August 2007

Getting Cozy with Karen...
                          August Musings

"The test of character is having the ability to meet challenges."
~ Walter Annenberg ~
Annenberg had the characters of "live" individuals in mind when he penned or uttered these words. In adversity, we do tend to discover our own strengths. We learn what we're prepared to do to accomplish our goals. We sometimes even uncover our greatest weaknesses, our deepest fears. All of the challenges we face in our lives make up the total of who we are as a person.

It is this character that makes each of us unique and interesting. It is what draws others to us as friends, lovers, mates, and family, or repels if we were identified as a villain or antagonist in someone's life. [Theoretically speaking, of course. None of us could possibly be a villain or antagonist. {g} But I digress.]

Can we do any less for our fictional characters? As the legendary John Wayne, a larger-than-life character in real and fictional life, would say, "Not hardly!"

As many of you know, I believe plotting has an important place in the writer's toolbox, even for those of us who write by the seat of our pants. I wouldn't teach the "W" plotting technique otherwise. However, I think the single most critical aspect of our stories still rests upon our characters' shoulders. We can't have a story without people, and that is why I always begin my workshops with two complete lessons that build on the characters before we start learning how to use the "W" technique to plot their story.

So, how can we make characters "real" for our readers? What's the trick to making them living, breathing individuals that our readers want to live with for a few hours or days? First and foremost, they must become real for us. They must become the best friend we have a cappuccino with on Friday mornings at Starbucks or invite to the family BBQ on Sunday. How else will we know where the characters come from, who they are, where they're going, and what they'll have to overcome to get what they want?

I know some of you are already breaking out into a cold sweat at the thought of where I'm headed with my musings this month. I used to be right there with you! I did learn, however, probably much later into my writing career than necessary [did I mention I can be a really slow learner? {g}] that character worksheets don't have to be on a par with having a Caesarian with no anesthetic. In fact, beyond letting my muse have free rein with a scene, playing with my character worksheets has become a pleasurable part of my pre-writing routine.

How did I, the ultimate pantser, travel from free range writing to embrace any structure, let alone the dreaded character worksheet? Part of it was thanks to my discovery of the "W" plotting technique. Finding a simplistic technique helped me to realize that I didn't have to plot everything down to a gnat's eyebrow to balance my professional need for structure and my creative need for freedom. With a growing confidence in my writing skills, I also discovered that I don't have to follow the dictates of every other writer as "gospel." So, knowing I needed the three basics for my character-goal, motivation, and conflict-I created my own worksheet, which enabled me to get to know my characters the way I wanted.

That's not to say you must complete character worksheets to plumb the depths of your character's psyches. I know some writers who conduct character interviews. Some build their character from the situation they want to create. Some develop the situation from the character they envision.

The goal is to find a way to get to know our characters so that they become as real as you and I, three-dimensional people with a full range of purpose, feelings, and emotions. They might live and breathe in a world we create but, when we do our job right, our characters can take on a life of their own and walk off the page into the lives of our readers.

And that's the ultimate challenge for a writer, isn't it?

~~~~~~~~

What else is happening in my writing world?

I received a call from Terry Odell with Central Florida Romance Writers just before nationals. I'm pleased to announce BROKEN WINGS placed third in the single title category of their Touch of Magic contest. I also had the pleasure of running into Terry at breakfast in Dallas just a few days later.

Met up with a lot of old friends and made some new ones when I traveled to Dallas for the RWA national conference. I attended all of the publisher autograph sessions plus the literacy reception where I connected with my favorite authors. Had to ship two boxes of books home this year in addition to what fit into my suitcases! Yikes! I networked like crazy; and, in between meals and networking, I slipped up to my room and wrote, wrote, wrote. Did some serious celebrating with my chapter mates--we had several GH & RITA finalists, one of which won her category! And, my roommate and I snuck out of the hotel for one hot, hot night of cheering for our champion, the Yellow Knight, at the Medieval Times dinner show near the hotel. For a visual walkthrough of our conference fun, click on PHOTOS in the menu at the top of the website page.

Upon my return home, I sent out the first fifty pages and synopsis for KILLING SECRETS, my 95,000-word single title romantic suspense, requested by Rose Hilliard at St. Martin's Press. Here's hoping she likes what she sees!

I'm conducting an online "W" plotting workshop for members at From the Heart Romance Writers from August 6th-31st. If you've signed up, I'm looking forward to working with you!

As always, if you'd like to comment on the newsletter or anything else, please feel free to sign into my guest book at the bottom of this page. If you'd like to have the newsletter delivered directly to your email Inbox each month, it's easy to join my mailing list. Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you in September if you'd like to Get Cozy with Karen again. In the meantime, feel free to check out the rest of my website at your leisure.

Thanks for visiting!