"Our instinct as human beings is to provide answers, to ease tension. As writers our job is the opposite, to create tension and not dispel it immediately."
~ Sol Stein
"Plot conflict is not conflict merely in a character's mind or soul, while he sits at home. A plot conflict has to be expressed in action. The more struggle a story involves, the better the plot."
~ Ayn Rand
It took me a few years to fully embrace the "kill your darlings" (or at least make them miserable) philosophy. Once I did, once I really amped it up and layered on more action and misery, then I finally got my agent. But it took me 3 freaking years to really do it--even though I knew I should. I never did it enough. MORE is BETTER.
So . . . how miserable are your characters?
Are you being too nice?
Are you being too nice?
There are definitely areas that I have to constantly work at and being cruel to characters is def. on the list along with a zillion other things!
ReplyDeleteYes, I have the tendency to be too nice to my characters. That's why it's taken me years to finish my manuscript. You're right. It's important not to be nice to them and to ramp up the tension.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm the one who's miserable. I loved the first quote, and your paragraph really resonated with me. Maybe I'm not being tough enough on my characters. Maybe the angst is weak. I think this week I'll free write and see what I can't come up with. After all, pain and perserverence pays off!
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes :-) And perfect food for thought for the day's work ahead. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLet's see...one gets blown up by a grenade, another is beaten into a coma, a third is put in professional jeopardy. I think I'm good! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have problems with conflict, that's for sure. Lol
ReplyDeleteOooh no I love my characters suffering!! LOL!! Oh the power! LOL! Take care
ReplyDeletex
The harder they fall, the stronger they become if they can pick themselves up again.
ReplyDeleteI like knowing the hero is going to win in a book, but there needs to be enough tension to keep me guessing HOW it will happen.
I finally tossed an entire story that didn't work because I couldn't be mean enough to the characters! They kept rescuing themselves far too often! :)
ReplyDeleteIt took me a while too I have to admit. But once I did embrace it, the whole game changed, for the better!
ReplyDeleteGreat point! And such an excellent question to keep in mind throughout a manuscript, "Am I being too nice?" Many times I am being too nice...
ReplyDeleteConflict -- The more the merrier!
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm pretty mean to my characters. I make them clueless, they make stupid mistakes, bad guys are after them, and so on. When things come around later--they've learned some lessons and defeat the bad guys--that's the payoff.
Yes. *hanging head in shame* I need to kill more of my darlings. But it's so hard! ;p
ReplyDeleteI tend to cut out over half of my book when I revise, but I still feel like I'm too nice to my darling scenes. Always room for improvement, I suppose!
ReplyDeleteI could be meaner. Story of my life.
ReplyDeleteWrite on!
Play off the Page
This is exactly what I needed as I head back into my wip. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've been pretty mean to my characters lately but I think I can always learn a better way to be mean to them. Of course this is all for a good cause :)
ReplyDeleteIt took me a long time to realize this too, but I threw my MC in my latest book under the bus. And the chariot. And the horse.
ReplyDeletePoor girl!
Oh each of my characters have their special little miseries, but this is only the beginning.
ReplyDeleteWait for the sequel. ;-P
I used to, and now I'm not. Also, I love Sol Stein. The man changed my life on pacing.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I lOVE being a writer. [insert evil grin here] :D
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