Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I was recently thinking about character, and plot, and how we're all struggling to do something different in a world where there are only seven unique plots. (Really there are only seven, it's quite depressing really) But it struck me, that it can be boiled down even further. No matter what the story, it is essentially about the character's reaction to changes in their life good or bad.

But have you noticed that nobody really cares when there's a good change in someone's life? "Oh yeah, you have a brand new $50,000 car. I feel so sorry." Because adjusting to good change really takes no effort. Your life becomes better, and aside from a hillbilly winning the lottery, the good things can be assimilated into your life without much hardship. That's not exactly what people want to see. Reader's want to see those who overcome adversity, react to what is stripped away from them and rise above it, so that the reader's can rise with the character and feel a sense of accomplish it.

So the next time you think you're stuck, I challenge you to ask one question:

What can your character stand to lose?

CV

I think about this a lot for my characters. My poor protagonist loses everything. I kinda feel bad for him, but then I think, how can I torture him more?

Heh. I like to write books with bad endings. It's fun. I've never been the happy ending type. I like normal endings. Endings that make sense. Not overly cheery endings.

Annette Curtis Klause writes books with endings that MAKE SENSE. They aren't all lovey dovey happy. They make sense within those worlds.

I also like to kill protags. Because they're not always going to make it in the real world, now are they? ;3

I ask not, What can my characters stand to lose? but What's the wost thing I can do to them?

Within reason of course. If I had a meteor obliterate their world there would be no satisfactory resolution.

Mike R wrote:I ask not, What can my characters stand to lose? but What's the wost thing I can do to them?

I guess I phrase it the way I do because it has never seemed to me that I was ever really in control of my characters. So if I ask them what they can stand to lose, maybe they will...

CV

I don't control the characters either.

I am the hand of fate, most of the time, the terrible hand of fate. I pull characters out of my brain...or the other end depending on your POV, Some helpful, most not. I conspire with circumstances, I control the weather, the land, the sea. I whisper doubts in the ears or the weak willed. I feed paranoia like a pet dog. I drop hints in the laps of evildoers. All just to test the mettle of my characters.

I am their malevolent God. I created them. I can kill them. I hear not their prayers.

:)

sierramcconnell wrote:Heh. I like to write books with bad endings. It's fun. I've never been the happy ending type. I like normal endings. Endings that make sense. Not overly cheery endings.

Sierra, funny, I was so worried about my ending, because everything didn't come up all rosy. It's not horrible, but it's not exactly perfect, either. My MC screws up a bit, and will not always finish on top. Hey, some times the good guys have to win, too.

I don't know, I like happy endings. I like my conflict in the middle, where it belongs. And then the climax,which resolves well, so there is victory! And everyone is happy.

And although I grant you, most of the interesting stories are about loss and conflict...until the happy ending, that is. But in reality, positive events can be very stressful, and can create stress in relationship. A fun story might be about someone whose every wish was always granted....