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WPotocki · 01-18-2011, 05:26 PM

I think bthrowsnaill hit it best.

I don't think you're into your character enough. Motivations should always be an outgrowth of what your character is. It's up to your character to tell you - and for you to discover. When mine start speaking to me, I know their favorite color and it's not one I selected for them.

What you have is the skeleton of a story - which is great. You need this boundary established, but it's in the writing, the colors and details will fill in. You have to trust that it will. You came up with this character and the story, didn't you? Your character will come up with why she does things and why she doesn't. You need to stop "thinking," and let her speak. You do this by writing the story and just letting it flow.

I'm not saying that writers never need help - I would suppose that most of us do. I'm just saying that it's always best to let your characters speak. You created them so let them say what they have to say. Sit back and watch the action happen.

A couple of days ago, I just started a new story with this one character. I thought I had her background mapped out, but no! She revealed a secret early on that I didn't know she had. I stopped writing thinking, "Does this really work within the confines of the story I constructed?" The answer was that of course it does. It only lets me know I'm doing the right thing in breathing life into her.

I'd be very interested in what happens if you just trust the process and begin writing those scenes. Bet something comes up that surprises you.

Good luck.

01-18-2011, 05:26 PM	#12
WPotocki Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 399622 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Device: none	I think bthrowsnaill hit it best. I don't think you're into your character enough. Motivations should always be an outgrowth of what your character is. It's up to your character to tell you - and for you to discover. When mine start speaking to me, I know their favorite color and it's not one I selected for them. What you have is the skeleton of a story - which is great. You need this boundary established, but it's in the writing, the colors and details will fill in. You have to trust that it will. You came up with this character and the story, didn't you? Your character will come up with why she does things and why she doesn't. You need to stop "thinking," and let her speak. You do this by writing the story and just letting it flow. I'm not saying that writers never need help - I would suppose that most of us do. I'm just saying that it's always best to let your characters speak. You created them so let them say what they have to say. Sit back and watch the action happen. A couple of days ago, I just started a new story with this one character. I thought I had her background mapped out, but no! She revealed a secret early on that I didn't know she had. I stopped writing thinking, "Does this really work within the confines of the story I constructed?" The answer was that of course it does. It only lets me know I'm doing the right thing in breathing life into her. I'd be very interested in what happens if you just trust the process and begin writing those scenes. Bet something comes up that surprises you. Good luck.