Whose Story Is It?
Whenever you sit down to plot a story (or even to think about a story) one of the first things you have to ask yourself is this: "Whose story IS it?"
It seems like a simple question - but your story can succeed or fail depending on how you handle this. Told from the wrong point of view, a story can founder before the first chapter has come to an end.
SOME COMMON PROBLEMS
1. IN CHILDREN'S STORIES: The author can't help but identify with the adult point of view. The story is told from a fond or patronising standpoint - all too obviously that of a mother or teacher. The young reader picks this up instantly. Why? Because we all 'become' the viewpoint character in a story. Children don't feel comfortable looking out through adult eyes - especially if there's a too-obvious moral 'message' being delivered!
2. A SECONDARY CHARACTER TAKES OVER: if your main character seems dull and lifeless, perhaps you are telling the story from the wrong person's viewpoint. Do you find yourself eagerly sitting down to write scenes shown through the eyes of a vibrant or cheeky 'supporting cast' member, but rushing through the scenes that star the lead character? Uh oh. Dangerous... it's time for a rethink. Quite often this is a good sign that it is really someone else's story.
3. THE STORY PLODS ALONG: All your writing seems like hard work. The plot seems fine - when you analyse it, it follows the 'recipe' that should work: the main character has a problem or goal that is important to him; he faces a series of obstacles while trying to reach his goal; he experiences a time when all seems lost - then he triumphs and/or realises that something else is more important to him, and all is resolved. So what's wrong?
"What's wrong" is usually that although the main character has a goal that's important to him, it hasn't convinced you, the author! YOU don't care. Therefore it's going to be hard to persuade your readers to care.
Look at the other people in the story. What goals/problems do they have? What is important to them? Could you get a lot more involved if you were telling someone else's story?
SOME FINAL TIPS:
- Decide whose story it is. If it isn't working from one character's viewpoint, write the same scene of action from several viewpoints. Do this several times until you find the one that feels right.
- If you have more than one viewpoint in the story, make sure that we know at the beginning of each scene whose eyes we are looking through. Make sure you don't run off at a tangent, getting too involved in a secondary character's story. All scenes and all subplots should be interwoven with the MAIN character's story, and move it forward.
- In each scene, the viewpoint character should be the one with the most at stake for that scene. The main viewpoint character for the story should be the one with the most at stake for the story.
- Every viewpoint character must be actively involved in the plot all the way through. Don't waste a scene by allowing someone who appears only once or twice to be the viewpoint character.
Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/
MORE RESOURCES:
 Reuters | Democrats are writing a new narrative, on health care and the elections North Country Public Radio (blog) Since early last summer -- when tea party protests erupted around the US -- Democrats have been on the defensive. Despite sweeping majorities in both houses ... Democrats look forward to health care victory Reform backers appear to gain momentum The health care reform debate: What 'deem and pass' really means |
Adventures in Atrocious Mainstream Media Sports Writing: Dennis Dodd Edition The Daily Gopher (blog) But just because you have a national audience and you're writing a blog instead of a traditional column, doesn't mean that a mainstream media outlet should ... |
 Washington Post | The Writing Life, by Ken Ludwig Washington Post This (along with Rules Two and Three, see below) is how playwriting differs from writing novels, poetry and other forms of literature that fit between two ... |
Runners keep writing tournament on track Chillicothe Gazette Unioto has hosted the regional seventh- and eight-grade writing tournament for several years, but organizers point to the students who didn't get to compete ... |
Roanoke Times wins 30 VPA awards Roanoke Times The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com earned 30 writing, design, photography and online awards Saturday night at the Virginia Press Association's annual meeting ... The News Virginian wins 19 awards CSE wins 26 awards in annual VPA contest The News & Advance earns top state press award again |
Cheerios contest boosts local author's kids book Chicago Sun-Times BY DELIA O'HARA Staff Reporter Lori Degman has been writing children's books on and off for 20 years but never got one published -- until now. ... |
Students playing catch-up as they hit college Dallas Morning News Yet here they were at Brookhaven Community College in Farmers Branch taking remedial writing. Over the semester, they'd review "your" vs. ... |
Big Write winner: Writing in the 'style of Mark Twain' St. Louis Post-Dispatch by Karen Sterbenz Karen Sterbenz won the short fiction division for the Big Write contest, basing her writing on the style of Mark Twain. ... |
Anne 's ex writing her letters from jail Times of India Anne Hathaway's ex-boyfriend, who is in jail for trying to steal 35million pounds from the Vatican, has been writing her letters from the prison. ... |
A field of dreams, a plot of reality Detroit Free Press Through some passionate and persistent letter writing, he convinces the Tigers that he's the boy for the job. That's the wholesome, apple-pie part of the ... |
Understanding Editorial Guidelines
Editorial guidelines, also known as writer's guidelines, are the rules set forth by publishers for contributing authors. In order to have your article taken seriously you must review the guidelines prior to submission.
An Inside Look at Proofreading
This is the ideal topic for us all to think about. We do it everyday, especially those of us that use the Internet the majority of the time.
How I Became a Syndicated Columnist -- And You Can Too!
Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips, clips, clips."When people ask me how I became a syndicated columnist, I usually say, "it just snowballed.
Publisher Ethics For Reprint-able Articles
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or webmaster that likes to use supplemental content from the many free articles available for free reprints on the Internet, this article may save you from a very expensive copyright infringement lawsuit. Stealing articles by violating the posted reprint rights is copyright infringement theft.
8 Tell-Tale Signs That Forecast Writing Success!
'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.
Recipe for a Style Guide
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization in internet, web, and net, but Wired Magazine continues to capitalize these words. Which should you do? For the most part, it's up to you.
Whats Missing in your Nearly Finished Book?
Bookcoaching clients come to me at different stages of writing their books. The ones who start from ground zero with a coach and learn what goes into each chapter to make it more readable and sell better.
You Cant Always Believe What You See On Your Computer Screen
You may not remember this, but in the early days of the personal computer, many industry insiders were predicting a paperless society.Of course, this hasn't happened.
Basic Writing Tips - Some Controversial, All Correct
As a previous article ("Making Better Word Choices - 4 Examples") explained, writers can take steps to prevent simple, and common, errors from degrading their writing. Five areas of writing that cause authors problems are discussed in this article.
Increase Your Web Traffic By Using Keyword Articles
If you have an online home based business you know that routing traffic to your web page is incredibly important. Not only in order to make sales and increase revenues but to continue your business.
Want to start a publishing revolution?
Calling all publishers, editors, journalists and freelance writers. It's time to breathe more life into your copy.
Novel to Screenplay: The Challenges of Adaptation
ADAPTATION 101Brimming with confidence, you've just signed the check purchasing the rights to adapt John Doe's fabulous, but little known novel, Lawrence of Monrovia, to screenplay form. Suddenly, panic sets in.
How You Can Take Advantage of the Increasing Demand for Freelance Online Writers
The freelance writing market is a growing market to be in. There are many jobs available, but sometimes, it can be hard to find the work that you want, and available at the time you want it to be.
The Heart of the Delay: Harnessing The Wisdom of Procrastination (AKA Writers Block)
I am sure that at in some era, at some desk, with some kind of paper (and perhaps some very special ink), some writer has breezed through a lengthy and challenging project from beginning to end with no delays. No one in her household has suffered, she's felt pleased at each step of the process, and her shoulders have never cried out for massage.
Sharpen Your Writing With Structure
At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit down and conclude that there is something seriously wrong with their work. It wanders; it is pretty in some spots and horribly ugly in others.
7 Reference Books for Your Desk
I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an original idea. That's bad for a writer.
The Untold Secrets of Writing Best Selling Childrens Books
Ever wondered how the most successful children's book writers get their ideas? The answer may surprise you.Most children's books are based on the same exact story - good versus evil.
Top Seven Ways to Write your Print or eBook Fast
Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on why it will help your profits and brand your business? Need to know each step so you can delegate it to an assistant or do it yourself in just an hour a day for less than a month?Each chapter within my eBook "Write Your Print or Other Short Book-Fast!" can help fiction and non-fiction authors.Ch.
Italics Part 1 - Do You Need to Use Italics?
Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis..
Starting a Freelance Writing Career (or Thoughts About Taking the Plunge)
Nike's ad has taken on new meaning for me of late; "Just do it!" runs through my mind like a mantra. Although my dreams have nothing to do with athletic shoes and little to do with athletics (unless you count the long list of ideas I have developed which revolve around my sons and their activities), I have spent a long time avoiding the one thing I've always wanted to do - write.
