I fell off the wagon, guys.
A few days ago, my housemate lent me her 3DS and this stupidly addictive game. When I get my hands on a video game, I don't stop until the final boss evaporates into pixels. Then I worked a weird shift at work. One thing led to another, and I haven't written for two days.
It doesn't matter why we stop writing- something as dumb as a video game or something as earth-shaking as a tragedy- eventually, we just have to pick up and start again.
"But I've already wrecked it," you (or I) might be tempted to say.
That's okay. Statistically speaking, we won't be able to succeed one hundred percent of the time. But if we don't come back at it when we don't succeed, we never will.
So the Day Job Challenge begins anew- ten minutes a day, every day. Even if you're stuck in a boss fight, you can pause the game. (Yeah, Cate, pause the game.)
To help you on your way, here comes a character builder!
Your character has a baby to name. What level of regard do they give the process? How creative are they? What would they ultimately pick?
Your character is so attached to an inanimate object that they name it. What is the object? What is the name? How is this process compared to the one above?
I think it's fairly telling if your character feels an instantaneous connection to a name for their car, but shrug and pick the most popular name for a kid. What object they pick also says an enormous amount about their personality. A famous example in nerddom is Firefly's Jayne, whose favorite gun is named Vera. I suspect if you handed him a baby and told him to name it, he would likely either name it after the gun or shrug. On the other hand, if your character stresses over the responsibility of assigning a name to a human being, that also opens up some questions. Do they have a creative name which got them tossed in trash cans in school? Were they one of seven Zachs in their class? Are they the sort of person for whom deciding what to have for dinner causes anguish, or is this an abnormal amount of stress?
Bonus!
Your character has a new pet to name. Is it a Sparky or a Whiskers, or do they weigh their options more?
Your character must name a fictional character. What would they pick? How invested in the decision are they?
If you're really bored, then their character could name another fictional character, and the process could go on like a literary Escher piece. Character-ception?
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Character Builders #17 & 18
In yesterday's post I talked about the process of building a core set of values for a society to be based around. Now let's talk about how your characters fit into that worldview. This is often a very basic part of understanding character in the context of your setting. Keeping your work on your society's moral foundation in mind, consider...
Is your character bound to the same set of ethics and morals as his or her society? Why or why not? How much so? How do they express that? How does their expression affect them?
Also:
If your character is an outsider to the society that you're writing, how do they fit in with the ideals they find there? How do your character's differences in values affect them while they're there?
Consider these carefully. People are not one-dimensional. Say your society is built around the concept that individuals should be as uniform as possible. Your character may disagree and long to be an individual, but surely there are some ways that he conforms. He may agree completely, but have slight qualms about certain aspects of the social code. If you have a visitor to this country or world or dimension, does she find the difference appalling, appealing, somewhere in between? How do the locals treat her? Remember that opinions shift, too- the answer to these questions may (and perhaps even should, depending on the story) change.
These questions also open up great thought processes about personality, too- there are many different ways to be. Your character could be disenchanted with his society, but choose to keep his disagreement silent for many reasons. Or he could be the willing pariah, voicing his disapproval to anyone who'll listen. Your outsider could find the focus on conformity new and exciting. She might come at the issue with the dispassionate eye of a scholar, or she might well be ready to completely integrate herself into this society. Let your mind wander a bit over these questions and see what comes back with it.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Is your character bound to the same set of ethics and morals as his or her society? Why or why not? How much so? How do they express that? How does their expression affect them?
Also:
If your character is an outsider to the society that you're writing, how do they fit in with the ideals they find there? How do your character's differences in values affect them while they're there?
Consider these carefully. People are not one-dimensional. Say your society is built around the concept that individuals should be as uniform as possible. Your character may disagree and long to be an individual, but surely there are some ways that he conforms. He may agree completely, but have slight qualms about certain aspects of the social code. If you have a visitor to this country or world or dimension, does she find the difference appalling, appealing, somewhere in between? How do the locals treat her? Remember that opinions shift, too- the answer to these questions may (and perhaps even should, depending on the story) change.
These questions also open up great thought processes about personality, too- there are many different ways to be. Your character could be disenchanted with his society, but choose to keep his disagreement silent for many reasons. Or he could be the willing pariah, voicing his disapproval to anyone who'll listen. Your outsider could find the focus on conformity new and exciting. She might come at the issue with the dispassionate eye of a scholar, or she might well be ready to completely integrate herself into this society. Let your mind wander a bit over these questions and see what comes back with it.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
World Builder #2
World building can refer to a number of things. In small scale, it can mean coming up with a fictional town, city, or other setting for the story to inhabit. Slightly larger is conceiving a kingdom, country, city-state, collective, et cetera. Then we can zoom out to the idea of populating a planet or plane, and bigger still, a collective of planets, dimensions, planes, solar systems. It's a hefty task, and sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time. This week, we'll focus on societal issues. Your results may vary- after all, your setting might be a small town in contemporary America, so the larger social norms may still be at play, or you might be designing a galaxy with several dozen societies to make up.
What is the core concept of your world's (setting's) value system(s)?
It's a big question. Star Trek's Klingons, for example, prize honor above all else. In Lord of the Rings, the elves hold intellect and grace near and dear, while the dwarves prefer familiarity and fearlessness in battle and hobbits cherish the home. In Star Wars, the Jedi rally around a religion which emphasizes letting go of emotion while the Empire values subservience and conformity. And evil, I suppose. These are huge fantastical settings, but even the smallest town has its own politics and values. It's a Wonderful Life's Bedford Falls comes down on the side of loyalty, friendship and family.
Stretch outside the limits of what you already know. For a really out there setting, consider something outrageous. Say you have a society of hedonists, and even their greetings and farewells are about food. Or a group of angsty individuals whose adherence to Nietzsche's philosophies drive their whole society. Likely dreary and impractical, but it's an idea. Reach outside of the comfort zone. Even Anytown, USA can become interesting when its inhabitants' whole outlook is built on the idea that you don't gossip, or eschew money in favor of giving, or that you shouldn't be allowed to have anything that you didn't make, hunt, gather, or steal yourself.
And remember- cliches are cliches for a reason. If you find yourself reaching for a society that sounds a little too Klingon-esque, ask yourself why. Is it because your characters are all warriors? What other values do warriors carry that can become secondary motivators?
The fun part comes next- do you have a character who moves with the flow of these values or against? We'll get into that one tomorrow. Until then, start a list of concepts and get to building some town, national, global, or galactic values.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Plot Hole tumbls!
Just a quick post to let you know about the Plot Hole Living tumblr stream! It's a nifty way to get quick doses of prompt without explanation- perfect for those ten minutes I'm sure we all have set aside for the Day Job Challenge. Not everything from this blog will hit the tumblr, but it updates often. If you tumbl, join us!
See you tomorrow for regularly scheduled prompt-y goodness. Until then, take ten minutes, get your backside in a chair or other preferred writing roost and write.
See you tomorrow for regularly scheduled prompt-y goodness. Until then, take ten minutes, get your backside in a chair or other preferred writing roost and write.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Character Builders 13, 14, 15, & 16: The Dumb Questions
When getting to be friends with someone, often we bond over the more ridiculous aspects of our relationships. My housemates and I, for example, learned our way around each other's peculiarities while discussing whether or not Mortal Kombat was an appropriate lens through which to view Sex and the City and making late night trips to fabric stores and one very memorable trek to a Toys R Us. While we don't expect to be friends with every single one of our characters, you still need to get to know them. And what better way to do that than by asking the same dumb questions that we ask our friends?
If your character could have any one superpower/magical power, what would it be? If they already have one, are they happy with it? Would they choose another?
Who knows- the above question might turn your realistic fiction into a work of magical realism, if the answer catches your interest.
If your character were confronted by a fictional supervillain, how would they handle it?
If your character will be confronted by a fictional supervillain in their own story, consider a famous bad guy. What would happen if they met Darth Vader or the Joker or Captain Hook?
If your character caught a leprechaun and was given the choice between keeping it captive and having three wishes or letting it free and gaining access to its unlimited pot of gold, which would he or she choose?
Given the choice between imprisonment for a month or three five minute sessions of corporal punishment spread out over three months, which would he or she choose? Assuming of course that the imprisonment would not entail any corporal punishment or hard labor.
They seem completely silly, but each of these questions still provides insight into the thought processes of a character. For example, a timid businessman faced with Voldemort might well prove that deep down, he wants to be a hero. Is money more important to him than the ability to magically improve things? Is his freedom more important to him than the idea of discomfort along the way? Does the fact that he dreams of becoming invisible mean something about how he interacts with people? Asking the dumb questions feels silly at first, but it's fun to consider what your straight-laced suit wearer or vapid teenage girl or powerful wizard might do with the leprechaun. Also, unrelated: asking your housemates these questions over the course of writing this blog produces some laughter as well. The only thing I know for sure is that one of them emphatically chooses prison over beatings. As would I, I think.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
If your character could have any one superpower/magical power, what would it be? If they already have one, are they happy with it? Would they choose another?
Who knows- the above question might turn your realistic fiction into a work of magical realism, if the answer catches your interest.
If your character were confronted by a fictional supervillain, how would they handle it?
If your character will be confronted by a fictional supervillain in their own story, consider a famous bad guy. What would happen if they met Darth Vader or the Joker or Captain Hook?
If your character caught a leprechaun and was given the choice between keeping it captive and having three wishes or letting it free and gaining access to its unlimited pot of gold, which would he or she choose?
Given the choice between imprisonment for a month or three five minute sessions of corporal punishment spread out over three months, which would he or she choose? Assuming of course that the imprisonment would not entail any corporal punishment or hard labor.
They seem completely silly, but each of these questions still provides insight into the thought processes of a character. For example, a timid businessman faced with Voldemort might well prove that deep down, he wants to be a hero. Is money more important to him than the ability to magically improve things? Is his freedom more important to him than the idea of discomfort along the way? Does the fact that he dreams of becoming invisible mean something about how he interacts with people? Asking the dumb questions feels silly at first, but it's fun to consider what your straight-laced suit wearer or vapid teenage girl or powerful wizard might do with the leprechaun. Also, unrelated: asking your housemates these questions over the course of writing this blog produces some laughter as well. The only thing I know for sure is that one of them emphatically chooses prison over beatings. As would I, I think.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
SUPER Apology Post: The Day Job Challenge
Life gets in the way of writing sometimes. The point is not to let it. This week, I've had my first full week back at my day job since injuring myself in the most ridiculous of ways, and I found that the minute I got home, all I wanted to do was pass out.
RESIST.
Most writers must take day jobs. It's fact that playing with imaginary friends, making up your own languages, and plotting to make the lives of fictional people as miserable as possible does not pay right at the starting gate. If in your experience it does, please let me know the name of your publisher and how many times you had to submit your book- I'd love to have a conversation with them. For the rest of us, that means waiting tables, sitting in an office, writing page upon page of technical writing so dry that it spontaneously combusts. No one wants to do these things, but alas, unfed writers do not write.
So how do you deal with the fact that your day job (or night job, if that's your thing) doesn't line up with the desire to put words- your words- to paper? The way I see it, there are three options.
1. Cry.
2. Get very, very sleep deprived.
3. Do it a bit at a time.
Option one is nonproductive, as crying wastes the time that you could be writing, though let's be honest here. Most of us go through a time where we realize how desperately incompatible accepting overtime to fill the fridge is with getting down to the business we want to be doing. Crying at that point seems a reasonable response.
Option two gets results- sometimes. There's something to be said for the occasional midnight (or midday) fling with the word processor. But every single time you should be sleeping? That's going to lead to slides at work, home, and in your writing. Option two is like dessert: wonderful, sumptuous, and not to be indulged in every day.
Option three is my favorite, and the subject of this post. I call it the Day Job Challenge. Set aside ten minutes and get some rump-in-chair writing time in. If it goes past ten minutes into one of those decadent late night indulgences, great. If you can block out an hour, give yourself permission to write on through those ten minutes and make magic. If you're too dang tired, you've still done ten minutes of work, and that's good.
Loss of momentum is the leading cause of death for writing projects. The Day Job Challenge lets you keep it moving even when you've had a billion customers yell at you and you just feel like falling into bed. Ten minutes before bed or after dinner or on your break. That's all it takes.
I'm going to have to practice what I profess, too. Keep me accountable. I've always been a fan of NaNoWriMo, but when that month ends, there's no website keeping track of your goal. Be your own website- make a spreadsheet, keep a calendar. Write a blog. Excuses are lame. See first paragraph for lameness.
We all fall off the wagon and give in sometimes to the weariness of the workplace. But make at least ten minutes per day yours. Put the phone on silent, shut the door on roommates, spouses, kids, pets, parents. And above all else, just do it. Because that's the only way you're ever going to get anything written.
RESIST.
Most writers must take day jobs. It's fact that playing with imaginary friends, making up your own languages, and plotting to make the lives of fictional people as miserable as possible does not pay right at the starting gate. If in your experience it does, please let me know the name of your publisher and how many times you had to submit your book- I'd love to have a conversation with them. For the rest of us, that means waiting tables, sitting in an office, writing page upon page of technical writing so dry that it spontaneously combusts. No one wants to do these things, but alas, unfed writers do not write.
So how do you deal with the fact that your day job (or night job, if that's your thing) doesn't line up with the desire to put words- your words- to paper? The way I see it, there are three options.
1. Cry.
2. Get very, very sleep deprived.
3. Do it a bit at a time.
Option one is nonproductive, as crying wastes the time that you could be writing, though let's be honest here. Most of us go through a time where we realize how desperately incompatible accepting overtime to fill the fridge is with getting down to the business we want to be doing. Crying at that point seems a reasonable response.
Option two gets results- sometimes. There's something to be said for the occasional midnight (or midday) fling with the word processor. But every single time you should be sleeping? That's going to lead to slides at work, home, and in your writing. Option two is like dessert: wonderful, sumptuous, and not to be indulged in every day.
Option three is my favorite, and the subject of this post. I call it the Day Job Challenge. Set aside ten minutes and get some rump-in-chair writing time in. If it goes past ten minutes into one of those decadent late night indulgences, great. If you can block out an hour, give yourself permission to write on through those ten minutes and make magic. If you're too dang tired, you've still done ten minutes of work, and that's good.
Loss of momentum is the leading cause of death for writing projects. The Day Job Challenge lets you keep it moving even when you've had a billion customers yell at you and you just feel like falling into bed. Ten minutes before bed or after dinner or on your break. That's all it takes.
I'm going to have to practice what I profess, too. Keep me accountable. I've always been a fan of NaNoWriMo, but when that month ends, there's no website keeping track of your goal. Be your own website- make a spreadsheet, keep a calendar. Write a blog. Excuses are lame. See first paragraph for lameness.
We all fall off the wagon and give in sometimes to the weariness of the workplace. But make at least ten minutes per day yours. Put the phone on silent, shut the door on roommates, spouses, kids, pets, parents. And above all else, just do it. Because that's the only way you're ever going to get anything written.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Scene Starter #4 (Character Builder Hybrid)
This strange amalgam of prompt stems from those tricky moments in which you have a lovely, well-defined character in mind, but no story for them to inhabit. Sometimes you're lucky enough to have a story and a character to start with, but no idea where to begin! That's where this double prompt comes in handy.
Your character receives the worst news imaginable to them at the moment via surprise phone call. What is it?
Or:
Your character receives the best possible news tucked in among the bills and junk mail. What is it?
Or you could expand:
Your character receives what they thought was the worst possible news, but then it gets worse. How?
Or:
Your character thinks that he or she has gotten the worst news of his or her life, but somehow it turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to them at the moment. How is this possible?
Or even further:
Your character gets the best possible news at the worst possible time.
I like to plot out all the ways these sorts of conundrums could unfold, then choose which gets the strongest reaction from me. For example, your character is a teenager waiting for her college acceptances. In the first scenario, she gets a phone call letting her know she didn't get into her dream school. In the second, she gets a full ride scholarship. In the third, she not only gets the call, but also finds out that her dad forgot to mail the rest of her applications. In the fourth, she finds out she didn't get into her school, but then finds out that the program that she applied to is racked with scandal. In the fifth, she is in the midst of consoling her best friend over her rejections when her dad bursts in crowing that your main character made it into her first choice.
To me, the last scenario produces the most possibilities, and creates a conflict from the start. It also showcases your main character's priorities- does she try to quiet her dad and focus on cheering up her friend (and probably doing some damage control), or is she too busy celebrating the fact that her dream has come true? Let your character start you off, and you're on your way to a great beginning.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Your character receives the worst news imaginable to them at the moment via surprise phone call. What is it?
Or:
Your character receives the best possible news tucked in among the bills and junk mail. What is it?
Or you could expand:
Your character receives what they thought was the worst possible news, but then it gets worse. How?
Or:
Your character thinks that he or she has gotten the worst news of his or her life, but somehow it turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to them at the moment. How is this possible?
Or even further:
Your character gets the best possible news at the worst possible time.
I like to plot out all the ways these sorts of conundrums could unfold, then choose which gets the strongest reaction from me. For example, your character is a teenager waiting for her college acceptances. In the first scenario, she gets a phone call letting her know she didn't get into her dream school. In the second, she gets a full ride scholarship. In the third, she not only gets the call, but also finds out that her dad forgot to mail the rest of her applications. In the fourth, she finds out she didn't get into her school, but then finds out that the program that she applied to is racked with scandal. In the fifth, she is in the midst of consoling her best friend over her rejections when her dad bursts in crowing that your main character made it into her first choice.
To me, the last scenario produces the most possibilities, and creates a conflict from the start. It also showcases your main character's priorities- does she try to quiet her dad and focus on cheering up her friend (and probably doing some damage control), or is she too busy celebrating the fact that her dream has come true? Let your character start you off, and you're on your way to a great beginning.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Character Builders #11 & 12
Sometimes the littlest details about a character suddenly bring them from the realm of the fictional to feeling real. Consider, for example, their taste in food:
Does your character prefer to indulge in things that are salty or sweet? Can they handle spicy foods?
Or try to understand where their sentimentality starts and ends:
There is a fire and your character only has time to save three things. Assuming all members of the household and pets have been rescued, what would he or she pick?
The more you understand a character- even if these little tidbits of knowledge never make it into a final draft- the easier it will be to communicate their personality. A person who enjoys spicy foods, for example, may wind up being the more adventurous sort. A person with the presence of mind to grab birth certificates, social security cards, and a checkbook may be the sort of practical individual who plans ahead. One who saves their childhood teddy bear, a picture of a beloved relative, and their wedding dress may well be more emotionally attached to items. Mentioning these details in passing also serves to bring the character to life for the reader. It's a lot subtler to mention a gymnast digging enthusiastically into a plate of Carl's famous Five Alarm Nachos than to say "Jenny was always bold." Food for thought.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Does your character prefer to indulge in things that are salty or sweet? Can they handle spicy foods?
Or try to understand where their sentimentality starts and ends:
There is a fire and your character only has time to save three things. Assuming all members of the household and pets have been rescued, what would he or she pick?
The more you understand a character- even if these little tidbits of knowledge never make it into a final draft- the easier it will be to communicate their personality. A person who enjoys spicy foods, for example, may wind up being the more adventurous sort. A person with the presence of mind to grab birth certificates, social security cards, and a checkbook may be the sort of practical individual who plans ahead. One who saves their childhood teddy bear, a picture of a beloved relative, and their wedding dress may well be more emotionally attached to items. Mentioning these details in passing also serves to bring the character to life for the reader. It's a lot subtler to mention a gymnast digging enthusiastically into a plate of Carl's famous Five Alarm Nachos than to say "Jenny was always bold." Food for thought.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Scene Starter #3
Sometimes, it's good to be realistic. Sometimes, outlandish fiction is more fun. Here's a prompt that plays with normality versus insanity.
You have accidentally picked up somebody else's luggage on your international flight, but don't realize it until you return to your hotel room. The bag is identical to yours in color and brand. What is the first item inside that tips you off? What else is in there? Is it run of the mill, or is it extremely strange and/or valuable?Was your luggage full of normal stuff too? What do you do with the bag?
Extra challenge- try writing this scene first from the perspective of a regular traveler expecting the usual folded undergarments and space for souvenirs and discovering, say, a trove of rare artifacts or the evidence to a crime or completely inexplicable and seemingly unrelated items. Next, try writing as an art thief who expected to finally have gotten away with the Mona Lisa or a child who has packed all of their favorite toys and instead gets a businessman's carefully packed suits or a tourist's camera. Bon voyage.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
You have accidentally picked up somebody else's luggage on your international flight, but don't realize it until you return to your hotel room. The bag is identical to yours in color and brand. What is the first item inside that tips you off? What else is in there? Is it run of the mill, or is it extremely strange and/or valuable?Was your luggage full of normal stuff too? What do you do with the bag?
Extra challenge- try writing this scene first from the perspective of a regular traveler expecting the usual folded undergarments and space for souvenirs and discovering, say, a trove of rare artifacts or the evidence to a crime or completely inexplicable and seemingly unrelated items. Next, try writing as an art thief who expected to finally have gotten away with the Mona Lisa or a child who has packed all of their favorite toys and instead gets a businessman's carefully packed suits or a tourist's camera. Bon voyage.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Apology Post: Character Builders 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10
Since I was awful and taking care of house cleaning yesterday, I'm behind a post. Bad writer! To make up for it, here's an extra long round of character building exercises! Get ready to really dig deep and ask invasive questions of your characters.
Here we go:
Name your character's:
-biggest irrational fear
-biggest founded fear
-one touchy hot button issue
-guilty pleasure
And a bonus:
If there is one person, living, dead or fictional that your character would want to meet, who would it be? Someone they could see again?
Conversely, if there is one person that he or she never wanted to see again, who would it be? Who would they never even want to meet for the first time?
And a story starter for good measure: Take the last prompt and make sure that character meets them. Better yet, blend Character Builders 9 & 10. Take someone he or she'd like to meet and turn them into someone they'd never want to see again, or take somone he or she'd never want to see and turn them into that one individual they can't help but want to revisit.
Okay, let's hope that I don't miss any more days, or I'm going to have to give out a bunch of ideas all at once again. Very sorry.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Here we go:
Name your character's:
-biggest irrational fear
-biggest founded fear
-one touchy hot button issue
-guilty pleasure
And a bonus:
If there is one person, living, dead or fictional that your character would want to meet, who would it be? Someone they could see again?
Conversely, if there is one person that he or she never wanted to see again, who would it be? Who would they never even want to meet for the first time?
And a story starter for good measure: Take the last prompt and make sure that character meets them. Better yet, blend Character Builders 9 & 10. Take someone he or she'd like to meet and turn them into someone they'd never want to see again, or take somone he or she'd never want to see and turn them into that one individual they can't help but want to revisit.
Okay, let's hope that I don't miss any more days, or I'm going to have to give out a bunch of ideas all at once again. Very sorry.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
World Builder #1
If you enjoy writing any sort of fantasy or science fiction world whose rules differ from our own, it's not all about cool weaponry and fancy-sounding names. The same sort of detailed thought that goes into the building of a character's personality should also go into putting a world together. Time to start asking some seemingly nitpicky questions to make sure that the settings you're working in work for the story you want to write.
For example:
What kind of currency system does your world use? Dollars, universal money, barter, gold, space credit? What kind of value do its inhabitants place on wealth?
This one's a tiny pet peeve of mine in lots of fantasy and sci-fi novels even by seasoned pros. The assumption that their totally unique world's economy functions exactly the same as Earth's/their country of origin's takes a richness out of the book that is really easy to add. Details like this go a long way in a world that is unfamiliar to readers, whether you want them to feel as though they're on the outside looking in or whether you want them to eventually feel at home there. The big questions absolutely need to be there- races, languages, geography- but feel free to take a magnifying glass to the little facets of day to day life that bring some life into your setting.
All prompts in this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
For example:
What kind of currency system does your world use? Dollars, universal money, barter, gold, space credit? What kind of value do its inhabitants place on wealth?
This one's a tiny pet peeve of mine in lots of fantasy and sci-fi novels even by seasoned pros. The assumption that their totally unique world's economy functions exactly the same as Earth's/their country of origin's takes a richness out of the book that is really easy to add. Details like this go a long way in a world that is unfamiliar to readers, whether you want them to feel as though they're on the outside looking in or whether you want them to eventually feel at home there. The big questions absolutely need to be there- races, languages, geography- but feel free to take a magnifying glass to the little facets of day to day life that bring some life into your setting.
All prompts in this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Character Prompts # 3 & 4
A character prompt for you on this lovely Tuesday afternoon. This time, consider your character's financial priorities.
Given an unlimited budget, what would your character buy at a department store? Off the internet?
On the other hand:
If your character suddenly lost his or her job or other financial means, what would be the first thing he or she would sell?
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Given an unlimited budget, what would your character buy at a department store? Off the internet?
On the other hand:
If your character suddenly lost his or her job or other financial means, what would be the first thing he or she would sell?
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but may not be republished without the permission of the author.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Getting Started: Scene Starters #1 & 2
Sometimes writing anything at all can help unstick a particularly stubborn piece, even if it's not anything related to the story you're working on. But when you've had a certain main squeeze project, seeing another story casually can be counterintuitive and difficult to start. It can be as simple as thumbing through a magazine and imagining the stories behind the ads or people watching and writing down what you see.
You can also use these little scenarios to get that scene- and who knows, maybe that brand new piece- moving.
In the middle of the night, a man pounds on the door. Why is he there?
Bonus prompt!
An inanimate object suddenly becomes aware. What is its first thought?
Start your pens!
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
You can also use these little scenarios to get that scene- and who knows, maybe that brand new piece- moving.
In the middle of the night, a man pounds on the door. Why is he there?
Bonus prompt!
An inanimate object suddenly becomes aware. What is its first thought?
Start your pens!
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Getting to Know You: Character Prompts #1 & 2
I was a creative writing major in college, and I had a professor who was absolutely convinced that the only way to accurately write a character was to get to know them just like you'd get to know any flesh and blood person. For those of us of the introverted persuasion, knowing where to start can be difficult. You know you need a name, you know you need an age, a race, physical characteristics. But what about all those weird little quirks that people have?
Enter character prompts. For example:
If you could raid your character's MP3 player/CD stash/album box/sheet music collection, what would you find?
And since this is the first post, let's throw in a bonus question for good measure:
Say your character is building a house. What three features would they absolutely be unable to live without?
Not all of this stuff will make it into your story, and it shouldn't necessarily. But having the knowledge in the back of your head will help you understand your character a little bit better and let you make informed decisions about their movements and thoughts.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Enter character prompts. For example:
If you could raid your character's MP3 player/CD stash/album box/sheet music collection, what would you find?
And since this is the first post, let's throw in a bonus question for good measure:
Say your character is building a house. What three features would they absolutely be unable to live without?
Not all of this stuff will make it into your story, and it shouldn't necessarily. But having the knowledge in the back of your head will help you understand your character a little bit better and let you make informed decisions about their movements and thoughts.
All prompts on this blog are free for personal and instructional use, but cannot be republished without the permission of the author.
Hello, Internet
The little flashing line at the top of a fresh document. Inviting, but intimidating. Like a blind date, you're never quite sure where this document will take you. Maybe you'll commit to this one and publish it, post it, turn it in, whatever you want to do with it. Or maybe the spark just won't be there and you'll give it the old "it's not me, it's you." So many possibilities in a little blinking line. So where to start?
Just like with a date, we start with hello. We talk a little bit about where this whole thing is going- but not too much, or we risk overloading our new acquaintance, freaking them out. We introduce ourselves.
Hi, I'm Cate. I'm an aspiring young adult writer living currently in Southern California with her speculative fiction writer husband, two cats, and two writerly housemates (and one nonwriterly one, but he's still awesome). I'm starting this blog because (surprise!) I like to write. I also like to talk to other writers about writing. I like to write about writing.
And that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll post writing questions, prompts, character dating advice, a polemic or two, and lots of other fun writing based stuff. I'll try to coax my housemates and other writerly folk to send in some guest posts. I might review a book or two.
Full disclosure- I identify as a writer because I write, not necessarily because I've gotten published and have lots and lots of super sage advice. I definitely have a day job. I'm coming at this blog from the perspective of someone who really loves the act of writing, thinking about writing, helping other people think about writing, and reading other people's writing.
That said: hello, Internet. Let's have some fun.
Just like with a date, we start with hello. We talk a little bit about where this whole thing is going- but not too much, or we risk overloading our new acquaintance, freaking them out. We introduce ourselves.
Hi, I'm Cate. I'm an aspiring young adult writer living currently in Southern California with her speculative fiction writer husband, two cats, and two writerly housemates (and one nonwriterly one, but he's still awesome). I'm starting this blog because (surprise!) I like to write. I also like to talk to other writers about writing. I like to write about writing.
And that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll post writing questions, prompts, character dating advice, a polemic or two, and lots of other fun writing based stuff. I'll try to coax my housemates and other writerly folk to send in some guest posts. I might review a book or two.
Full disclosure- I identify as a writer because I write, not necessarily because I've gotten published and have lots and lots of super sage advice. I definitely have a day job. I'm coming at this blog from the perspective of someone who really loves the act of writing, thinking about writing, helping other people think about writing, and reading other people's writing.
That said: hello, Internet. Let's have some fun.
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