Back again after the grindstone wore out my keyboard from writing so many papers and Christmas in retail-land left my energy deflated and draped over the nearest chair.
Anyway I have a few ruminations about writing I'll be posting over the next few days (hopefully). Mostly notes to self. Anyway.
Characters are plot.
When writing characters, every one of them should be living their individual storyline and be the hero in each POV. The thing about people is that everyone feels like the protagonist in their own life's history, and rarely will tell a story that illuminates them in an unflattering light. Normally there are reasons, explanations, and a series of emotional chain reactions that result in every action. Even if a married partner cheats, or a son doesn't wish his mother happy birthday, these things are usually justified as an acceptable outcome in the person's mind.
Characters should go through the same process too. Through the chain reactions they create plot: when a plot point occurs in a book, the opportunity can be laid out by an outside conflict, but it is how a character reacts to this conflict that creates plot. The story moves along as the character becomes more and more enraveled in their own choices.
By the end, they should be in full chrysalis mode and then emerge at the end as a beauteous butterfly transformed! (Because what's the point of a story if nothing changes? How can the reader hope to be moved and changed if the protagonist can't even bother to take the time to do the same).
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