CoffeeAfterHours

A late Bloomer. Aspiring Storyteller.

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“The best way to ensure that you introduce a compelling character in Chapter One is to get to know that character as well as possible before you start writing. Work out their voice, their unique perspective, their personality, and their importance to the story.”

See previous post for the article is sourced from.

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7 Key Elements To Include In Your First Chapter | Writer's Edit

The importance of your novel's first chapter cannot be overestimated. It's the chapter that introduces your book to the world – the chapter

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I’ve read books with unlikeable main characters but Evelyn is not that. Evelyn is a main character who wasn’t crafted with depth. Perhaps because of that, her character arc will be rewarding, will redeem this stereotypical feeling about her. I sure hope so.

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Reading, I’ve discovered, is an effective way to combat brokenheartedness. Writing so deliciously descriptive it comes alive in your mind, as clear and vivid as watching a scene play out on a tv screen. Dialogue so witty and perfect you’d have to put in effort to not smile. Or gush. Romance so dreamy your heart levitates and whorls around like Ariel when singing about being on land.

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My “A few more pages,” always leads to another chapter. Or two.

[nakajimeow]

WRITING ADVICE THAT I HEARD (THAT ABSOLUTELY WORKS FOR ME)

Okay, so I am writing these tips that I have learned/heard from other authors. It worked for me, I just want to share it just in case other people might find it helpful too!

Know the ending of your story before starting it.

Whenever you have an idea, WRITE IT. IMMEDIATELY! (before you could even lose it or worse, forget it)

READ MORE !!! (get inspiration from other people's books)

Write EVERYTHING. Just correct/edit them later when you are finished.

Explore other genres. (do not get stuck with one genre. instead, read/write other genres. you never know, you might be better at writing other genres)

Similar to the first one, CREATE OUTLINES PER CHAPTERS !! I REPEAT, CREATE OUTLINES. (in this way, it would be easier to write because you have a summary of what is going to happen in each chapter.)

reblog to help other writers !!

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Read the longest sentence I’ve ever encountered in a book then shut its covers for the night with a big smile on my face and me shaking my head. Ernest Hemingway has got to be the father of endless but error-less sentences. What an absolute talent.

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A few digital pages later and I’m calling it a night. I’m heading to LaLa land with a smile on my face and heart full of excitement about one day being a writer too.

[cottonberryfinn-deactivated2023]

Introduction

Conflict is a fundamental element of storytelling, and a great conflict can make or break a book. Conflict drives the plot, creates tension and suspense, and keeps readers engaged. But how do you create great conflict in a book? In this blog post, we will explore some tips for creating compelling conflict in your writing.

Identify Your Character's Goals and Obstacles

Conflict arises when a character's goals are blocked by obstacles. To create great conflict, you need to identify your character's goals and the obstacles that stand in their way. Ask yourself, what does your character want? What are they willing to do to achieve their goals? What obstacles stand in their way? Once you have identified these elements, you can create conflict by pitting your character against their obstacles.

Create High Stakes

Conflict is more compelling when the stakes are high. The higher the stakes, the more invested your readers will be in the outcome. Consider what your character stands to gain or lose in the conflict. Are their goals worth risking everything for? What are the consequences of failure? By raising the stakes, you can create a sense of urgency and tension that will keep readers engaged.

Use Internal and External Conflict

Conflict can be internal or external. Internal conflict arises from a character's thoughts, feelings, or beliefs, while external conflict arises from outside sources. Using both types of conflict can create a complex and multi-layered story. Internal conflict can provide insight into your character's motivations, while external conflict can create physical obstacles and challenges for your character to overcome.

Create Complex Antagonists

A great conflict requires a great antagonist. Antagonists are the characters who stand in opposition to your protagonist and create conflict. To create a compelling antagonist, you need to make them complex and multi-dimensional. They should have their own goals and motivations, and their actions should be driven by more than just a desire to oppose your protagonist. A great antagonist can create a compelling conflict by challenging your protagonist's beliefs, values, and goals.

Use Dialogue and Action to Build Conflict

Conflict can be built through both dialogue and action. Dialogue can create tension and conflict by revealing characters' thoughts and feelings, while action can create physical obstacles and challenges for your characters to overcome. By using both dialogue and action, you can create a multi-layered conflict that keeps readers engaged.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating great conflict in a book is essential for creating a compelling story. By identifying your character's goals and obstacles, creating high stakes, using internal and external conflict, creating complex antagonists, and using dialogue and action to build conflict, you can create a story that keeps readers engaged and invested in the outcome. Remember, conflict is the driving force behind a great story, so don't be afraid to create obstacles and challenges for your characters to overcome.

[writingdotcoffee]

Storytelling Challenge: Character Motivation

“Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water,” Kurt Vonnegut said in his Eight Basics of Creative Writing.

A lot goes into developing relatable characters. You have to figure out how they look and behave. You have to have a sense of their back story. But perhaps the most important thing that ties all the character development together is why. Why do they do what they do? What motivates them?

Just like real people, your characters will be motivated by different things. For the story you’re telling, choose one thing to focus on.

You likely won’t mention it outright, but the motivation you pick will be driving your character’s actions and decisions throughout the story.

Developing Characters Through Motivation

When your characters aren’t fully developed yet, giving them something to strive for is a fantastic way to begin developing them.

How would they go about achieving that goal? What risks would they take? And why do they want what they want in the first place?

You can easily start a story by taking a character, giving them a goal and watching them trying to reach it. Of course, the problem is that there will be obstacles along the way.

Take the example from the beginning of the post: a character that wants a glass of water. That should be simple enough, shouldn’t it?

They go to the kitchen and take a glass from the cupboard over the sink. The tap sputters when turned on, and no water comes out. Weird.

The character goes to check the stopcock, the water is on. Did they forget to pay the bill? Perhaps there was an incident down the road, and emergency works are going on.

From here, the story can go anywhere from Jason Bourne-style spy thriller to a silly dispute with a neighbour-style comedy. All we started with was a character wanting a glass of water.

The Challenge

Join us this week and spend an hour or more writing a story where the protagonist wants something. Pick a goal or some kind of motivation and use it to develop the character as you work on the story.

If other characters will be working against the protagonist, what motivates them? Why do they stand in the way of the protagonist’s achieving their goal?

Here are a few examples of character motivation:

security — the character’s security is being threatened

success/recognition — the character working hard to achieve something

acceptance — the character wants to fit in

love/friendship — the character is looking for new friends or a partner

Join the challenge

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I used to feel illegitimate.

The classics were difficult to read, dizzying and boring, but smart people who were seemingly considered “legitimate” bookworms always found a way to plug it in. And so here I am, having made peace with not having read or been taught the works of Shakespeare or Homer, giving Hemmingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” a try and the first thing I fall in love with is his long sentences.

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There’s beauty in everything.

I love beautiful things. Not only things that are commonly described as beautiful like women or nature. I see beauty in a perfectly painted sentence. I see beauty in the way the sun filters into the windows of a city bus in the middle of the day, casting emphasis on the mundaneness of the moment. There’s even beauty in the quiet and stillness and chill in the hours after midnight.

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My heart won’t stop screaming for him.

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In the quiet, dark hours of the early morning, I’m awake with my broken-heart, sitting with it like a longtime companion who knows that sometimes the quiet presence of someone who cares is more valuable than well-meaning words.

The cold night’s breeze feels like a brush of cool silk against my skin. I close my eyes and try to steel myself against the rising urge to cry.

A “Please,” whimpers out of me as I shiver through the devastation.

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Processes are long.

Progress is slow.

Accept it and Keep going.

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Carrying on with a broken heart. The first days are always the hardest.