A Character/Real Person from Alaska Visited the Blog

Hello. This is the shortest post that will probably ever be logged here. However, I just discovered the STATS feature on Blogger, and noticed I've had a visitor from Alaska.

If you're out there, Mr./Ms. Alaska person, you should definitely join my blog. I like Alaskans. We can talk about writing, etc. etc. and all things writerly.

On Critique Groups

I'm working hard to get a YA/Children's critique group started in the Portland area. If you're a Portland based writer and you happen to stumble across this blog, shoot me an e-mail, or check out the above tab labelled Rip City Writers.

We're going to have a blast this summer writing, writing, writing!

Characters, What Makes Them Tick?

I've always been told that when introducing a reader to a character, the most important thing to do--first and foremost--is to establish their wants. Let the reader know exactly what they desire, even if it's a grilled cheese sandwich.

But is that it? Just because you know they want a grilled cheese sandwich doesn't make you want to flag them down on the street and say "Hey, wanna' go get a cup of coffee?" Just because I know they want something doesn't make me care any more or less about them--they're simply a person, a common, everyday individual. And interesting stories aren't--as much as we'd like to think they are--about common individuals. The only reason people want to read a story is because it takes a common problem and makes it uncommon--or plants a common problem in a fantastic situation.

It soon becomes a question of not only what they want, but why they want it.

However, even after these two elements have been established, we're still left wanting more. We are just never satisfied, are we? Next, we want to know what will stand in their way? Unless there are hurdles and/or pitfalls along the road on which they're embarking upon, no reader in the world will care if they trip, get stabbed, or curl up in a dark hole.

Taking all of these factors into consideration, I have channeled my inner mathematician to devise a formula, which I think is quite reasonable.

(Their Wants + Their Reasons) + (The Challenges x The Antagonist) =

A *hopefully* Spicy Character on a Heroic Journey

Hello World!

Hello world. I've decided to start a blog documenting my journey as a writer, reader, and any other ramblings that seem pertinent to the publishing industry--which I hope to one day traverse with a novel of my own.

I'm looking forward to throwing myself out there into the writing cyber-community. From what I've gathered, everyone seems pretty friendly, right? I think so *chomps on nails*

I plan on updating this a few times a week, so, if by some strange twist of the universe, you stumble across my fun lil' blog . . . please join! I always love to talk, especially via words on the internet; I think there's a certain magic to establishing a connection with someone simply via words! And, if you're a writer (especially of YA fiction) looking for a critique partner, I'm always looking for a fun person to crit with.

Talk with you soon (though, right now, Nick, we're probably just having a straight up conversation with ourself).