When you start a new novel or short story, sometimes it can
be hard to tell your reader the right things about your characters to make them
care enough to keep reading, without bogging everything down with an
overwhelming amount of detail.
Sometimes, it can be helpful to work out a few things before you start. Think about your character’s defining moment
in the story. What is the biggest dilemma
they will face? What one thought or
piece of dialogue encapsulates the character’s role within your narrative? Write out this scene first, then you will be
able to pull from it to plant seeds (a.k.a. foreshadowing) of this idea or
conflict from the very beginning.
Think about defining moments in your own life, when you have
had to make hard choices that put you on a certain path or set half-formed moral
boundaries down in stone. What you found
out about yourself may have surprised you.
A 2006 article from the Harvard Business Review explains the difference
between an ethical dilemma and a defining moment: “An ethical decision typically involves
choosing between two options: one we know to be right and another we know to be
wrong. A defining moment, however,
challenges us in a deeper way by asking us to choose between two or more ideals
in which we deeply believe.” Just
because your characters are fictional, that doesn’t mean they should get off
any easier.
While a defining moment can come at a number of different
points in your story (and in a longer work, your character may face more than
one), most plot arcs lead toward a dark moment, or black spot, where the reader
should believe that your character may fail.
You can amp up the tension by combining the black spot with a defining
moment. Give your character the
opportunity to have what they think they wanted for the entire story, or to
achieve the story goal. They can’t have
both. What are they willing to
sacrifice?
Want more ideas on creating three dimensional characters,
right from the start of your novel? Sign
up for Novel Preparation: What to Do Before You Start To Write, a five-session
class that will also cover techniques for outlining and creating consistent
worlds for your characters to inhabit. Class
starts on January 26, so sign up soon by calling (817) 272-2581 or register here.
