I’ve just recently learned (after having not really given it much thought before) that I am a plot-driven writer. That means when I think about telling a story, I’m not really thinking characters, I’m thinking about what happens. Once I know what’s going on, I put the characters into the scenes, and let them react to the plot as it unfolds. I don’t really get too attached to them, and think nothing of throwing things at my characters just to see how they’ll react, torturing them whenever I get bored with how things are moving. Sounds horrible, doesn’t it? I think as writers, sometimes we have to acknowledge the darker side of our nature (or is that just me?).
It seems that while some readers are perfectly fine with plot driven stories, there are also a good many readers who want characters to be in the spotlight, developing and growing and learning things about themselves as they navigate the gauntlet I gleefully throw them into. I’ve been (and still am) working on making my characters more “real”, and now I’m trying to give the main character(s) a development arc to travel through the story.
For me, this is not as easy as it sounds.
Don’t get me wrong. My characters generally have some sort of arc. When you throw that much stuff at them to deal with all at once, they can’t help but change and grow in some way or other without my pushing them to. But now I find that I want to control them just a little bit more, sort of “lead” them where I want them to go (without being obvious about it, of course). So as I was planning out scenes for Desert Heat, I tried to keep the character arc for Marie, my main character in focus throughout. I also made her personality in the beginning such that it would be easy to see any shift in her personal perceptions. I’m hoping this will make it easier for me to see/adjust the arc once I get to revisions with her. So far, I’m pleased with how she’s starting out, and already throwing things at her that are testing her personal boundaries. With any luck, she’ll have some very poignant revelations at crucial intervals.
Marie is pretty easy, because I’ve created her as someone with nowhere to go but up from the beginning. But what about the more subtle characters, like Hannah from Her Private Chef? I know what arc I want her character to take, but it’s more difficult for me to “see” it through the scenes of my story. I’m wondering if I should actually plot her arc independently when I start revising, so I have a clearer picture of what I’m looking for?
How you do deal with creating/maintaining character arcs? Diagrams? Outlines? Just as the story comes out?
1 hour ago
5 comments:
I have read about this, I have heard about it, but it is something I am totally unable to do. I don't even know where to start, because it all seems to contrived when I tried.
However, I understand it's important, so I have my own way. Nothing specifically done, but I usually know and give thought to how my character changes over time.
I am by no means good at this, and one of the main reason is that I generally like strong characters, which means they aren't too keen on changing. So this is something I intend to learn/handle as I write more and see what works and what doesn't by experiment.
I seem to have no choice in the matter - my characters are demanding and peremptory, and writing for me is a matter of taking dictation from them, attempting to get just right what they are doing & thinking & feeling, and trusting them to take their stories (eventually!) to an entertaining, significant conclusion that makes sense. They haven't let me down yet. :)
This being at the beck & call of a headful of fascinating characters often gets in the way of the rest of my life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. In fact, I'm grateful for it every day.
So interesting to read about writers' differing approaches. (Here FYI is a guest post I did a while ago about mine: http://bit.ly/ZKJA4 ) Your plot-driven approach must make for a very different writing experience, but it's obvious from your blog that you're just as passionate and transported by it.
Thanks for this post!
LW - I think it would feel more contrived to me if I actually wrote out the arc before I started writing. But I think (I hope) that after the draft is done and I can see the arc and have a better idea of where it's going naturally, I should be able to map it out without feeling like I'm forcing it, if that makes sense. We'll see - I'm experimenting too. :-)
Debra - thanks for stopping in, and leaving the post address. It was very interesting. I've not read your books, but they sound great - will add them to my insane TBR pile. :-)
It seems as though our writing experiences aren't so different after all, reading that post. Even though mine are more plot driven, when I get in that writing "zone" it's as though I'm watching a movie and merely transcribing what's going on, rather than actually creating the story myself, much like you describe. My characters don't necessarily drive the story (though I'm trying to move that direction), but they do dictate it to me. I just try to get it all down, and clean it up to make it read like it looks in my head. :-)
It's not just you :) We all have those tendencies. I don't do an actual arc, but I do like to develop my characters. I think I do okay. I have no idea, they seem cool to me. I'm not sure they're growing enough though, maybe?
It'll be interesting to hear how the arc works out for Hannah with the new twist on her story, and whether Marie changes?
I wouldn't say mine are plot driven, but dialogue driven- as you know ;) I think the dialogue helps with the character development- at least for me.
I reallllly wish I could stop caring so much about my characters and throw more dirty stuff at them. But no ... I always get too attached and want to baby them, to the extent that it really hurts my feelings if I have to hurt theirs. So congrats to you, for being able to kick your characters while they're down! :)
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