We know that great writing provokes our thinking, widens our scope of the world. Some of us have even experienced great writing that motivates our actions. Years ago, I saw a play called "Jeffrey" in New York. In the play, one of the characters volunteers at an AIDS maternity ward feeding newborn babies. I was touched by the gesture and decided to look into it as something I would do myself. As it turned out the babies weren't separated in New York city maternity wards because their was little chance of spreading the HIV virus among newborns. Nice to know.
I spent the next few months feeding and changing babies. That experience taught me that if I wanted to adopt a child, I could handle it. A few years after that, I did adopt. Am I suggesting it was because of the character in Jeffrey? Probably not, but it sparked a flame that was already burning within me. And, I believe great writing can do that. A great character challenges us to behave in different ways than we ordinarily would, approach a situation differently or take action where we would never have thought to.
I stop now to think about all the characters that come to mind. Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Jay Gatsby, Scarlett O'Hara each left a mark in me, each planted a seed of "emotional DNA" in my being. We each have a list of our own literary heroes. Now, stop for a moment and think about all the young writers your work can help illuminate in the future. The stories boiling up inside of you may very well mean the world to someone looking for their own voice in writing in the future. By devoting yourself to your craft now, you're helping to strengthen the writers of tomorrow. You may be the writer than someone looks up to and wants to emulate. Your words can potentially change the course of someone's life. Your characters can leave a mark on generations to come. Don't think for a moment that your creativity is not that important. It is, in fact it's critical!
But who'll write your stories if you don't? No one has your particular view point of the world. No one has your unique way of expressing things. No one shares your exact powers of observation. I've always said that five stolen moments during the day is better than nothing. But the truth is writing anything requires getting through that first horrible draft. Then it requires many rewrites. When the time is right it will require feedback from people you trust. But, writing like the greatest architecture, stands the test of time. It lives on. It breathes a life of its own and extends beyond you in ways you can never imagine. Sometimes the most important thing to remember is just keep the pen moving across the page - keep the fingers dancing on the keyboard. Like a muscle, writing gets easier the more you do it.
In general what we tend to remember most about great movies or novels is their characters. A well written, three dimensional character is at the heart of every great story. The audience needs to identify with your protagonist. We need to know who we're rooting for. Rich, unusual characters will lead you to the new comedic and dramatic territory. Think for a moment of the people you remember most from your own life? What was it about them that captured your attention? Can you incorporate these traits into one of your own characters? Can you take a foible or quirk from someone in real life and exaggerate it to good use in your own fiction?
I was recently working on a character who lives a life of seclusion in the Brazilian rainforest. I liked what I had so far but when I added a surprise element the character took on a new life. I think he's much more interesting and well-rounded now. What I gave him was a great love of jazz. Then to make that visual, I gave him a trumpet. Now I have him bringing his trumpet to the jungle and taking it out to play at night. Now the character has a "hook" that engages our interest.
Linda Seger, a sought after teacher and script consultant in Hollywood has written a great book on the subject, "Creating Unforgettable Characters." I highly recommend putting it on your writer's shelf.
This week's suggested website: The Gotham Writer's Workshop (www.writingclasses.com) is located in New York City (hence the name). This group publishes some great books on fiction and screenwriting. It also offers courses in-person and online in poetry writing, play writing and even memoir.
This week's writing prompt: Give yourself five uninterrupted minutes of quiet time. Using the first person point of view, have your main character tell us (the reader) an episode from his or her life. Let your character describe a defining moment, an accomplishment, an epiphany or an embarrassment. Be sure to let your character use his or her own vocabulary. Let it be conversational, in his or her own voice. Limit this exercise to one page.
