Characters Succeed When...

People [and Characters] Succeed When They're Given Equal Parts Of CHALLENGE and SUPPORT

Immediately after a teacher at my university said this amazeballs quote, I scribbled it down in my journal quicker than a Snooki on the hunt for an 18 oz. can of spray-on bronzer. *Fist pump, fist pump, fist pump* If you've never watched an episode of Jersey Shore . . . well, then you're missing out on life. Big time.

I got to thinkin' afterwards how wonderfully that statement applies to the life of a writer, and even more specifically the characters we write about. Besides hard work, determination, and the ability to craft intelligible prose, there really are two essential ingredients needed when attempting to cook up an awesome story: CHALLENGE and SUPPORT, the holy duo that makes characters of all shapes and sizes truly dynamic individuals.

None of us like the word "challenge." We don't like to be challenged, and most of us don't find joy in dishing out challenge to our characters, those fantastic creatures frolicking in our head that seem to do no wrong (even when they do). Many of us grow so attached to our characters that when it does come time to take them to that dangerous point in their lives -- or, heaven forbid, kill them off -- we start pulling out our hair and feel chunks of our soul begin to disintegrate. Rather than pushing a character into an uncomfortable situation, we'd rather be hogtied, thrown in a dark corner, and punished with a Backstreet Boys CD on endless loop.

But the truth of the matter is . . . at the end of the day, our characters NEED challenges in order to succeed with their mission, whatever that might be. They'll always have our support, we're their number one cheering section, but unless we give them something to fight for -- something to struggle against or with -- they'll never be able to grow. And if our characters don't do any growing, like The Situation's muscles after being deprived of their Muscle Milk, then our stories won't be nearly as interesting.

In what other ways might this quote apply to our lives as writers? Take those words, put them in your mouth, swish 'em around a bit, and see how they might relate to your personal writing journey.

~Cheers! 

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On Insanity (The Writerly Kind)

Currently, as I type this, my fingernails are about 4 microns too short and I seriously think my hair is starting to fall out (it's littering the keyboard as I speak). What's even more unsettling is that very rarely do I see a grown up male-ginger with a full head of hair, so I'm starting to think that maybe -- just maybe -- I'll be bald by the time I (if it ever does happen) land an agent. 

Life as a writer is stressful, and while we strive ever so hard to practice patience, sometimes -- most times! -- it just ain't easy. Not even a little. Whether you're trying to finish that damn novel, whether you're struggling to get through a series of tough edits, whether your bitchy characters are punching you in the face, whether you're waiting on a batch of query responses, whether you're at a loss for words . . . the right dosage of patience and the proper attitude to handle the situation can be tough to locate. Chances are you might go a little insane in the process. But that's okay, right? A little insanity never hurts anyone, especially a writer. 

(Just think about how many voices we have circulating around in our heads. If that's not constant insanity, then IDK what is!)

What I'm trying to say is that we're all going to experience road bumps, potholes, or hella awful magical spells that cripple us as we attempt to navigate our way through this crazy I-Freakin'-Need-An-Agent-Now-Or-I'll-Spontaneously-Combust Literary World. There are ups, and there are most certainly downs. So when you find yourself in that low spot, the very bottom of your world, don't panic. Take a minute and just think there. Walk around a little. Explore. You never know what new ideas you might be able to find, or the new characters you might stumble upon, or the new voices you might discover there.

Ursala K. Le Guin, one of my favorite fantasy authors, once said: "To light a candle is to cast a shadow."

Whenever we embark upon a new story, it's like we're lighting a candle. That glowing new idea bursts to life, casting an unbelievable light over our world that keeps us going and keeps us excited. But soon, the shadows become apparent. Eventually, the flame might start to die. You start to notice the plot holes in your story, the deficiencies in your characters, the lack of world building, and a whole crapload of other things that make you want to scream. When that happens, don't give up. Don't snuff out the candle completely. 

Sit down at your computer. Take a few deep breaths. Get out those matches (or prepare to utter your flame-producing incantation of choice). . .

And reignite that flame!

When the going gets tough, don't stop. In the words of Kanye West, get going "harder, better, faster, stronger." 

Cheers!