Blogs
Learning All I Can
I write lots. I teach writing. I talk about the craft of writing any chance I get. But now, I’m learning writing. I’ve been taking a course about Speculative Fiction writing from Susan Forest. It’s loads of fun and I’m learning lots of new techniques on how to flesh out characters. For instance – write all the reasons a character has for wanting whatever it is that they want. List at least eight or nine of them. Then pick the reason that is number five or so, it will make your story way more interesting. There was also a hand out on the different ways of presenting characters through setting. Just by changing the type of dog they own or the type of drink they serve at a party, or magazine they read, you can change your character type. Also you can explore your main character by showing different ways other characters perceive their traits. One may admire her spendthrift ways, while another thinks she is a nasty penny pincher. The maid just wants to be paid more. I finally learned what theme is too – at last. Theme is the resonating idea reoccurring throughout the story. AND you can have more than one. Hurray – mystery solved (no thanks to public school). Things I already knew but needed a reminder on was: Create tension on every page, and make sure whatever the protagonist wants – they want it desperately.
I love taking classes. It makes me a better writer and a better teacher. And I get to talk writing – always a bonus.
