She's brash about her character's violence and flippant about the character's flippant coping strategies. At moments, I sense the writer is acting the character.
To convey the truth about a character often takes stepping into the protagonist's shoes, be they flip flops, stilettos or boots to get to know her inside and out well enough to convey her truth. Often that takes exploring the dark side of ourselves.
By the 3rd draft, a writer slips on her own shoes and plots a point to the violence by revealing the truth about the character's coping strategies in scene through cause and effect. A powerful secondary character feels sympathy for the protagonist. He helps the reader, too, to feel sympathy rather than repulsion for her. The character may talk about killing everyone flippantly as a coping mechanism. Who she is is uniquely her. Her feeling are universal. Arrange the scenes to show the true cost to the character herself as she moves from denial to acceptance.
She enters the end, fully conscious of who she is and with a plan to get her where she thinks she has to go.
To familiarize yourself with the Universal Story and the basic plot terms in the above blog post:
1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master (Now also as a Kindle edition)
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 3/22/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 2/23/2010
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2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. A directory of all the steps to the series is to the right of this post. 27-step tutorial on Youtube
3 Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. A directory the book examples and plot elements discussed is to the left of this post.
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By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 3/22/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: plot whisperer plot consultation, left-brain writing versus right-brain writing, how the back-story affects the writer's actions in the front story, a writers journey, Add a tag
Terrific comment from a writer I work with -- she thinks like in fireworks with ideas going off in all different directions. No wonder she has difficulty pinning down her story. It's as if in every writing session she embarks on yet another story. Yet, it's obvious that her themes remain consistent throughout. Based on that we begin our work.
For her, the process is not about generating scenes. For this writer, her process involves analyzing what she does have -- beginning with key scenes at energetic markers only. Since she has revealed to me all the defining traits of a classically right-hemisphere dominate writer, such a task of analyzation brings up all sorts of resistance from her.
As we work our way through the maze, her next toughest assignment is to hone in on her story and begin to commit to one route over another. She searches for assurances that the process will lead her to a publishable book in the end, which is impossible to determine until she reaches the end of the process and finds out what her story truly is all about. So, rather than commit, she continues to flit from one idea to another.
No amount of reassurances from me or anyone else about believing in and relying on the beauty of her writing brings her peace. Such a belief has to originate from inside herself. Something in her back-story seems to be preventing this. And, just like with the protagonist, as this writer writes her story, she also embarks on a personal, emotional and spiritual journey to determine how her back-story negatively affects her front story and writing life.
No wonder writing a story from the beginning all the way through to the end can take so long and become so difficult.
Even so, and setting aside her dream of publication, I still believe to my core that the process of writing and the self-discovery writing brings us is worth the time and effort. Always...
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By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 2/23/2010
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sacred feminine and writing, plot whisperer plot consultation, Add a tag
Images on the news often portray an imbalance. That the old world order, the patriarchal world of rules and judgments and wars and control needs a bit of balance. Only trouble, the sacred feminine stays lost or hidden, is out of reach.
Yesterday's plot consultation gave me hope of the sacred feminine reveal, return, and balance restored.
Ah, the joys of being in on the birth of greatness.
Thanks for inviting me...
Be brave.
Dig deep.
2 Comments on Return of the Sacred Feminine??, last added: 2/23/2010
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I am very similar to this writer you speak of. I ended up writing 5 different scenarios for one scene in my Nano book. I am having such a hard time. Thanks for that bit of a wake up call. I have been watching your videos, a few every day and then trying to think logically about how to apply MY story to them.
Hmm I think that my inner critic is my worst obstacle. You aren't good enough. You flit from thing to thing. Master of nothing. WHo would every read this steaming pile of.... You quit everything you begin.
HEY NO I don't!
Thanks for sharing your experience with this writer. I can relate to the "fireworks" problem (and "fireworks" describes it very well). What do you mean by "key scenes at energetic markers"?
I also can relate to this writer. I have been floundering with my current story and I can't figure out if it is because I'm being overly critical of myself and the story (I am the queen of Negative self talk unfortunately) or if the story is truly not unique enough and I need to not waste anymore time on it.
When you can't peg things down (the firework syndrome you describe) and you have a history of being overly negative with yourself, how do you know when you need to keep moving forward versus it really is not the right story to pursue?
Back to watching your Plot videos (thank you for those!)
Glad to see you standing up for yourself, Jennivie!
The negative mind only has power when you give yourself over to those thoughts. I know it sounds simplistic but whenever you hear those negative thoughts about your writing, turn instantly to giving yourself a constant stream of positive self-talk like you're feeling secure and at ease.
You're in concert with the muse and whatever you believe is the creative source has chosen you and will not let you down.
It's up to you to listen to your higher self. Do not give yourself over to the dark side!
I know, it's easier said than done but merely the attempt is enough for now...
Molten, the easiest way for me to tell you about the energetic markers is to send you to another post and give the url for the step in the video series that addresses the missing markers:
http://plotwhisperer.blogspot.com/2011/01/three-key-scenes.html
and
http://www.youtube.com/user/marthaalderson#p/u/7/XfRjGNQHWBI
Hope that helps!
Shannon, I am a firm believer that the process of writing is an act of discovery and is always worth the time and attention to write to the end.
I don't believe in giving up on a story. Ever...
I have a corny belief that every story is longing to manifest and, having chosen you, believes you are the one to bring that fragment of a dream, that wisp of inspiration to the page.
You are unique, thus any story you write will be unique as well.
Believe in yourself and your story and the one who hounds your dreams and calls you to write...
Thank you for your feedback and thoughts. I felt some of my tension float away when I read this. I like assuming the story will be unique if I just trust in myself and the story.
Your belief doesn't seem corny to me.
Best wishes.