October 13, 2015. Welcome to the 13th day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Your protagonist, or main character, is the person who is most hurt/affected/changed by the events of the story. But that isn't necessarily the best person to narrate your story. A hero recounting his own exploits may come across as vain or biased; he/she may not be in possession of all the information you want your readers to have as the story progresses; and he/she may not be the best person to describe how the events of the story are changing him or causing him to grow as a character. If you are writing historical fiction and the main character was a real person, you may not feel comfortable putting ideas into that person's head. And finally, you may deliberately want to keep your reader separated from your main character's thoughts to maintain a mystery or suspense or to withhold a secret.

1. Should your protagonist narrate this story? Why or why not?

2. If not, who is the best person to narrate this story? (Keep in mind that it should be a character who is in a position to observe personally all the events of the story that you want to reveal to the reader, when you want them revealed.)

Another option is to have more than one narrator. The advantage to this is that no one character needs to be in every scene, and the reader can be apprised of information different characters have, which other characters may not be aware of. Another advantage is that both the theme and the plot become deeper, richer and more complex when viewed from more than one point of view.

3. Will you have more than one narrator? If yes, which characters will narrate the story (one at a time) and why? Which characters will not narrate their take on events, and why not?

I will talk more about this tomorrow when I discuss voice and point of view.

 See you tomorrow!

October 12, 2015. Welcome to the twelfth day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

So by now, having done the earlier exercises, you know quite a lot about your main characters. Today I want to you envision them in action and conversation.

You have an idea for this novel, which includes some thoughts on plot - and we'll get to plot in the second half of this month. For now, I want you to imagine a particular scene between two or three of your characters. It could be a scene you're planning to include, or it could be backstory. In fact, this is a great way to get an important piece of backstory firm in your mind.

Until I can actually hear my characters talking, know what they will say and how they will react. I'm not ready to start writing the novel. So I always write one scene out before I start to write the book. There's only one exercise today, and that is to write that scene.

1. What happens? How does it unfold? What do the characters say to each other? What is the inherent conflict in the scene?

2. How does your protagonist react/respond to what happens or what is said to him/her? Why is this important? What does it lead to?

 See you tomorrow!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Welcome to the eleventh day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, please check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about,  read my original post  HERE.

In honor of Thanksgiving, lets discuss gratitude for a moment. We seldom think of adding it to a novel, but  it's an important emotion. It comes up when the protagonist needs to take stock, or to appreciate those who are supporting him/her in this journey.

1. What is your protagonist grateful for?

2. Do your other characters feel grateful? If so, what for? (Perhaps they are grateful to the protagonist for his/her role in the journey/goal that needs to be accomplished.

Every culture has holidays. What a culture celebrates reveals a lot about that culture.

3. What are the holidays observed in the culture of your novel? How are they celebrated?

4. Which holidays will figure into your story? What is the role of this holiday? How will it reveal character, promote change in the characters, or otherwise move your plot forward?

October 10, 2015. Welcome to the tenth day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, please check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

The fifth significant character to consider in your novel, is the protagonist's mentor. Not every novel has one, but this is a standard character for a "Hero's Journey" kind of novel or for a YA or coming-of-age novel. 

Generally, the mentor's role is to help your protagonist succeed in his journey. The mentor cannot take the journey for the hero/heroine, but he/she is as committed to the goal as the protagonist, even though he/she can only advise and help. (Think of Gandolf in Lord of the Rings, Hamish in Hunger Games)

1. Who is your protagonist's mentor? Describe him. How does her appearance and personality contrast to the protagonist's? What do these differences between them reveal about your protagonist and about your mentor?

2. Why does the mentor need your protagonist to succeed?

3. When, and in what ways, will the mentor help your protagonist? What skills or experience does he have that your protagonist will need to succeed?

4. When and in what ways is the mentor unable to help your protagonist; in other words, what are the mentor's weaknesses or failings? How is your protagonist still required to find the resources within himself to achieve her goal?

 How will today's exercise enrich your story? See you tomorrow!

October 9, 2015. Welcome to the ninth day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, please check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Now it's time to consider your protagonist's love interest. Very few stories, even those that are not intended in any way as romance novels, can get by without a love interest. Relationships - and the emotional issues that stem from them - are a huge part of the human experience, and readers expect to see some of that. Whether it's the sexual tension of courting a desired partner, or the emotional tension of saving or leaving/losing a relationship, or the altruism of protecting a life-mate at any cost, readers want to know how your protagonist's struggle is reflected in his/her love life. Or that he/she has one. Or if not, how that affects him/her.

1. Who does your protagonist love? Why?

2. Describe the person your protagonist loves. What does it reveal about the protagonist that he loves this type of person?

3. Does the love interest love the protagonist back? Why or why not? What does this reveal about both of them?

4. If this love is already established, write out for yourself the backstory (how they met, fell in love, married, whatever). Decide how much of this is necessary to reveal in your story.

5. If this love is part of the plot, reflect on how it will unfold and how important it will be to the story you are telling. (In Hunger Games, Katniss' and Peta's love is a complicating factor; in Twilight, it is the whole story).

6. Does your protagonist have a secret (s)he doesn't ever want the love interest to learn? What is it?

7. Does the love interest have a secret (s)he doesn't ever want the protagonist to learn? What is it?

8. What does the love interest want? What is her compelling goal? What will he do to achieve it? Is it in agreement to or opposed to the protagonist's goal?

9. List 5-8 adjectives that describe the love interest's personality. Again, go for a mix of good and bad qualities.

8. What is the love interest afraid of? Why?
9. What does he love? Why?
10. What does she hate? Why?

Did you discover something new about your antagonist? How will today's exercise enrich your story? Are there questions that you used to get to know your antagonist not listed here?  See you tomorrow!

October 8, 2015. Welcome to the eighth day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, please check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Today, let's consider your main character's friend. Everything about this character is a revelation about your protagonist. What kind of friend does he.she choose? What kind of relationship does he/she have with this friend? How does the friend feel about your protagonist? In what way does this friend act as a mirror for your protagonist? These are all ways to deepen your readers' understanding of your protagonist, and make him/her a more complex character.

1. What kind of person is your protagonist's friend? Repeat the questions used to reflect on the protagonist in relation to this friend (or those you think apply).

2. Why is your protagonist drawn to this person? What does that reveal about your protagonist? Why is this person drawn to your protagonist? What does that reveal about both your protagonist and this friend?

3. Does your protagonist trust this friend? Does he/she confide in his/her friend? When? When doesn't (s)he? Why/why not? Are these confidences reliable? Why/why not?

4. Are these confidences reliable? Why/why not?

5. How does the friend respond to these confidences? (doubts them, respects them, values them?) Is this friend open and honest with your protagonist?

6. How does or would the friend respond to the things that occur to your protagonist in the story? How do his/her responses reflect on your protagonist's responses? Do they make your protagonist look... (like a rebel? courageous? impetuous? wounded? overly or insufficiently emotional? highly intelligent? driven?)

7. Is this friend's opinion of the protagonist reliable? Why or why not? How will you show this?

Did you discover something new about your protagonist and his/her friend? How will today's exercise enrich your story?  See you tomorrow!

October 7, 2015. Welcome to the seventh day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, please check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Now that you know a fair amount about your protagonist, let's consider your second most significant character, your antagonist. But first, is the obstacle to your protagonist achieving her goal a single individual? It could be a group of individuals (in Hunger Games, it's all the other teens trying to kill Katniss in order to survive) or a force of nature (tornado, meteor, tsunami), or an animal (Jaws), etc.

1. Identify the source of the main obstacle preventing your protagonist from achieving his goal. If it isn't a person, describe what it is, and all the ways you can imagine it obstructing/threatening your protagonist. If it is a person, continue through the following questions.

2. What does your antagonist look like? Sound like? How does he walk, move, gesture? How does she speak? What  vocabulary does he use? How does she dress? Does he have any personal mannerisms?
Which of these details is important enough to include in your story?

Interesting antagonists also have strong goals. The problem is, those goals are in direct opposition to the protagonists goal. They can't both win, but they must BOTH be unrelenting and proactive in trying to.

3. What does your antagonist want? What is her compelling goal?

4. Why does he HAVE TO ACHIEVE IT? What are the stakes? What terrible loss will she sustain if unsuccessful?

5. Now list 5-8 adjectives that describe your antagonist's personality. Add a few good ones in with the bad ones. Characters who are entirely bad are also boring, not too mention hard to believe. Creating a little sympathy for your bad guy will make your story much more complex and interesting. 

6. What is your antagonist afraid of? Why?
7. What does your antagonist love? Why?
8. What does your antagonist hate? Why?
9.  What does your protagonist need? Why?

Did you discover something new about your antagonist? How will today's exercise enrich your story? Are there questions that you used to get to know your antagonist not listed here?  See you tomorrow!

October 6, 2015. Welcome to the sixth day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, please check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Now that you've researched or reflected on the best genre, time period, and location for your story (What, When and Where), as well as the culture and its role in your story, it's time to consider your characters (Who). Let's start with your main character, the protagonist.. To simplify this, I'm going to alternate gender pronouns.

The first way we know a person is through our senses.
1. What does your main character look like? Sound like? How does he walk, move, gesture? How does she speak? What  vocabulary does he use? How does she dress? Does he have any personal mannerisms?

2. Now, rather than describing all this in detail, consider which of these are defining characteristics. Which ones are significant to the way your main character sees himself, or to the way others see her? Those are the ones you're going to include.

Interesting characters are those who have strong goals.
3. What does your protagonist want? What is her compelling goal?

4. Why does he HAVE TO ACHIEVE IT? What are the stakes? What terrible loss will she sustain if unsuccessful?

5. Now list 5-8 adjectives that describe your main character's personality. Go for a mix of good ones (resilient, brave) and not so good ones (stubborn, proud). Characters who are entirely good are pretty boring, not too mention hard to believe and hard to relate to. And those bad traits are often the very ones that help your character succeed..

6. So consider the above list and write down how each of those characteristics will help your protagonist achieve her goal.

7. What are your protagonist's hobbies, interests and skills? How will they help him achieve his goal?

8. What is your protagonist afraid of? Why?
9. What does your protagonist love? Why?
10. What does your protagonist hate? Why?
11.  What does your protagonist need? Why?

Did you discover something new about your protagonist? How will today's exercise enrich your story? Are there questions that you used to get to know your protagonist not listed here?  See you tomorrow!

October 5, 2015. Welcome to the fifth day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. Read my original post  HERE.

Now we need to explore the culture and beliefs of the place where our story occurs. If you are writing speculative fiction, you will need to create a culture and belief system; if your setting is a foreign country or a time in the past, you will need to research their cultural  values; even if your story takes place here and now, there are large differences in the values and beliefs of different groups, different families and different individuals. It is worth taking time to consider some of the main tenants of a culture and belief system.

In this culture, what attitude is taken toward:
1. The existence (or not) of a divine being or beings?
2. Sexual relations? (what is expected? Acceptable? Between whom?)
3. Gender roles and expectations/limitations?
4. The upbringing of children? (Who raises them, what are they taught in school, etc)
5. Crime and punishment? (What is illegal, what are the punishments?)
6. Equality or a class system? (If unequal, to whom?)
7. Work? (What qualifies, what is the attitude toward it?)
8. Leisure? (How much, how is it spent?)
9. End of life?(how does it come? Is it feared? What do they think follows life?)
10. What is valued? Why is it valued?
11. What is not valued or considered shameful? Why?

12 How do each of your main characters fit into their society? Are they in agreement with or in opposition to their society, their religion? Why/why not? How will this change over the story?

Has this post helped you identify cultural aspects of your story world? Are there other aspects important to your story not mentioned here? We can all learn from each other. See you tomorrow!

October 4, 2015. Welcome to the fourth day of preparing to write your novel. Those who are new here, please check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Today let's consider where your story takes place and, once again, what research and/or invention you will need to do to write convincingly about that place.

1. Where (what location) does your story take place?

2. What is the climate, topography, architecture, natural disasters, etc in that location?

3. What would be recurring sights/smells/sounds in this location?

NOTE: for example, in Canada, snow and cold weather have a strong influence on our lives. It affects our clothing, transportation, sports & leisure activities, architecture (more two-story homes than bungalows- heat rises - a good thing, here) etc.

4. How does this location (refer to your answers to questions 1-3 above) impact your story? How does it affect your characters and your plot?

5. Why is this location essential to the story you have to tell?

6.  Describe a few specific places (a building, a beach, a garden, etc.)  within your general location that will be significant in your story. Write a paragraph describing each of these places with as much detail as possible and referring to as many senses as possible.

If you feel like sharing anything about today's exercise, please leave a comment, or share this post on . We can all learn from each other. See you tomorrow!