Writer’s Digest “Novel Writing” Edition (Photo credit: Arthaey)
Characters
Sorry it took so long to post, but I’ve been really busy.
I’ve been writing and editing and reading and learning more about the craft of writing. In my first book Murder Before Dawn, I kept hearing that the characters needed more depth and layering. At the time I didn’t understand what that meant.
Since then I’ve done a lot of reading on defining characters and the book I’m writing now has more polish to the characters. Also, the saying ”to show don’t tell” is something I really have to work at. I see a picture as I’m writing, but instead of telling what I’m seeing, I write it.
In this second book, I’m describing what I’m seeing and hopefully it is showing not telling. The story has layers and hints, as the first book didn’t have them.
There are three subplots in the second book, and the first book had one. I’m seeing growth as the story moves forward and each time I edit there is a definite growth emerging.
An article I just read from RWR explains how to get deeper into your characters through passive-aggressive storytelling making your characters more believable. Lately, the articles in the magazine have been very helpful. Also articles in Writer’s Digest.
As I read a story lately, I’m looking at the way the writer creates the characters in the book and try to emulate the pattern in what I’m writing.
My goal is to grow in my writing as the story progresses and the only way I know to do this is to read and continue writing.
I love to write and as I further the story I find the characters are telling me what to write and what they want to happen next. I’ve tried to use an outline, but that doesn’t work for me.
There are certain elements to each scene and chapter and in editing, I try to make sure they are there. Most of all I’m trying to create characters that draw in the reader and become personally involved with the characters I’ve created.
I know the more I write the better the story will get. Practice make perfect, right?
Until my next post, good writing!
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- Writers Digest (theimerman.wordpress.com)
I try to find a happy balance between plotting ahead of time in a sort of outline form, and just flying by the seat of my pants once I start writing. I do know a lot of writers who are primarily “pantsers”; i.e., like you they just let the characters tell them what to write and don’t outline anything beforehand. Everyone is different!