14 May 2013

Character Flaw, Fatal and Otherwise

By Prompt 47 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing you have are firmly in the middle of the middle of your novel, memoir, screenplay. Perhaps you felt resistance upon entering the middle and gave yourself time to consider your story and even give into your doubts.

Each time you found your way back to the PWBook of Prompts you moved yet one scene nearer to your goal of finishing.

Many of the prompts you've worked through have guided you to continually re-define the protagonist's goals and what is driving her forward to persevere against all odds and to create formidable antagonist to prevent her from reaching her goals.

By Prompt 47, you are asked to re-establish her character flaw-- that internal belief pattern that limits her and keeps her from reaching her goals.

Now, if you haven't discovered the exact right flaw for her, is the time to do so. Search the traits she's displayed thus far and the actions she's taken. Dig through her beliefs about life and people and her place in the world.

When you've found the flaw(s) do not succumb to the desire to go back into earlier scenes to develop this flaw. You'll slow yourself down. Don't believe me? Try it one day and then assess your word count for the day. Once should be enough to show you how going back slows down your forward progress. Rather, write notes to yourself on your plot planner to include in the first major rewrite. As you write forward, watch how that same flaw of hers pops up and how deep her flaw runs.

For an in-depth resource to all the questions to ask about theme when writing a novel, memoir, screeplay, refer to  The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories.

AND

Watch, at How Do I Plot the Character Emotional Development Plot in a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay?

*****

Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts inThe Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing

Today, I write.

To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:

1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter