NaNoWriMo
Today is Day 10 of NaNoWriMo.
That means you should be at ~16,000 words, and that is already pretty deep inside your story. In fact, you should be clearly beyond the introduction of your characters and stuff should be happening to them, fast and furious.
Have you thought about your characters?
What makes them tick?
What is their biggest fear and their biggest joy?
What was the worst day in their lives?
What do they dream of for the future?
If you can answer these questions, you already know a lot about them.
And if you know those answers, you know some of the challenges they must face.
But why challenge the characters?
Because that’s a basic part of every story. A character who never faces a real challenge, who doesn’t have to grow at least a little, and who always wins – is a very boring character. There’s even a name for it because it’s such a common mistake: Mary Sue
So think about your characters.
Throw challenges at them. Make them be very afraid, maybe even desperate. Make them do things they have never done before. Make them grow. And when they win in the end, make it a deserved win. Make them pay for it.
Then you have a story that people will enjoy, because they can relate.
We all have our struggles after all. That’s why we loathe people who get it easy all the time. We hate freeloaders.
And that’s why our characters have to work hard. And why we as authors have to put them through the wringer.
Let’s do it.
Here’s some tapping to make it easier:
Even though I hate pushing and hurting my characters, I’m totally okay the way I am, and I’m now open to the possibility that they’ll be stronger and more believable if I do that.
Even though it’s so hard for me to put my characters through the wringer and think up ever worse things for them, I’m still totally okay the way I am, and I now choose to test my characters and bring out their strength and beauty.
Even though I love my characters so much that it’s very hard to hurt and challenge them, I’m totally okay, and I now choose to tell a ripping story and have my characters come out stronger, better and as winners.
Your Turn:
Who’s your favorite character?
Do you know the answer to those questions?
What happened while you were tapping?
And finally – what are you creating right now?
Please share in a comment!
Image Source: National Novel Writing Month
PS: My newsletter contains a full tapping round to go with my blog posts, so it’ll be easier for you to get results. Sign up through the form on the upper right hand corner, and receive that tapping round plus occasional special offers. If you’re on a mobile and can’t see the sidebar, you can sign up through this link: Newsletter Sign-up.
