#2 Let's Talk Characters!

Dear Journal,

There are many areas in which I need to further improve in my own personal writing, but one thing that I've had many compliments on is my character building.  Believe it or not, the characters are where readers grow attachments to your stories.  For the entire book to be truly gripping the main character or characters have to capture the readers attention and empathy.
Empathy (ability to understand and share feelings with another) is a key word in my log today.  That has to be the hardest concept to get readers to grasp, because it's already hard enough in reality to obtain that attribute.  A story can still be good, but the characters connect readers.
Why? It helps the readers feel like they're there.  If it's because they share weaknesses, similar physical features or disabilities, emotionally damaging events, strengths, fears, etc.  In whichever way, it will help build a relationship with the character in your story and readers (aka opportunities for empathy!)
A main character doesn't have to be the perfect flawless angel that could do no wrong.  If that's what you're book is about then bravo... Your character has no purpose in your story seeing as he or she will not progress.  Stories have an end because situations and people change.  Better yet, situations change people.
Besides, flaws help readers feel even more empathy depending on who the reader is and which flaw the character has.  Know why? Because people are not perfect.  It's exciting to see someone you love dig themselves out of a deep hole or watch achieve a life long goal.  That will be what keeps the reader reading.  No matter how you end your story (for any of those dark morbid writers - love you) if it's a depressing or happily ever after ending, the character develops and evolves over time and reaches that point.

Let's go over some other important ingredients to creating your empathy-deserving characters!
1. Don't make the protagonist perfect! (snore alert)
2. Seconding that; don't make your villain 100% evil either! Add a back story as to why he or she could be doing awful things. This will make them more enticing.
2. Physical features! (Surprisingly can really connect lots of readers so be choosey)
3. Personality! Use examples from your everyday life interactions you like or dislike.  I find that if you have multiple supporting characters, you can have lots of fun messing with their mannerisms.
4. Names... this is tricky, because going too original can almost be incredibly annoying, like if the main character has a name you can't even pronounce... BUT it is your choice in the end.  If you want your character's name to be Professor Tsuemo Hipszer then so be it.  I'd suggest even Googling baby names and search meanings (obviously I do this) and see what hits you!
5. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER! Do I have your attention...
Creating a character is like creating a real human being... Ok not EXACTLY (perverts) But you have to let them surprise even you, the writer.  People make their own choices and express free agency.  This means you are no puppet master.  Your job as a writer is to create the scene and the character, but not control.

I fight with my characters constantly.  It is quite humorous actually.  I was stuck for a while with one of my books because an important conflict arose and for the life of me I could not decide how my characters were going to get passed the obstacle.  One of my characters wasn't dumb enough to fall for the trap, and the other was too stubborn to accept what was going on!  If you're staying true to your characters this issue will occur more than once.

That's my say for the day journal (see I rhyme too, awesome) Peace out future writers I'm rooting for y'all!

Sincerely,
Me

#1 Why Should I Write?

             I've decided to start keeping track of all the questions, information, and another random facts about writing I've learned for any curious prospects out there. First question on the list; why should I write?
This is a common question for anyone pursuing a career in writing, editing, blogging, or what have you... The answer is very simple my children! Wait for it...

Write because you ENJOY writing!

I'm not going to promise you a J.K. Rowling life of luxury (that can be one out of a million), but I'm not saying it's impossible either! You have to understand a real life of a writer.  You spend hundreds of hours writing, and writing, and writing, and when that's done editing, and editing, and editing, and possible erasing a good 3/4 of your piece.  After you finished your "baby", and I know how precious it will seem, then you have to gain the approval of overly analytical monsters that will tear your baby apart and give you back the pieces in a heaping bag of discouragement. Well, maybe less graphic, but you get the idea.  We all love publishers.... (right)
Why I make the reference to J.K. Rowling is because, unfortunately, most writers do not make tons of money if any at all.  Any job will feel the same way. Being a writer isn't easy or enjoyable unless you have a love for it.  If you don't like math then why the heck are you going into accounting?  Same idea.

To be a writer you also have to develop thick skin.  You can't take compliments or criticism too seriously.  In fact, over the years of study in arts I've found that I enjoy the constructive criticism far more than compliments, because for me it means these people were interested enough to take the time to really observe my work instead of the generic "that's nice," remarks.  Not only that, but having someone else find your imperfections helps you to learn and progress.  Sorry, but no one's perfect, and you aren't going to be able to see these faults on your own all the time.
On another note, I wrote a piece once, just a short story as an assignment, and it is still to this day one of my least favorite stories I've written.  I truly did not love it, but I wrote it and submitted it anyway for a classroom review.  To my amazement, and horror, my teacher declared this was one of his favorites and selected as top short story for the week.  A student in our class even wrote me feedback on how it made him cry and... yeah awkward but touching. I couldn't figure out what I did right since I didn't even care for it.  That's when I learned the sad truth about genre.

If you have your own flavor of writing there is nothing wrong with that! The only thing you have to remember is that not everyone enjoys the same genre you do.  Just like everything else in the world, people have many preferences and don't get butt-hurt if your genre isn't one of them.
I stick to mainly fiction for all of my stories, but the one story that scored me a win in my class was non-fiction!  Sometimes we have to take that step out of our comfort zone and see what other skills we have to offer as writers!

Well if you took the time to read all of this (and sincerely enjoyed) I'm sure I'll be posting in my Journal again for more writer venting!

Sincerely,
Me