inklingfair I’m a great starter of projects but have never really been a finisher of any consequence – unless I begin with a finished world. Here’s to moving out of derivative universes.
Today I’ll make use of all these.
1. Tell, don’t show! Exposition = don’t include events or elements that don’t move the story forward.
2. Name wisely. Let names have a story in its own.
3. Build a better backstory = what moment defined: the character’s relationship with his parents, their greatest desire, their greatest fear (related: FEAR is the greatest marketing tool. Write about what you’re afraid of, not just about what you love.)
4. Leave the lumps in. The details you’re not sure what to do with.
5. Architect vs. Gardener. Be a little of both.
6. Finish the damn thing.
7. Deform the familiar, go beyond autobiographical. You have the blog for that.
8. Talk to strangers. You were trained in journalism for a reason.
Photo by Rafaela Biazi on Unsplash
