Conflict is critical to plot development. Conflict is where your characters gain traction on the plot so things can move forward. But … well, sometimes a plot just doesn’t seem to want to move. If you find your plot is stuck in a rut, it may be that your plot doesn’t have enough dimensions in it.
Sidney Poitier said, “So much of life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness.” I am intrigued by how one person’s decision can impact the destiny of another human being. Today’s exercise will explore how one decision made on behalf of our central character, sets the course of his or her life.
You’ve been working on your novel. You know you have strong characters and a great plot. You’re even excited to plan about your book promotion. The problem is, you still have dozens of chapters yet to write. Where are you going to find inspiration?
I’m sure you’ve heard a thousand times before that not only must your characters live and breathe like real people, but your setting has to, as well. Your setting should have a personality just like your protagonist if you want your story world to leap off the page.
But how do you do that?
Getting published. It’s a goal almost every writer shares. But how do you get your story from slush pile to publication?
If you read the writing of the average MFA student, you’ll find perfectly composed, uniquely styled, completely boring stories. What’s the deal? Some of the best, most highly trained writers in the world are producing work few people outside academia wants to read.
Of course, I don’t mean to single out MFA programs. Too many writers—and I at times include myself in this group—are writing navel gazing stories that are perfectly written but lacking everything the average reader looks for in a story.
How do you write fresh, beautiful, experimental stories that are also interesting to read?
