I am in the midst of analyzing my current WIP so I can turn it from a bunch of wildly amusing scenes into a cohesive, emotionally engrossing reading experience.
One of the things I do at this stage is create a list I call "Setbacks and Growth Points".
If a story doesn't have setbacks for the character, it's not all that interesting. Unfortunately, character growth isn't like the rest of the changes that happen to our body from birth to death. The body is programmed to grow, so it can pretty much progress even if we resist it every step of the way.
Character growth occurs, however, when there is a challenge or obstacle to overcome. It requires active participation, which may be why we as humans try to avoid it.
I am well aware what I need to change about myself, but hey, it's easier to sit on the couch and eat Reese's peanut butter cups instead. (I did choose the mini ones, which have fewer calories, so it's practically a diet food. Add in all the calories I burn by ripping off the outer foil AND that brown paper lining, and I've got quite the impressive training regimen.)
What would happen, though, if a car crashed through my living room wall while I was sitting on my couch avoiding character growth? I'd have to make a choice, and that choice would determine what kind of character traits I possess, as well as what I value in life.
It's the same with our characters. I'm sure they would be perfectly happy to go from Point A to Point B without all that messy "inciting incident" and "black moment" stuff. It's inconvenient, not always a lot of fun, and it gets in the way of what they had planned for their lives. They're probably mumbling under their breath, "Hey, this is who I am, and if you don't like me, that's too damn bad".
But there's no story there.
How does your character respond when things don't go his way? Does he throw his hands in the air and say, "Oh well!" Or does he grit his teeth and find another way to accomplish his goal? These are things we discover when we force our characters to make choices they would normally avoid. It reveals what they are truly made of when we put them under pressure to act.
When I'm working on my WIP, I make a list of the setbacks each character experiences, or should experience, in the story. I try to relate these to the "needs improvement" areas of my character's personality, the aspects that need to change before they reach the end of the book. It's a good way to see if I've left out a step in their development, or if the progression doesn't make sense the way I've currently arranged it.
It's hard to be mean to our characters. I know that. The only way I can make myself do it is to tell them, "I'm doing this for your own good".
They may reach their goal or they may not. Most likely their goal will change along the way. But when they finally do reach Point B, they are going to be a better, and different, person than when they set out at Point A, anticipating an easy journey.
And they've got me, and their setbacks, to thank for that.
I am always stunned at how much you and other writers think about this stuff. Really! I just don't honestly give it much thought. I know I run my characters all over the bloody place and I know they grow, I know there are obstacles and vehicles smashing into their lives... But to list them...
I could do it... But honestly, I'm gonna leave this to you! You're so good at it! And if it assists you in finding and binding things to together, then huzzah!
On the other hand, I can see these metaphorical trucks in my own life, easy-peasy!
Posted by: Maureen | January 10, 2011 at 01:18 PM
God, I love those mini reeses...
(((drool)))
Posted by: Maureen | January 10, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Ah, Maureen, you are one of those lucky writers that never has to edit or revise, I guess. LOL
I only think of these things because I can see there is something missing and I am trying to figure it out. And in the process of figuring it out, I learn things in detail, which I put into a blog post. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Oh, I edit and revise, but I guess it's just more by instinct than actually figuring out what is missing... I's like I just don't have the patience to do it 'right'...
It's like I'm bad with color. I can tell when things don't work, but I can't say why or name it all. None of the expertise to say that... "Well, if this has more yellow in it then it wouldn't clash with the red that is the base for this blue..." I know there are all those rules and reasons for colors to work. But if I try to figure them out, I just blank. Same thing with cooking. Or sewing. Or the bazillion things I know just enough about to manage, not enough to be the boss.
Same with most of the writing. I find if I discuss stuff, like with Terri or you, I do KNOW it, I just don't have the vocabulary.
Posted by: Maureen | January 10, 2011 at 02:51 PM
I understand what you're saying, Maureen. :) I do a lot of writing by instinct, too, but there are times when I need to analyze, and look at things more deeply in order to make the story be the best it can be.
One of the reasons I enjoy doing it is because it allows me to articulate my thoughts, as well as my findings, in a blog post about writing. :)
I'll warn you that next week I'll be blogging about storyboarding in Excel, so you might want to skip that one! LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 04:12 PM
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! RUN AWAY!
Excel is terrifying... ;-)
But I figure people who know the vocabulary, do the reading on how and what, must find my babbling about writing extremely frustrating! I've seen a look cross Terri's face now and then...
I'm not really an idiot, I just play one very, very well! ;-)
Posted by: Maureen | January 10, 2011 at 04:24 PM
That was a hard thing for me to learn. I wanted everybody to get along, just like I do in real life. But it would make aboring story if there were no set backs or opportunities to grow. So, alas, we must torture our poor characters! LOL
Posted by: Lara_Nance | January 10, 2011 at 04:55 PM
Donna, I can't tell you how many contest entries I judge where I have to say this is boring. On the other hand,I think sometimes if my life was as hectic as my heroines, I would have to pull my hair out.
I blogged this morning about how you could tell you were writer. One of my entries was that if your idea of romance was to keep your characters apart for a long time and make them as miserable as you could, you were a writer.
That probably ties in very well with what you've written. Without conflict, without tension, you might as well be writing a textbook.
I love the way you tie in your points. And by the way, I have a great cookie recipe using those many Reeces cups.
Posted by: Liz Lipperman | January 10, 2011 at 04:58 PM
Great post, Donna. Setbacks and character growth? Hopefully I have both in my WIP, but I don't know that I ever sat down and made the list. Great thing to try when you need to look at your story in a fresh way.
Posted by: Clarissa Southwick | January 10, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Lara, I still have a hard time being mean to my characters! I feel guilty about it, but then I remember how awful I feel when my story is boring as a result. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 05:09 PM
My first "finished" manuscript was snoozeville to readers because, although it was chock full of hilarious antics, the characters never faced any challenge. I loved them so much i couldn't bare to make them uncomfortable. But after several drafts and discarded, half-written novels, I've finally gotten quite cold-hearted about sending my characters through the ringer. You're absolutely right. Very few people seek out 'growth' moments. We become comfortable in our discontent because it's the easiest thing to do. But we owe it to our characters, and our readers, to put in every stumbling block possible. Because it's good for them... and entertaining for us!
Posted by: Tracy Brogan | January 10, 2011 at 05:10 PM
Liz, aren't you the cutest, thinking I have any Reese's peanut butter cups left! (They were half price after Christmas, which means I had to eat them twice as fast. LOL) But I'll come bugging you for a recipe next time I have some.
And you're exactly right about needing the hecticness for the story but if we had to deal with it. . .gimme some more candy so I can cope! I liked your definitions of being a writer -- that's exactly what I'm after. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 05:11 PM
Clarissa, I actually did the Setbacks and Growth Points list with a women's fiction book that didn't have as much "conflict", but the character did change, and I wanted to see how and where it happened. So now I try to use it for my other books.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 05:13 PM
Tracy, good for you at being coldhearted with your characters. (I may need to have you give me some pointers -- I'm still a bit too nice to my folks. LOL) It's easier for me to be mean to them if I can see that they grow as a result. It also helps my own growth as a writer. I'm still working on those other non-writing areas. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 05:18 PM
You missed the best part of putting your characters through the wringer - the pay off! I don't mean all that "getting your novel done" stuff, I mean the pleasure of letting your characters kick a little a** for their troubles. While I personally have not gone through the disasters I've put my characters through, I have also not had the pleasure of shooting anyone, kicking them in the head or blowing up their houses...although I have certainly dreamed of it. Oops, was that out loud?
Posted by: SG Redling | January 10, 2011 at 05:34 PM
And why didn't you tell me you weren't lined up on my blog???
Posted by: SG Redling | January 10, 2011 at 05:35 PM
Donna! Great post! I can remember trying to put my main character in shape on one of my trips. I kept failingbto get it right untilbshe and I stopped into a wine bar. She explained the problems and when I got back to my hotel room the scene was written.
Posted by: Cassy Pickard | January 10, 2011 at 05:49 PM
SG, I didn't even think about the payoff, but you are so right -- that's what makes it all worthwhile! My characters don't (usually) get to kick ass, at least not literally, but they do deserve a reward for everything they've experienced.
Now I'm going to go sit over here in the corner, quietly, so I don't get you all riled up. LOL
I didn't realize I wasn't on your blog. Now I've got to check to see who I've left off MINE!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 05:54 PM
Cassy, I definitely want to do some writing with YOU. :) I enjoyed that glass of wine we had at Crime Bake, but I had no idea it would also solve character issues! I am missing out on some important stuff here. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Well, the first thing my characters do when faced with an impossible situation is get mad. If they survive the anger, I go back and make the scene more difficult for them, then again and again until they're tearing their hair out and looking for escape. Right about then, they get clever and figure their own way out. They're more durable than I am!
Fun post. Your logic on the Reese's minis is flawless.
Posted by: Rochelle Staab | January 10, 2011 at 06:17 PM
No pain, no gain -- true in life, even more true in fiction. Whenever things start getting dull in my story, I look around for ways to raise the stakes for the character. When it's less painful to change than to stay stuck, the character will change -- just like real people.
For me, it's Rolos, not Reece's, and I have a recipe for them, too. :-)
Posted by: Leigh Michaels | January 10, 2011 at 06:19 PM
Donna - Don't be silly...you get the recipe so you have a REASON to go buy more mini Reeses!
Posted by: Maureen | January 10, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Rochelle, you ARE a toughie! But I like that--don't just go with their first response, but keep on challenging them until they come up with their own solution. (If I had any left, I could reward them with Reese's. LOL)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 06:33 PM
Leigh--excellent point about it being less painful to change, then people will finally go for it. So I just have to make sure they "feel the pain" of not moving forward.
Oh, and I like Rolos too! Thanks for the reminder. Mmm. We might need to start making some goodies pretty soon with all these recipes we've got around here!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Maureen, I don't know WHAT I was thinking! Of course I should get the recipe so I'll have it ready to go when more Reese's peanut butter cups appear in my life. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 06:36 PM
Got one for rollos...involves pretzels and pecans.
I do like doing terrible things to my characters and it often does take something catostrophic to get people to move. In real life, especially! The massive kick in the ass of nearly dying got me out of the pit of despair and introspection and into the world.
So, yup. Torture your characters. It's good for them in the long run.
Posted by: Maureen | January 10, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Great post, Donna! Even if happy characters weren't boring to read about, they're boring to write, so I have no qualms about torturing my characters. *hides head in shame*
All of my characters are tenacious. I personally don't enjoy stories where the protagonist is drawn into a conflict unwittingly and only acts because he or she has no choice. It's vital that something drive that character to make a conscious decision to take action. This is what delineates character driven fiction (which is what I write) from plot driven fiction.
Posted by: VR Barkowski | January 10, 2011 at 06:53 PM
Maureen, my friend makes a Rolos and pretzel thing at Christmas that's really good--I like the pecans variation. Mmmm.
And I agree that it takes something catastrophic to wake most of us up. It's helped to stimulate some of my best growth spurts!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 06:57 PM
VR, don't hang your head in shame. LOL You can see how many folks here like torturing their characters. (We may have to start a support group!)
I like your distinction about the character being compelled to make that decision to act. It definitely does make for a different story if the character is leading it this way.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | January 10, 2011 at 07:00 PM
I'd do without the pecan, but I don't care for nuts. But the niece-in-law called 'em turtles, and I guess those need nuts...
Yeah, the harder the kick, the more change it can generate. Or the opposite, and one totally gives up. I like to think as writers, it's generally going to push our characters.
Posted by: Maureen | January 10, 2011 at 07:02 PM