I Found Me Again

So as you who've been reading for a while know I've been struggling for a while with writing.

Every so often I'd have an aha!  moment, that wouldn't last long and fizzle out.  But I've been reading this great blog, and it has helped me remember what is that I really, truly, love about stories and what I love about writing.

Characters  

Every single story that I absolutely adore has characters in it that tugged at my heartstrings in some form or another.  It could be the villain, it could be the hero, it could be a little side character.  But some where in that story was a character that made me feel.

And really, characters are what truly drive a plot.

For years I've been reading about how to make plots, outlines, etc, trying to get through this major block.  And none of it was working.  But this morning I had a huge, huge moment of clarity that left me shaking.

For the first time in  years I thought about my characters, and what really drove them.  Man vs Self  the true conflict of any story.  It what grips us whether we realize it or not.  So I thought, and holy crap, I'm so freaking excited to introduce you all to my characters.

I was in awe.  And really quite humbled that these guys are in my head.

So I opened up a document and wrote outlines of my characters journeys with themselves throughout the story.  And completely left out any details of "the plot".  Cause I remembered that when I truly got into my writing, when I used to have flow, I wrote characters.  I used to always describe myself as a character writer.  I'd focus on them and let them tell the story through their actions and their relationships with the people around them.

I also totally adore my villains.

Recently one of my friends while we were baking wondered about how those nasty villains come to be, what kind of person creates those?  Or one time at church while discussing the Hunger Games with someone, they wondered how someone could write something that violent.

The thing is, characters and stories are as much a discovery for the writer as it is for you readers.  And the stories, the villains, are the means to introduce you to the real story.  The characters and what they have to learn and overcome about themselves.  And sometimes the villains themselves are the stories.

For example, the Phantom of the Opera.  Would we love the story as much if the Phantom wasn't the way he is?   He's a tragic soul, but isn't that what's so compelling about him?  In the end he chooses to let Kristine go, thinking of her instead of himself.

And the character I am the most excited about writing is very much a villain.  I won't say more, but man oh man I can't wait for you guys to meet him!

Now, back to writing my characters.