So, when you have an anecdote, look at your characters. "What does Fictional Kam lack that she wants?" Even if it's peace of mind, it's still a goal. Then, "what does FicKam plan to do to get it? What stands in her way?" You don't need to answer these for the whole piece at once, but for every scene it wouldn't hurt to know going into it.
Now, the hard part. Once you think you know, let it change. If you decide that FicKam wants a balogna sandwich, and what she really wants is to mourn the death of her cousin Rex, she'll tell you. And she might even use the balogna sandwich to do it.
I feel like I'm telling you stuff that you probably already know. Maybe I'm reminding you, maybe I'm being pedantic and annoying. I dunno. Hopefully I'm giving you some ideas. I know that, as I'm talking about this to you, I'm figuring out how to apply it in my own writing, and how to tell my students about it. So I could do this all day. :-)
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timeasmymeasure
Re:
Date: 2003-04-09 10:52 am (UTC)Now, the hard part. Once you think you know, let it change. If you decide that FicKam wants a balogna sandwich, and what she really wants is to mourn the death of her cousin Rex, she'll tell you. And she might even use the balogna sandwich to do it.
I feel like I'm telling you stuff that you probably already know. Maybe I'm reminding you, maybe I'm being pedantic and annoying. I dunno. Hopefully I'm giving you some ideas. I know that, as I'm talking about this to you, I'm figuring out how to apply it in my own writing, and how to tell my students about it. So I could do this all day. :-)