BushWhacked is coming out soon. Really soon. For months I’ve
been occupied with the mechanics of putting the story together – the structure
and scaffolding, if you will – those invisible craft items that should never be
obvious to the reader, but contribute so much to the enjoyment of the tale.
They are pieces a writer has control over – and purposely manipulates in order
to tell the story the way she wants it told.
However (there’s always one of those, right?), writers will
often say the story takes on a life of its own. It’s quite true, and it’s one
of the things that is so compelling about writing. No matter how much you plan,
you’re going to be surprised by turns of events and characters who simply don’t
do or say what you outlined for them.
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| An idea |
Speaking of characters, I can tell you the different ways I
create them, how I create the shell
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| Getting better ... |
and then little by little, how they evolve on their own, leaving the woodenness behind, creating characteristics ...
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| ...and better |
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| with personality |
making friends......
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| ...and having fun |
.........doing interesting things I'd never thought of.
They often simply take the job away from me. That
might be interesting to chat about.
But what I want to know is what appeals to you, the
reader? What qualities do those characters have that cause you to come back
time and time again to see how they’re doing, and make you sad to leave them
when the book is over?
Let’s hear it, people! Tell me who you like
between the covers – of the book!!
