You're probably wondering how capturing a cat relates to
writing, or anything else for that matter. It's an anagram, of course, for the
three major parts of a plot. I love cats, BTW. C is for characterization, A is action, and T
is thematic development. As an avid
reader, i can say without doubt that nothing makes readers more eager to escape
into a writer's story more than a moving plot. Much like real life, we are interested
in people we have grown to care about, we expect them to take action in their
lives, and that action moves them in a particular direction or towards a
certain goal determined by their beliefs (theme).
Let's start with characterization. What makes us care about
a character? A number of things, but it seems to me there are some universal
traits that move most of us to care. We constantly hear the sentence,
"everyone loves a winner," but the truth is, we love winners based on
how they manage to win. Simply winning all the time does not endear a character
to our hearts any more than being born into fortune automatically guarantees
our love. We also love characters that have faced constant loss, but refused to
give up on some worthwhile ideal.
In Vivi
Andrews' "Serengeti Heat," Ava, as the smallest in a pride of
lion-shifters, has faced bullying and loss her entire life, but when she sets
her heart on Landon, she refuses to give up until he's hers. Here, a heroine
accustomed to loss and defeat transforms herself into a winner, reinforcing one
of our favorite themes, love conquers all. I loved her from the very beginning,
and immediately cared about her life, what actions she would take, and what
others would do to and for her. Nothing
makes me love a character more than sharing her or his transformation from
down-trodden to overcomer. That, to me, is a worthy character - worthy of my
concern and my time.
Think of 10 qualities that make people interesting to you,
and you have the ingredients for an engaging plot. What does he or she care
about? What are his goals? What is she willing to do to achieve those goals?
Just as each of us lives by certain themes,
applying them to our stories, along with valued characteristics and
appropriate actions to support these beliefs and qualities can cure the worst
case of writer's block and make every story you write a winner.
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