Checking out the "Blue Rose Girls" I stumbled over an article only a few weeks old that covered an interview with Diana Wynne Jones where she gave out a variety of writing tips. She also spoke about her own writing strategies, such as the fact she usually doesn't plan out the middle of the story before writing. Though she plans it far in advance, she only etches out the beginning and end and a general idea of the middle for continuing. I think this is interesting because it still incorporates careful planning and a vision in mind but also allows for growth and free thinking since ideas can freely build on the other, while still keeping that total "vision" of the story in mind. Planning out every detail can limit growth or that feeling of instantaneous creativity while writing a story.
She also spoke about the importance of knowing every detail of every character in the story, for that will help any writer not get 'stuck' with trying to figure out what happens next: for it will create natural connections and the objectives will intertwine almost automatically. Diana also clarifies that you don't have to tell the reader a majority of these details, but some things, such as the appearance or quirks of a character will shine through naturally through your writing if you are keeping the specific details in mind. I agree that careful planning will help and knowing all the details about the character and their 'quests' will naturally aid any author in coming up with plot ideas.
Diana also dispensed some quick 'tid-bits' such as how she usually just "pours out" what comes to mind and gets the story down, then in later drafts becomes critical and 'weeds out' what doesn't belong. This is helpful to at least discard some notions that the first draft must be free of errors completely.
She also recommends modeling villains after someone we know. I think this is very interesting and unique advice, since our anger/outrage at this real life villain will shine through our story and make it thus a very natural/heartfelt villain. I think this is a very interesting idea especially if a writer swings a wide lasso and incorporates villains throughout history or even contemporary celebrities or public figures that they consider villains (perhaps unusual villain choices), but of course personal life villains could also make for a heartfelt or at least comedic (perhaps picking on tired McDonald's people that get the order wrong, or something trivial) mood. Speaking of villains....
Over on the Cynsations blog, there's a brand new entry interviewing Amy Christine Parker about her new hit work: "Gated." She talks about the difficulties that arise when developing a character with a totally different personality than the writer has. This is especially tough because you have to hone in on how that character would react to different situations compared to how you (the writer) would react to those trials or problems. Not to mention there's the fact that her main character has been an outcast from society, effectively exiled, thus she doesn't know all the modern slang that most of our society would recognize. But she found her main character Layla's voice by talking about her origins, her back story, how she got to the current time where the story begins.
She also describes a growing process (which can last months or even years) of how a character grows and develops organically in the writer's mind. It only makes sense, since many writers meditate on their main character for hours and hours trying to 'nail down' their quirks, expressions, fears, strengths, objectives. Like the blog on Blue Rose Girls I talked about earlier, Parker recommends creating a character profile to know even the small details of a character: their musical tastes, clothing preferences, food favorites, etc. Recording these details can help refresh and ultimately hand ideas to the writer when they need them.
Indeed, knowing the backstory of characters is important and certainly a productive exercise that can be integral to forming more of the 'ground' for the foundation of the story to rest upon. It can ensure that each character is unique and vibrant and distinctively different from one another. These tips of course can apply to children's writing but also the art of writing in general, adding some wise advice for writers to wield.
Ok, you're free to go Donald.
Oops, wrong Donald. Here we go. Looks like you're trying out a new hobby allright.
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