Start with the character’s name, age, family, and basic details.
Now think of a memory – one that
epitomizes “normal” to that
character – A time when everything seemed good to them. There was nothing wrong
in “their world”:
Your story begins on “the day that’s different.” It’s
probably the day when “normal” was
disrupted or ruined OR it could be
the day the character was given an opportunity to reclaim or find normal:
“Normal” is your character’s GOAL
– it’s what they want. Behind every goal is a MOTIVATION. Motivation is
why they want it. Typically, characters try to reclaim or find normal because
normal is comfortable. A good story
usually starts with the character wanting something and realizing later that
what they want and what they need are two different things.
External Goal (Want):
External Motivation:
Internal Goal (Need):
Internal Motivation:
How to build a story:
Start with the
day that’s different. Your character is faced with a challenge – something that
makes them uncomfortable. The story progresses as they make choices to try and
right what went wrong in that opening scene or reach for that carrot dangled
before them in that scene.
*If you like, Google search “character chart.” I use them sometimes
(there are dozens of templates out there), but the above is my formula.
COME UP WITH A PITCH:
Start by filling in the blanks…
(character’s
name) _________ is a (defining characteristic)
__________ who wants (goal) __________ BUT
(conflict – what will get in their way?) ____________
This is a basic formula where you
can establish who your character is, what they want and what is keeping them
from getting it – it’s what they have to overcome, learn or accomplish.
Not all villains are actual
people. There are several different kinds of conflict.
CHARACTER vs. CHARACTER
CHARACTER vs. SELF
CHARACTER vs. WORLD (social
construct or physical disaster)
Character vs. self is the most
common – the character believes something and is challenged to reevaluate their
beliefs, either holding firm in the face of pressure, or drawing new
conclusions.
The climax is also referred to as the “Black Moment” Where the original goal seems to be all for naught. All hope seems to be lost. Then the
character chooses to make a change
that ultimately leads to their success. That change should be something they have been unwilling, or struggling to do in
preceding events, but the black moment gives them the motivation they need
to finally try.
FORMATTING:
Once you’ve got your
story concept figured out, it’s time to do some writing. When you format your
manuscript, this is a pretty standard…
This is your
title page:
This is your
first page:
