I've fallen into the habit of asking writers to fill out the Character Emotional Development Plot Profile for themselves as well as for their protagonist. One question more than all others reveals depth of passion.
QUESTION: What do you stand to lose if you do not accomplish your writing goal?
WRITERS' ANSWERS:
I've lost my way and haven't been able to find it again
The evil voices will be proven correct
Sanity
My story will not make it into the world
Self-respect
Me
My self-esteem
A sense of accomplishment before the real deadline
Self-fulfillment
Peace of mind
In the work I do with writers, I offer guidance about plot and structure and meaning in relationship to the protagonist's ultimate transformation. I also strive to provide insight into the writer's journey.
Writing is a solitary activity and can make you feel cut-off and separate and alone. Until, that is, you attend your first writers conference, join a critique group, form a writing group, read blogs like this one.
Everyone who creates something out of nothing questions themselves. Who am I to write?
All writers revise endlessly.
No one knows what they truly are writing about.
Every writer is shy about the choices they make.
My greatest hope for you is to remember we all start a story the same--one word on the page at a time and to encourage you to feel your way to how this next author answers when asked the same question:
What do you stand to lose if you are unsuccessful at achieving your writing goal?
Not a thing. Everything is as it should be...
Last Saturday I taught the 1st in a series of 3 Plot Intensives in Capitola, CA. I covered plot at the overall story level. This Saturday I teach the 2nd plot workshop to cover plot at the scene level. Next Saturday I teach the 3rd and final workshop; Plot for Meaning at the overall plot level.
Saturday for the first time I asked writers to fill out the
Character Emotional Plot Profile for more than just their protagonist and antagonist. This time, they also filled out one for themselves as a writer and another for themselves personally.
I felt a bit weird about asking for their own personal profile and after glancing at a few, I knew for certain I won't do that again. I don't need to know a person's secrets to help her with plot. However, the writers' profiles were fascinating in their universality.
Everyone wants to write a story and everyone suffers from the same doubt, insecurity, fears which begs the question: if a writer stands back and analyzes where she is on her writing journey, will it help her as much as standing back and looking at the overall plot of her writing story on a
Plot Planner?
You tell me.
Where are you on your writing journey?
- Still in the introductory mode (Beginning - 1/4) and mostly talking about writing, how you're not writing, what you want to write about, thinking about writing, wanting to write but don't very often?
- Stepped over into the land of the exotic and solitary world of writing filled with antagonists of every kind (Middle - 1/2)?
- Clawing your way to the Climax (End - 1/4)
Does your answer surprise you?
Does the understanding of where you are on the Universal Story form or your life's journey give you a deeper understanding of you are in relationship with your writing?
Does it give you a deeper understanding of the journey your protagonist is on, too?
I've fallen into the habit of asking writers to fill out the Character Emotional Development Plot Profile for themselves as well as for their protagonist. One question more than all others reveals depth of passion.
It's so true- we impose our own deadlines and pressure most of the time. The answers you shared from writers are revealing in that they take their craft very seriously, which is good. But some answers really are sad in that it's clear we are very hard on ourselves. Thanks for reminding us that "everything is as it should be," even if we don't make a certain goal.
Marissa
Oh yes, I love this.