Giving Characters Personality

I must admit, I love psychology.  I minored in it in college, my all-time favorite psychology class being Personality and the Mind.  We learned about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicators, which is a "questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences and how people perceive the world and make decisions".  I love taking those Myers-Briggs Personality Tests and learning which personality type I am.  (Just in case you're interested, I'm an INFP, meaning I'm Introverted, I perceive the world with my iNtuition, and I make decisions based on my Feelings and Perceptions)  If you've never taken it and would like to learn your personality type, check out this online questionnaire!

The hubster and I had an argument the other day and when it came time to resolve it, we realized the reason for our miscommunication and hurt feelings is because I was relying on the "FP" part of my personality (feeling and perceiving) and the hubster on his "TJ" (or thinking and judging).

That got me thinking about my own characters.  I know they have conflict, but does their conflict stem from their personalities and the personalities of the other characters?  Or is it just random conflict?

I decided to give my main characters the Myers Briggs test.  I found this website had a much more helpful list of questions to help me figure out my characters' personality types than just a long list of questions.  Figuring out each main character's personality type was such a cool experience, because I learned things about my characters along the way as I tried to figure out how they would answer the questions.  I then recorded my results. It helped me flesh out my characters a little more and add some realistic elements to the conflict between my characters.

Why didn't I think of this before?!?

Anyone else wanna share their Myers-Briggs type?  Or wanna use this tool to understand their characters a little more?  I'd love to hear about it!

Crazy 2012, Great 2013

My goal in 2012 was to send out query letters seeking representation for my YA manuscript.  And of course, that meant that by December of 2012 I'd have an agent in love with my manuscript and begging me to give them the honor and privilege of representing my book. ;)

But honestly the road to rejection representation has been rocky. I didn't send out as many letters as I wanted.  I had lots of life obstacles pop up: an appendectomy, being put on limited bed rest while pregnant, adjusting to a new baby, moving to a new state, plus the general busyness of life.

My 2012 Querying Stats:
Queries sent: 20
Rejections: 18
Requests for full: 2
Rejections of full: 2

Writing contests entered: 5
Writing contests won: 0

Yep.  Lots of discouragement and life stresses that prevented me from writing and seeking publication and blogging as much as I wanted.

But, some great things happened.  I could have lost the baby when I had my appendix removed, but baby is currently five months old and contently rolling all over the floor while blowing bubbles and babbling.  Hubster and I are much stronger as a couple, and stronger in our faith after weathering the storms that came our way.  And despite all those writerly rejections, the fact that 2 out of 20 agents were interested gives me a glimmer of hope that the story itself is an intriguing concept.  The story just needs improvement.  Luckily, those two agents gave me some helpful feedback, so my plan is to revise (yet again!), rewrite my query letter, and try again.

Also, I plan on writing a Bible study.  So incredibly different from the YA fiction I've been writing for years, but I must say that God taught me so much through the past year and I am eager to share it with others.  Plus, it has been great to try writing in a different format and genre. :)

And, because my life is finally settling down, I do plan on blogging a little more.  Yippeee!!

After the crazy 2012 we have had, I'm looking forward to great things in 2013!

Bloggy buddies, thanks for sticking with me during the past crazy year!  And now, I want to know, what great things do you have planned for this year? 

Cupcakes and Writing: Coffee

Coffee: Plot

According to GanoCup.com, coffee has become the second most popular drink in the world (after water of course).  They state that over 400 billions cups are consumed every year, making the coffee industry valued at 80 billion dollars.  And so, it should only follow that the world’s favorite drink should be transformed into cupcake form.  Now, I’ll admit, I’ve never had a coffee flavored cupcake, but I know they exist.  And if you were to hand me one, I'd gladly try it.  I’d imagine they taste like a Starbucks—the bitter smell of coffee, sweet smell of sauces and sugars emanating from the little cakes.  

And just like I go to a Starbucks to meet a friend or get some reading or writing done, people get their coffee to help them as they scurry around crossing things off their to-do lists.  Just as a coffee lover wants/needs their caffeine to keep them going throughout their busy day, so a good story needs an intriguing plot.

Whether you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year or not (I am for the fourth time and have yet to 'win') plot is something that is foundational to any story.  My first manuscript I ever wrote was a flop simply because it was so character-driven and had very little plot.  Not that characters aren't important, but if you want your readers to care about your characters, you have to give them a story they care to sit through.  And our goal shouldn't just be that our readers sit through our book, but that they're at the edge of their seats, turning those pages, rooting for those characters, "just one more chapter" kind of sitting through our books.

I have yet to learn the secret to developing a great plot.  I've read lots of helpful books, but I'm still not there.  I'm more of a 1) get the story out there, 2) think about it a looooong time, then 3)  revise it so the plot is more suspenseful.  And repeat steps two and three a gazillion times.  

I've learned a few tricks.  Such as make sure the inciting event occurs in the first chapter.  End each chapter with a cliffhanger. Each chapter should contain some kind of conflict.  Make sure there is something at risk for the main character and that they have strong motivation.  Start strong with a great hook.  

I wish I had the secret to developing a great plot.  Just as I wish a delicious frappe would plop in front of me anytime I sit down to write or read or surf the internet.  Or that I had a coffee flavored cupcake to try.

I'll just have to settle with learning new tricks for developing a stronger story.  Just like I make my own frappachinos.  But man, those things taste amazing when you have to blend all those ingredients together yourself.  You appreciate them a little bit more.

Hey readers and writers, what do you think makes a great plot?

Writers, what tricks do you have for developing a strong, intriguing plot?

And anyone else doing NaNo this year?

Cupcakes and Writing: Banana Cream

For me, cupcakes are kind of like my writerly mascot.  Well, so inspired the Cupcakes and Writing series. If you've missed any of the cupcake flavors and want to read them, you can check them out here.  Bon appetit! 

Banana Cream: Revising

If you’re planning on making banana cream cupcakes from scratch, you must peel a lot of bananas.  I mean, can you imagine biting into a banana cream cupcake and getting a mouth full of peelings?   Appetizing, huh?  

But that's what we must do with our manuscripts.  Remove those banana peels-the plot holes, the underdeveloped characters, the unnecessary details.  And add the cream: developing the characters and the plot.  Upping the stakes.  And molding our stories into something delicious.  Bakery worthy.

It's a process.  One I'm not a huge fan of, but it's necessary.  Just like we don't want our loved ones to eat banana peels in a batch of banana cream cupcakes we slaved over, we don't want our readers to read a story that is full of unnecessary stuff and lacking in the good stuff.  Plus, no one would want to sell it.

I'm on draft five of my WIP.  And each of those drafts have gone through major editing.  And then I'd realize I need to go back to the drawing writing board and either rewrite or make major revisions.  Yep, five complete drafts.  Because I've learned more about the craft of writing and applied it to my story.  Or because agents have recommended something that requires a rewrite: such as the agent who said I need to change the POV.  Uh, yeah, changing the POV isn't like "Find and Replace me with he."  Most definitely not as easy as peeling as few bananas.  Naw, it's major revision. 

But my story is better for it.  It's creamier and a little more delicious.  It may not be ready for a bakery/publisher yet, but it's getting there.  And that's my goal.

How do you feel about revision?  Any tips for removing those banana peelings in our stories and adding more of the cream?

Revisioning

Yes, that's the term we should be using.  Every time we revise our stories, we're creating a new vision for it.  Revisioning.  Sounds so much better than editing and revising.

Because, to be honest, I'm tired of editing and revising.  But my story has been through more revisionings than I can count.  I've been working on this thing for four years now.  But, with every revisioning it gets stronger.  The pace gets tighter.  The characters get deeper.  The theme gets more embedded throughout.

I can't tell you the number of times I've said "just one more run-through of revisions and then it'll be done."   I can't tell you the number of times I've said "I"ll be done by x month" and then 'x month' comes and goes and I'm still happily revising revisioning, but disappointed I've missed my deadline.

If you want tips on revising, click here.  Tips on revisioning?  Just have fun with it.  Work on it frequently.  And don't put deadlines on your creativity. :)

Building a Page Turner

I'm still in those revising stages.  And I must admit, I used to hate revising.  It used to be a necessary evil.  But now, I'm enjoying the process.  It's like my manuscript is a little piece of dirt in a shell and every time I cut and change entire scenes I'm adding a layer of polish and shine.  And each revision is leading me closer and closer to that finished pearl.  Yes, sometimes it's dull, but sometimes it's very exciting to see the story get molded into a better, shinier, more intriguing story.

I've learned a lot about the craft of storytelling through the revision process.  I've got to raise the stakes, make the story more intriguing.  Here's what I've learned:

1. Build up the conflict.  There should be conflict in every chapter.  It could be teeny tiny, like a moment of self doubt within the hero.  Or ginormo, like when the hero finally confronts the villain.  But there must be continual conflict to keep the story going.  My rough draft only had a few conflicts.  With the climax being the biggest one and boy was it lame.  Up the stakes, Jenn!  Up the stakes!
2. Build up the character.  Who wants to read a story if they don't like a character?  I've realized I didn't fully understand a character's motivation in my first draft.  But by understanding where they're coming from and making that clear, wow does that change the story!  And this part is hard, but I've had to build up my characters by not being so nice to them.  I mean, I love these characters, I created them.  But if nothing bad happens to them, they don't grow and change and it's rather boring.  So I had to consider, what is my character's worst fear?  And then BAM!  I have to make it happen.  Or at least the threat of it happen.  Hard to do but so worth it for the story's sake.  And the characters. ;)
3. Build up the pacing.  And I do that through building up the conflict and building up the character and balancing that with describing everything.  It's all about balance while moving forward.  Hard to explain but super important if you want a compelling story.  Which is what I'm trying to write.  

Sometimes I feel like I'll be writing this story forever.  That it'll be months before it's completely done.  But I'm learning so much in the process and trying to soak in the journey as I go.  My goal of being done with revisions by September doesn't seem likely, but I have no problem changing it.  Because I'm working toward my final goal, which is a completed, compelling story.

So my measurable goal for the remainder of August?  To revise at least 20 minutes a day.  And to enjoy the revising journey.  :)

The King and I Face Revision

"I love this part of the process," Stephen King says about revision in his awesome book "On Writing.  A Memoir of the Craft."

I don't.  Or at least I didn't.  I've written 5 drafts of my WIP.  Drafts as in not just little changes here or there, but major chunks taken out, new chunks written in.  Major rewrites.  And then the endless editing....

"What I'm looking for is resonance," says the King. "Something that will linger for a little while in the Constant Reader's mind (and heart) after he or she has closed the book and put it up on the shelf."

Resonance, huh?  When talking to my hubby about my WIP he didn't even remember a scene I thought was absolutely AMAZING.  He didn't pick up on one of my themes I was SURE was embedded deeply within the story.  Great.  Just great.  So much for resonance.

"As I rewrite I'm asking myself the Big Questions.  The biggest: Is this story coherent?  And if it is, what will turn coherence into song?  What are the recurring elements?  Do they entwine and make a theme?  What's it all about Stevie, and what can I do to make those underlying concerns even clearer?"

Fine, Stevie.  I get what you're saying.  I want to cry, but I get it.

My story needs major surgery.  Not just little pieces here and there changed.  I pretty much need to start over.  I need to switch from first person to third person POV.  I need to add more character depth, more character motivation.  I need my villain to play a much bigger part in the story.  I need to (sob!) kill one of my characters.

I need to stop clinging to what the story is and embrace all that it can be.

Sure, there are pieces here and there from my manuscript I can use.  But I'm in mourning.  I thought I was done with this story.  Ready for the querying process.  I envisioned it as the next YA bestseller.  Instead, it's just the foundation for something better.  I'm excited about where the story is going.  Sad I have to start over.  Fearful it'll take me another year in a half and I'll still have something unpublishable to show for it.

But like the King says, I want resonance.  And this is the only way it'll happen.

Pearl Polishing...

Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I am seriously so tired of revising and editing my WIP.  But I'm trying to be optimistic about it.

My manuscript is a pearl, developed in an oyster and ready to be cracked open, shared with the world.  But it needs to be polished, it needs to shine.  And so I'll go back and give it another good cleaning and polishing.

Ugh, it's more fun to wear pearls though, then to polish them. :)


How do you feel about the revising/polishing process?  What gets you through it?