“The thing I do at the beginning is a "voice journal," a free form doc that is the character speaking to me. I just work on it until I start to hear different from my own, or the other characters.” DifferentCharacterFormVoiceMy OwnCreationJournal Author:James Scott Bell
“Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens before the novel opens – is especially troublesome. How can we give the essentials and avoid a mere information drop? Use dialogue. First, create a tension-filled scene, usually between two characters. Get them arguing, confronting each other. Then you can have the information appear in the natural course of things.” GivingWritingFirstsTwoCharacterStoriesUseHappensCoursesNaturalNovelStruggleInformationSceneEssentialsFilledMereArguingDialogueNarrativeTensionTroublesomeConfrontingChunks Author:James Scott Bell
“A writing teacher once told me that the most successful movies and books were simple plots about complex characters. You should be able to articulate your concept in a couple of lines.” ShouldWritingBookCharacterAbleLinesSimpleSuccessfulTeacherCoupleConceptsComplexesPlotComplex Characters Author:James Scott Bell
“Characters who are absolutely sure about what they do, who plunge ahead without fear, are not that interesting. We don’t go through life that way. In reality, we have doubts just like everyone else. Bringing your Lead’s doubts to the surface in your plot pulls the reader deeper into the story, and this is an excellent way to coax the reader to lose himself in the story world you’re about to create.” WorldWayWritingCharacterStoriesRealityLosesInterestingDoubtReaderDeeperSurfaceExcellentPlotPlunge Author:James Scott Bell
“Think of it as the Doorway of No Return. The feeling must be that your lead character, once she passes through, cannot go home again until the major problem of the plot is solved.” ThinkingCharacterFeelingsProblemHomeReturnMajorsPlotDoorwaysMajor ProblemsLead Characters Author:James Scott Bell
