Steeped in nature and beauty, surrounded by writers willing to take a risk, for five days, I went through the process of creating and analyzing plot at both the scene and the overall story level.
Several writers at last week's plot retreat were local. The rest flew in from Nevada, Colorado, Mississippi and handful from southern California. Some of the writers knew me from plot consultations and previous workshops and retreats. Others were familiar only through my book and/or other plot tools and YouTube Plot Series.
The focus on Character Emotional Development plot brings up opportunities to use the writing life as examples writers can relate to along with classic novels, memoirs, and screenplays. That, in turn, always challenges me to examine my own writing life which reflects my internal life or spirit.
My professional goal is to support writers in developing plot. What used to stand in my way was fear and insecurity. I never could let that stop me because of the belief that if I don't continue taking steps toward my goal, I lose the gift.
For a time, I celebrated the confidence I found in conquering my fear and insecurity thanks to writers generous feedback. After this plot retreat, I know I still have a distance to travel.
After reliving all the amazing moments over the past five days, I began spotting specks here and there in the magnificent tapestry we created together. Worry cropped up in the one or two writers confusing body language and feedback and I found myself growing smaller. In the knowledge that antagonists support profound character transformation, of course, I feel gratitude to both the writers acting as allies and the shape-shifters who acted as antagonists, too. Rather than feed the strength of the antagonists by wallowing, however, I mine the lessons there. Having done so, I am able to deliberately shift my focus from the worry and, instead, revel in the majority's effusive and deep-felt gratitude.
It was an incredible five days. Thanks to each of you for taking time out of your busy lives and attending. You touched my heart in deep and wonderful ways.
Fill in the Character Profile below for your protagonist (the character who is most changed by the dramatic action), any other major viewpoint characters and, if there is one, the character who represents the major antagonist for the protagonist. If you decide to do it for yourself as a writer, too, I'd love to learn your answers. You do not have to include your name.
1. What is this character's goal?
I twittered recently about how at first writers often give their full attention to one plotline alone. Subsequent rewrites, we are able to multitask.
The plot line that first comes to a writer generally reflects the writer's strength and preference.
This particular writer gives great thought to the action plot line -- outer plot -- and to the romantic plot line -- romance plot (not necessary in every book, though this particular writer is a romance writer, so... Also, because romance fiction is selling well despite the economic downturn, seems to make sense to include some romance??)
Same writer struggles with the character plot line -- inner plot. She balks at filling out the character profile as it applies to the character traits and has done little to explore the protagonist's inner life. Thus, the character shows no transformation in the end. The writer especially resists coming up a flaw -- "I've never been any good at that."
I quickly establish elements in the key scenes:
1) Launch
2) End of the Beginning
3) Halfway point
4) Crisis
5) Climax
6) Resolution
The scenes themselves point to the character flaw.
As soon as we know the flaw, it is possible to determine how to rewrite each of the key scenes (and all the other ones, too), at least in relationship to the inner plot -- the character emotional development plot line.
**Beginning (1/4):
Introduce the flaw
**Middle (1/2):
Deepen the readers' understanding all the different ways the flaw is revealed. Expand upon all the ways her basic flaw sabotages her from achieving her long-term goals. Yes, the Middle (1/2) is the territory of the antagonists and of the exotic or unusual world, but both of those elements serve to underline the flaw in no uncertain terms. Antagonists serve to challenge the protagonist, but generally speaking our inner issues and beliefs directly influence the growth and development of the flaw and that flaw does more to sabotage us than any external source. (Can't help it, the plot work I do gives me valuable insight into not only character's behavior but our behavior as writers, as well.)
**End (1/4): Shows the character becoming conscious of flaw and the steps she take to remake herself = character transformation.
Steeped in nature and beauty, surrounded by writers willing to take a risk, for five days, I went through the process of creating and analyzing plot at both the scene and the overall story level.
I'm so jealous of those who got to go to the retreat! This questionnaire is great. I'm definitely using it.
Great post and sounds like a fantastic retreat, lucky you. I've just bought the book Creating Character Emotions, by Ann Hood. I hope it's good.
I like your questionnaire: here are my answers. I should be NaNoing but this is helping:
1- My MC's goal is to find closure/revenge on the villain who has hurt her.
2- Obstacles - her parents, the police, the villain and his family.
3- She could end up in prison, She could be killed. She could feel frustrated forever.
4- Too independent.
5- Her compassion, her loyalty.
6- Ineffectiveness on the part of those who should be effective.
7- Her home, her BF, truth...
8- That she won't be successful in reaching her goal. Others may be hurt if she's not successful.
9- That she will be whole again.
10-That she feels she could kill if pushed hard enough.
Hi L'Aussie, I'd love to see the answers you come up with for yourself as a writer, too. Thank you.
Maybe next time, you'll get to come, too, Tamara! Glad you're finding the Character Profile helpful.
All right, here's me (the writer):
1. What is this character's goal?
To create a story of beauty that will move people and transcend them from this physical world. If just one person is touched, she will be happy.
2. What stands in the way of the character achieving his/her goal?
Her past: As a child, she was taught she wasn't good enough, she wasn't smart or creative enough.
3. What does the character stand to lose if he/she does not achieve his/her goal?
Her identity and her meaning in life. She feels this is her calling, that she was chosen as a conduit to deliver these stories.
4. What is the character's flaw or greatest fault?
An unwillingness to be social.
5. What is the character's greatest strength?
Her compassion, which may be innate but was also awoken by some tragic events in her past: the illness and early death of her parents, the loss of her house in a fire, etc.
6. What does the character hate?
Wasted effort, inefficiency, and thoughtlessness.
7. What does the character love?
Animals and people who are full of integrity.
8. What is the character's greatest fear?
That no one will understand her stories.
9. What is the character's dream?
That she can spend all day writing.
10. What is the character's secret?
She think she can really pull this off--if she can get it together!
hmmm, a thought that perhaps your answers are for you, L'Aussie....
Hi Anne,
I see you together, writing all day, appreciating that nothing is wasted and all effort is worthy. I really see you pulling this off.
Congratulations!
Thank you!
PS Anne,
Thing is, there is no beginning and no end to how great and smart and creative you truly are...
Hi Plot Whisperer: Thanks for your comments. Very intuitive of you. My character study was for my current WIP but maybe there is more than a bit of me in it!