Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Ask Dr. Fiction

This is topic Ask Dr. Fiction in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by PaganQuaker (Member # 1205) on :

For the past year or so I've been collecting usual solutions to usual writing problems, and I'm guessing that many of us here have clear answers to some common writing problems. If anyone's interested, I thought this might be a useful place to post for help for problems we may be experiencing in particular projects in a very general way. That is, without giving any specifics about your particular project, you describe what the obstacle is and anyone who has a technique that's sometimes helpful for that obstacle posts it.

Example:

Q: I've been working on a novel and have gotten to a point where I need to get characters from point A to point B, but I can't seem to write this in a way that is exciting: it always comes out boring and plodding. Any suggestions?

[Then several people post possible answers.]

A: Maybe your characters are always reacting to circumstances; if that's the case, is there anything they can do on their own initiative that rises out of their own needs?

A: Maybe you're trying to make the characters fit into the plot rather than letting them act in character. Can you let them do whatever they want and not worry about whether they get to point B or not?

A: Maybe it's too easy to get from A to B. Would it help to introduce problems or obstacles? From the characters' point of view, what's the worst possible thing that could happen? Would that be something that you could make happen?

A: Maybe you could benefit from doing more invention of the area between A and B, and/or invention about the characters. Discovering more character history, more character motivations, or more details about the setting they'll be in could bring up ideas that would energize this part of your novel.

Luc

Posted by chad_parish (Member # 1155) on :

A: "They caught the bus. On arriving at B,..."

Posted by srhowen (Member # 462) on :

---"we need to get to B's house," said character one.

---"You're right. Let's go."

***(or double, double line space)

Character one and character two arrived at B's in the middle of the night---

Shawn