Until recently, I've been writing my novels by having the main character be almost exactly like me. I would just shove my entire conscience into the adventure, give my own reactions and my own opinions. That worked out great *motions at all the horrid unfinished novels on my desktop*. I didn't really understand why they were always so bad. I mean, when I'd summarize the plots to my friends or explain the concept in my head, it sounded extraordinary. Then, when I'd read it, it'd go something like this:
1) Opens document 2) Rereads some and realizes the audience has no freaking clue what this character's past or personality is like 3) Anxiously inserts random backstories and facts into places in the plot that absolutely did not need them 4) Saves document and leaves 5) Returns a week later 6) Continues writing 7) Feels the need to add another backstory 8) Rereads the novel 9) Realizes that the main character explains about her happy middle class life before novel then later in the plot she explains her miserable poverty stricken teenage years (as an example) 10) Angsts and cries The character was so familiar that I always forgot to explain her actions, motives, etc. I did this with minor characters too, basing them off friends OR EVEN CHARACTERS FROM OTHER BOOKS. Now take a second to judge me. I know, I'm a horrible person. I just wanted so badly to just insert myself into a fantasy world, and (oh yeah) I was a teenager. Let me make my mistakes, I promise I won't publish them. Now, I think the only way to make a character that the reader understands and that I can truly write about is one that is near opposite of me. This has worked wonderfully in the past with short stories, and I'm not sure why I thought it wouldn't work well for novels. So I think I'm on the right path now. Hopefully, future works will be far less confusing. And here, since that was probably way too much text to read I'll include some pictures of my favorite main characters (that google images have pictures of) to attract attention. Yeah, I really want someone to read my blog. :/
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I'm not sure if this is supposed to be in the Whatever or Writing blog, but I'm already on this page so it shall go here. If you couldn't tell by the title, you might be a bit challenged. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my life!
Yes, I am well aware I am only a soon to be sophomore in high school. I think it's better to be wondering now rather than wake up some morning in college and sob because I'm not living the life I want. It seems all I hear are those kinds of stories. And I can see myself holding a story like that as well. I mean, all my life I've lived to reach the expectations set for me. Go to school, get good grades, work hard at sports, hold interest in science and math fields, have a little fun, participate in extracurriculars. It's a charmed life, and mostly fun at that, but I don't feel like I'm really doing anything great. I'm slipping into normal, boring, safe. All my life I've been surrounded by this bubble of comfort and fear for the big bad world. Now I'm ready to explore. Premed will always be the backup, or perhaps Law, but for now I have no plans. I want to find some niche, some career that will make me be something more than a small town suburban girl. There's seven billion people in this world, and I'm only one. As cliche as it sounds, please don't hate me for saying this, but I only get to live once. I'm going to make sure I kn |