In the first post of this series, I likened a well-rounded story to the game of bowling. Each pin equals one important aspect of a manuscript and the goal is to knock down all the pins, therefore touching on each element of a story to make it as polished and complete as possible.We discussed the first pin as voice - you can check out the post here - and today I'm talking about the next row of pins. Just two pins but very important to a story. Characters and Plot.
These two elements of a story are most successful if each is planned and/or written with a purpose.
Characters
A well-rounded and effective story cannot be created without characters, and not just any random characters, but characters with depth and intent. One of the simplest ways to approach this is the well-known GMC method.
Goal - What does your character want?
Motivation - Why does your character want this?
Conflict - What's going to stop your character from reaching their goal?
But beyond that, what other tricks can be used to help develop fully rounded characters?
Character sheets - listing anything or everything from appearance and characteristics to likes, dislikes, and background
Character interviews - approach getting to know your character like an interview, asking them questions about their past or their interests right now, even write it down to discover character traits and how they act while answering certain questions.
Invented scenes with your characters - either write your character from a different POV or drop them in a random scene and do something like a free write to learn more about their personality
Plot
Plot execution is an important aspect of story-telling and being able to do it well can take a ho-hum plot and bring it alive. So what are some ways this can be done?
Let voice touch your plot - even a used idea can become new and interesting with a fresh voice and unique perspective
Advance the story with intent - know where the story is going and use each scene to get there, trying to avoid loose, unproductive scenes
Use an organized approach - try the Snowflake Method, the three act story structure, a helpful plotting book, or your own method to create a whole and fluid plot outline
Again, plot and characters are right up there with voice. These three carry your novel. Executing plot and creating characters is most effective when each have a purpose at every point in the story.
What do you think are the most important parts of a novel? What tricks do you use to help create fluid plots and well-rounded characters?
