Don't Forget to Feel, Then Think, Before You React

Did you realize that our first reaction to anything that happens is emotional?

Post-insult, the character feels intense anger (rage!). That anger is what propels him to cock his arm back and punch the offender.

Immediately after hearing that her beloved dog has died, the character becomes sad (heartbroken!). This sadness incites tears (and, quite possibly, driving aimlessly around town the rest of the night to be alone with those tears).

The emotional reaction precedes the rational one (where you finally start to think, trying to make sense of the events and what to do about them). The action inevitably follows.

In the character's world, this can take hours (or days) or happen in a matter of moments.

Why is this important? 

Because when we're developing characters, emotions matter.

So when you're writing a scene that requires a real, visceral reaction, spend a few lines letting the reader know how the character is feeling (bonus points if you can show us the effects of these feelings).

After this, tell us what he or she is thinking (especially if they are entirely wrong about what's happening, because this will help us better understand their motives). Then . . . move into the physical response or action.

Game. Set. Match.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~   

On Momentum

I do a set of push-ups every night. I've been doing this for at least five or six months now. I do them at a time when there's really no excuse for me not to. Sometimes I've felt like not doing them--when I was sick or tired or just ready for the day to end--but, when this happens, I tell myself that if I don't do them today, I might not do them tomorrow. 

So while I can't get regular workout routines to stick (other than a daily walk), I've at least managed to keep this going. The reason? I don't give myself an "out." 

I know that this is an odd thing to share, but I correlate this with writing routines.

Life happens, to be sure. Things don't always work out the way we want them to, but if we give ourselves that "out" today [I'll just skip my writing practice. I'm too sick. Too tired. Too busy. Too (fill in the blank).] we're likely to give ourselves the same out the next day. And the next. Until weeks have passed and we have no work to show for our time. We've made no progress on our goals. We are no closer to reaching our dreams than we were when the idea first entered our head.

A little effort every day--added up--goes a long way.

Keep the momentum going. 

No caving in!

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~    

On Setbacks

Suspense is built through setbacks.

When things are going well for a character, the reader is likely to set the book down. 

(And why wouldn't she? There are a million other things vying for her attention at any given moment. If nothing is happening that will keep her glued to the page, why stick around?)  

As humans, we're wired toward homeostasis (balance or equilibrium; in other words, things working as well as they possibly can). Our brains aren't fans of conflict. We don't like it. In fact, most of us avoid it at all costs.

As writers, it's hard for us to put characters in situations that would make us run for the closet and curl up in the fetal position, but we have to if we want to write a book that will keep readers turning pages late into the night.

So . . . when building your scenes, think in terms of setbacks.

Tell your character "no" as often as you can for as long as you can. 

It will make that final "yes" much more satisfying in the end. 

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~ 

Just Say No: On Fear

"The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; 

then he can do his work. 

The professional knows that fear can never be overcome."

-Steven Pressfield-

When it comes to making your art, what are you most afraid of?

Failure?

Rejection?

Criticism?

Maybe if you worked harder, developed thicker skin, you would feel okay sharing your work or offering it for public consumption.

What the real artist knows, however, is that the fear never really goes away. An artist who sold his most recent painting for more than a hundred thousand dollars knows that his next piece might not sell at all. The New York Times bestseller knows that her publisher (or the public) could reject her next novel.

We're never free of our fears. They may manipulate or change over time, adapting to the person we've become, but there will always (always, always) be a reason to hold back.

Fight the urge knowing that this (rising above the fears and doing the hard work, anyway) is what it means to be a true artist. 

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Plot Twist

So much of this (publishing) industry is starting over.

Again and again and again.

It's picking yourself up by the bootstraps and pressing on.

When no one else chooses you, it's saying "I choose me."

Over and over and over.

. . . . . . 

Don't put a period where there should be a comma.

It's just a plot twist. Not the end.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~ 

On Persuasion

Conversations can drive a plot, but discussing something for the sake of discussing it can slow the narrative down.

A better idea?

Persuading. Each character should enter the conversation with a goal. 

If those goals conflict with one another?

Even better.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

On Rationalization

"Rationalization is Resistance's spin doctor. . . . Instead of showing us our fear (which might shame us and impel us to do our work), Resistance presents us with a series of plausible, rational justifications for why we shouldn't do our work."

-Steven Pressfield-

Why aren't you doing your (creative) work?

Because the floor needs vacuuming and the dog needs walking. There's a full-time job. Kids to tend to. Aging parents to care for. Clothes to fold. Meals to prepare. Errands to run.

Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes. 

Yes to all of the above, and a million other things that compete for our attention on any given day.

But if we don't do the (creative) work, then who will? 

And if we don't make time for the (creative) work, when is it going to happen?

There are a million reasons why we shouldn't. And they're all good reasons.

But don't forget the creative work. The work that fills your soul. That makes people happy. That might not seem "important" in light of the other things that need to get done, but is necessary, nonetheless. 

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~