’t believe the character has reacted in a particular way. It’s like when Walter White from “Breaking Bad” killed off Jesse’s girlfriend without a second thought. How could he? He likes Jesse. In spite of what we, as the audience, think about his actions, we can relate. We understand his motivation. He hadn’t come this far to let someone get in his way.

Does your character act cringe-worthy?

Cringe-worthy moments make for are equally colorful characters. Those times when you cover your eyes and say, “Oh no, he’s not going to do that.” This is the fodder of date movies like “There’s Something About Mary” when she finds an “interesting” new hair gel.

You can create colorful characters when you know your character backwards and forwards. You know what they love or fear. You have a clear understanding of how they relate to other people and what impacts their life. Check out this related article, “13 Ways to Create Compelling Characters” for more ideas. Do you have a favorite character? Let me know what makes them compelling to you.