Welcome to Gaia! :: Reeves's Post History

:ninja:
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"The teacher's table was at the front, filled with teachers." I was fourteen at the time, collaborating with my sister. Upon rereading this line, I let out a hearty, sarcastic, and surprisingly British sounding "REALLYYYY?" We couldn't stop laughing.
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See, I'd reverse that and say that the character determines the plot. Honestly. Human actions result in events and reactions - agency, cause and effect, profluence. All those fun writerly terms.
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Like I said in an earlier post, the problem can lie in the fact that main characters become mouthpieces for our morals, our ideologies, and our philosophies. Therefore, instead of developing him or her as a well-rounded character, he or she simply becomes a messenger of the writer's thoughts. There is also the idea that if it's a first person point of view, the main character is unintentional ...
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It's great to find a fellow writer who understands that change is a good thing in the writing process. It's a big reason why I don't outline or overly detail anything - that's actually more limiting to me than helpful, as it sets up expectations for where the story is now obligated to go. I certainly start brainstorming the story arc once I'm writing, such as the rising action, climax, and falli ...
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And more fascinating at its core! :mrgreen:
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Well, that depends. If the narration consistently follows the main character already, whether in first person point of view or third person, then that less developed character is still the main one. Should your story suddenly gear toward a more developed character, then a rewrite is in order. That way, you don't undermine the character you've been the most devoted to.
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Erm, I don't think that's what she meant when she said "weak." She meant weak as in lacking development as a character, as in flat or two-dimensional. Not weak as in flawed or wimpy. Flawed characters are fascinating to read and make great protagonists - but we're referring to "strong" as "more developed," not strong as you're interpreting it.
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Sometimes it's not about people being capable of editing professionally. Sometimes all you need is a reader's reaction. After all, if you're going to be trying to publish your work, average people are going to be reading it. So if a peer of yours says, "I didn't get this," or asks questions like, "Why did he/she do that?" it'll allow you to further develop your work.
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I have a variety of both. Some people can be all gung-ho and others need a suitable kick in the a** before they start moving. Best to balance it out.
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Good on you! We need more writers who can produce strong and relatable characters. They can be more interesting than any twist and bend in a plot.
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I wouldn't worry about anyone infringing on your work; that's pushing it. But I do say send it only to people you trust.
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The main thing that really hurts your writing is that it feels...well...lifeless. Like it has no soul and no voice. Every writer needs to have a solid voice and style to produce good work. As a writer, really try to record your reactions and thoughts of your environment, and see what affects you most. Writing exercises will help; you'll find them everywhere online. A writing class or workshop woul ...
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I'd even encourage you to expand outside of family. Do you have any colleagues who could like at it? How about mentors who are more literarily inclined? The more outside views you get, the better.
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