All writers go through a self loathing process. Especially during editing. I think the more I read my story, the less I like it. But the more I read Angelbird's story, the more I enjoy myself!
Why does this happen? Well, for the obvious reason that during the editing process we are our own selves worst critics. Another reason would be because editing, you search out mistakes and the further you go, the harder it is to notice the things you did RIGHT!
As my favorite poet once said:
" Oh Editing, nothing rhymes with you
and so I introduce random words, like blue
to say, Dear Editing: Nobody loves, likes, or lives you
it's very so very so so true, true, true." Lackscroft and Roe. ( with the help of a goose)
Plot wise, I always struggle with details and importantly, conflict. In order for a plot to be interesting, it has to be exciting and suprising. It has to have conflict. Who wants to read the story of the little girl with the curl who was always good? NO ONE! We want the story of the little girl who was BAD and who faced trouble, ect. Who wants the story of Hansel and Gretel and their happy family? Boring. Nothing happens. There's no where for any character to grow and, more importantly, nowhere for the story to go.
Happiness is something we long for in real life. But stories are not real life. The story must face conflict and struggle and that stuggle should shape the character's nature, for bette or for worse. ( Hopefully for better!!!!)
So, I thought I'd share my playwriting materials to help clarify important plot, character, and detail elements. Although playwriting addresses different qualites of a story, it shares the same basic plot and character needs!
I think these will be very helpful to me and help me focus less on self loathing as a writer and more on the joy of the process.
This first sheet is an idea worksheet-- it helps knock out the main elements of plot.
Working Title: Goosey.
Central Character: ( Age/Full name)
Central Character’s dominant need: ( one sentence)
Other Major Characters:
Setting ( consider different options):
Occasion: ( event which this play is set):
Major Conflict/dilemma as it manifests itself in action: ( state simply)
Resolution: ( How action is resolved)
How the central character changes by the end: ( change should be vast)
Dramatic premise: ( Journey [blank] leads to [blank] )
And here is a short form biography that I do for my character's in acting, but it's pertinet for story writing as well:
Short Form Biography
Character’s Name:
Physical Characteristics
Age: Date of Birth:
Height: Weight:
Eye Color: Hair Color:
Skin Color/Tone:
Posture:
Grooming:
Vocal Quality:
General Appearance: ( indicate handsomeness or beauty, elegance or crudeness, sex appeal, “ presence,” general health, any physical problems or defects, etc.)
External World
I. Family Situation
Father: ( include age if alive or how long ago he died, occupation, any special characteristics, nature of relationship with, etc/)
Mother: ( include age if alive or how long ago he died, occupation, any special characteristics, nature of relationship with, etc)
Siblings: ( identify if brother(s) or sister(s), ages, any special characteristics, nature of relationship with each, etc.)
Other important relatives: ( what relative(s), age special characteristics, nature or relationship with, etc.)
Family’s ability to function: ( happy, disruptive, dysfunctional, unusual in some way, etc).
Marital status: ( if not married, describe any significant romantic relationship( s). If married, how long? Describe spouse. If divorced, how long? Any special circumstances?
Children: ( include names, ages, nature or relationship with, etc)
Sex life: ( healthy, active, dormant, frustrated, specific problems, etc)
Close friends: ( those considered extended family, include names, ages, nature or relationship with)
II. Place in the Community
Occupation: ( include how long in the field)
Education: ( indicate quality as well as how much)
Economic class: ( include annual income)
Political affiliation(s): ( Republican, Democrat, Independent, conservative, liberal, moderate, other)
Religious affiliation: ( if it exists, indicate how active)
Other important organizational memberships:
General status in community: ( how perceived in the eyes of others—leaders or follower, asset or liability, etc.)
III. Leisure-Time activities
Internal world
Intelligence: (some measure for comparison and how it manifests itself)
Personality type: (extrovert or introvert, optimistic or pessimistic, hot tempered or cool, etc.)
General Sense of Self: (degree of self- confidence, self-esteem, etc.)
Sexuality: (how powerful a force, degree of comfort with, etc.)
Spiritual life: (nature and strength of--- does God fit in somewhere and if so how and to what extent?)
Sense of morality: (how strong is it? How does it manifest itself?)
Major secrets ( that they haven’t told anyone; prioritize if more than one)
Personal goals: (prioritize if more than one)
Major disappointments: (prioritize if more than one)
Special qualities and talents: (unique physical, intellectual, artistic, or spiritual traits).
I wanted to post Letter #5 here. I really did, I had ever intention of revising it over the weekend and then posting it Monday evening. That was my plan. But then . . . but then I read over letter five and I realized it's a mess. A sticky mess. Not to mention it has some huge plot holes. It needs some major reconstruction. I was particularly struck, not only by the bad writing, but some awfully familiar images. What's this about an elven ring?
