The overweight character that I was going to use as a protagonist has since become the antagonist. When I first created her, I had mixed feelings about her. After all, this protagonist-turned-antagonist did have some admirable qualities, such as patience and inner strength. However, the more I got to know that character, the less I cared for her. I'd been very busy all this time trying to cook up problems for her when she was a protagonist. Then I had a brainstorm and played "what if." What if this character was the source of problems for another character, say, her next-door neighbor? The initial problem could be a very simple one involving both characters, one being the protagonist and the other being the antagonist.
Now things began to fall into place and I just finished a paragraph outline of what has happened between the two so far ---- a simple incident in which one, the protagonist, inadvertently getting on the antagonist's nerves, leading to increasing dislike between the two and pressure on the protagonist to do something to relieve the situation. Talking isn't going to do it right now, but teaching someone a lesson just might. That lesson, at least in my novel, needs to be effective and funny.
In creating a plot line for any novel, things will invariably happen that have the potential to give a run-of-the-mill, predictable plot a twist. That twist isn't always obvious. Sometimes it takes a couple of days of writing to make it more so.
So if you're finding that your plot is evolving into a totally different one as you become more familiar with your characters, don't panic or try to force your characters to be something they are not. Here are a few suggestions for doing this:
ADD ANOTHER CHARACTER: This person might be an outsider, such as a consultant, or one who has been sent to serve as a spy for another individual or rival company.
SWITCH CHARACTER ROLES: Sometimes characters aren't what they seem to be at first, as I discovered between a character who was originally supposed to be a protagonist. No wonder I had a problem in giving her problems, Given her noxious personality, she is going to be more effective as an antagonist. Had I rushed to create a plot, I would have soon become bogged down, wondering what would happen next, specifically.
DELVE INTO EXISTING CHARACTERS' PERSONALITIES: Why are they like that anyway and how do you feel about it? Do you honestly like your protagonist? Would you just love to give your antagonist the problems that she can use to make bigger problems for the protagonist? Or would your antagonist be better off dead? Who decides to off her --- and why?
GO WITH THE FLOW IN PROBING EACH CHARACTER'S SITUATION: Write an incident involving him or her and explain why he or she got involved. You would be surprised at the twists and turns that seem to occur to you as you write. These, in turn, may inspire a plot line that may not have occurred to you and add a unique twist to your story/novel. Take it to the extreme. Keep pushing. Assume a child's innocence and for each item, keep asking yourself why and write down the answers. Keep writing even if everything so far seems commonplace and predictable. You increase your chances of striking plot gold. You never know.
By: Dorothy Zjawin
Now things began to fall into place and I just finished a paragraph outline of what has happened between the two so far ---- a simple incident in which one, the protagonist, inadvertently getting on the antagonist's nerves, leading to increasing dislike between the two and pressure on the protagonist to do something to relieve the situation. Talking isn't going to do it right now, but teaching someone a lesson just might. That lesson, at least in my novel, needs to be effective and funny.
In creating a plot line for any novel, things will invariably happen that have the potential to give a run-of-the-mill, predictable plot a twist. That twist isn't always obvious. Sometimes it takes a couple of days of writing to make it more so.
So if you're finding that your plot is evolving into a totally different one as you become more familiar with your characters, don't panic or try to force your characters to be something they are not. Here are a few suggestions for doing this:
ADD ANOTHER CHARACTER: This person might be an outsider, such as a consultant, or one who has been sent to serve as a spy for another individual or rival company.
SWITCH CHARACTER ROLES: Sometimes characters aren't what they seem to be at first, as I discovered between a character who was originally supposed to be a protagonist. No wonder I had a problem in giving her problems, Given her noxious personality, she is going to be more effective as an antagonist. Had I rushed to create a plot, I would have soon become bogged down, wondering what would happen next, specifically.
DELVE INTO EXISTING CHARACTERS' PERSONALITIES: Why are they like that anyway and how do you feel about it? Do you honestly like your protagonist? Would you just love to give your antagonist the problems that she can use to make bigger problems for the protagonist? Or would your antagonist be better off dead? Who decides to off her --- and why?
GO WITH THE FLOW IN PROBING EACH CHARACTER'S SITUATION: Write an incident involving him or her and explain why he or she got involved. You would be surprised at the twists and turns that seem to occur to you as you write. These, in turn, may inspire a plot line that may not have occurred to you and add a unique twist to your story/novel. Take it to the extreme. Keep pushing. Assume a child's innocence and for each item, keep asking yourself why and write down the answers. Keep writing even if everything so far seems commonplace and predictable. You increase your chances of striking plot gold. You never know.
By: Dorothy Zjawin
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