Make a character arc table. The top row has the major challenges to your character’s inner life. The bottom row has how these challenges affect the lead as a result. I’m thinking this is a good way to get some waypoints plotted, just imagining how the lead will react […]
(Image from Reedsy’s Character Development Exercises post.) Write a short profile of your Lead character’s personality at the beginning of the plot. Describe his Beliefs, Values, Dominant Attitudes, Opinions. Now ask what will happen in the course of the plot to change or challenge these elements. Juan Saudade […]
Determine the take-home value of your novel. This can be done at any stage of your plotting. If you do it early, keep it in mind as you develop your scenes. but be careful . . . the message must come out naturally. Mr Bell makes an important point […]
“There are two kinds of people. Those who have a complicated mind. And those who have a complicating mind!” I’m not sure if I believe that. But it was always some sexy line to drop at a party. Myself, I could consider in the latter group. As much as […]
In the last exercise, the task was to write out an entire ending. I didn’t feel it came out of me right. So I am extra excited about today’s exercise. Mr Bell asks us to come up with alternative endings. A list of ten. Then choose two or three of […]
Everybody wants stakes. A big red slab of stake. A juicy tender cut of stake. And today’s exercise from Mr Bell asks us to ask ourselves What are the stakes in the novel? I remember attending a poetry / story slam event in NYC. I had a couple of […]