tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post1703710078849036184..comments2024-03-10T01:18:18.094-08:00Comments on Elise Fallson: IWSG: Motivating My TroopsElise Fallsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-69236953915800245942014-06-12T09:33:55.992-07:002014-06-12T09:33:55.992-07:00Motivation/character = my biggest fault!!!! I can ...Motivation/character = my biggest fault!!!! I can world build. I can create emotion. I can make a scene come visually aliveā¦ but this post sums up my weakness. I'm RIGHT THERE WITH YOU, Elise. It's hard. There are so many things to master in this crazy writing world, and I totally feel you with this one!!!! <br /><br />And thank you. Thank you for your kindness today on my blog. Your words mean a lot. :) Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-32227362841173250302014-06-08T13:32:30.458-07:002014-06-08T13:32:30.458-07:00I like to outline, but to be honest my characters ...I like to outline, but to be honest my characters motivation is something I've figure out early.<br /><br /><a href="http://emaginette.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/iwsg-2-stage-fright" rel="nofollow">Anna from Shout with Emaginette</a>emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-47607177630846293072014-06-07T21:05:25.528-07:002014-06-07T21:05:25.528-07:00That why is indeed a very important component. A c...That why is indeed a very important component. A compelling why for the characters pulls the reader into the story more, makes them care more, worry more, cheer more... they can put themselves into the roles of the characters. And it's very difficult constructing that compelling why. Challenges challenges. :)Jeff Hargetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198367021884647821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-40529039738298691952014-06-06T17:15:54.168-07:002014-06-06T17:15:54.168-07:00I'm a pantser too, and every time I've tri...I'm a pantser too, and every time I've tried to outline, I've strayed away from it. Or, sometimes, I tore off in another direction and looped back around to shoot the entire outline in the behind! The why always surprises me as I write. Hopefully you'll find it when you start typing. Have a good weekend!Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-56552586087837456712014-06-06T09:47:52.993-07:002014-06-06T09:47:52.993-07:00Hey Elise,
You know what motivates your character...Hey Elise,<br /><br />You know what motivates your characters. Of course, in my case, no plots, no protagonists, but a character named Ann Tagonist who I'm working on. I firmly believe that there's no need for structure in writing. Besides, when I'm not sure about something, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar helps me out :)<br /><br />Thank you for being part of "IWSG" aka "I Was Seeking Gary!" <br /><br />Um, Gary :) klahaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613505424843475639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-26303295070879329272014-06-06T04:44:34.077-07:002014-06-06T04:44:34.077-07:00I did an outline once and trashed it the first wee...I did an outline once and trashed it the first week. My characters just didn't want to conform. Maybe yours are feeling a bit confined and that's why they're not behaving. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11622191037152999869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-55557235359768822952014-06-05T20:26:24.323-07:002014-06-05T20:26:24.323-07:00Seeing someone ask these questions before churning...Seeing someone ask these questions before churning out a long novel is refreshing. I am sure it will make you final product that much more valuable. Keep up the good work Elise. Slamdunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087161268629251860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-71292072811051406722014-06-05T08:38:12.342-07:002014-06-05T08:38:12.342-07:00Thanks for stopping by everyone, I'm doing my ...Thanks for stopping by everyone, I'm doing my best to get back to you all, but you'll have to excuse my lack of speed in returning comments. Hope you all are well nonetheless! Elise Fallsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-12372441830116799712014-06-05T04:31:59.470-07:002014-06-05T04:31:59.470-07:00I don't outline before writing. Hopefully ther...I don't outline before writing. Hopefully there's something strong that I feel within the character that makes me want to write the story before I ever write it. But, being a pantser, the story changes, hopefully for the better, as I go along.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-56597344157849918862014-06-04T19:10:48.384-07:002014-06-04T19:10:48.384-07:00This WHY issue trips me up sometimes still to this...This WHY issue trips me up sometimes still to this day. It's the modus operandi of your characters that can really be tough to nail down. If you can figure it out, and stick with it (that's hard all by itself, lol), then you will have a terrifically focused story/plot/everything. Whoosh! Easy Street.<br /><br />Keep the question in the back of your mind and the answer might pop up out of nowhere one day, probably when you're in the shower and can't write it down anywhere at that moment. Be sure to stay away from the convenience of notepads, laptops, pens, regular paper, white paper napkins, etc. The proximity of these things kills creativity!Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-4999195631975833562014-06-04T18:38:37.723-07:002014-06-04T18:38:37.723-07:00Best part about writing you can hop back in whenev...Best part about writing you can hop back in wheneverHoly Ghost Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16107809586103198047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-29743504259192399642014-06-04T15:19:28.032-07:002014-06-04T15:19:28.032-07:00Why is the toughest. If you don't have a good ...Why is the toughest. If you don't have a good why, it's like, what's the point? But you'll find it. That's what writing is.<br /><br />It took me a week to outline my book, too. It's harder than it looks!J E Oneilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780097298061829471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-10454627737339375052014-06-04T14:11:23.297-07:002014-06-04T14:11:23.297-07:00I usually base my characters on real people and wh...I usually base my characters on real people and when I need motivation for them I think what the real people would do and why. Seems easier to make up fake motivations for real people (gossip, really). <br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a> mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-91997265384309448472014-06-04T13:48:23.637-07:002014-06-04T13:48:23.637-07:00Oh, you know...why not? :-)
I'm with Jay - &q...Oh, you know...why not? :-)<br /><br />I'm with Jay - "Blackbelt Pantser" is Le Bomb and would make for a great band name.Mina Lobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-73601874927396814932014-06-04T13:38:13.586-07:002014-06-04T13:38:13.586-07:00Welcome back - about time you got your lazy butt b...Welcome back - about time you got your lazy butt back in the saddle :oPMark Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002166292175980928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-50692768756390109782014-06-04T11:13:01.152-07:002014-06-04T11:13:01.152-07:00I love that. "Blackbelt Panster." I'...I love that. "Blackbelt Panster." I'm a reformed panster myself, and outlining has cut down my writing time by more than 50%. It's not easy, but I feel like I still have the flexibility to go and change directions just fine. Jay Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04757777693161610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-81596727340250756782014-06-04T10:39:15.233-07:002014-06-04T10:39:15.233-07:00I find that the better I know my characters, the e...I find that the better I know my characters, the easier it is to know what their driving force is, which is why I always sit everyone down and talk to them before I start. <br /><br />That said, sometimes I still don't know, so this is when I tap into my inner narcissism (haha) and dive in anyway. I read this quote once that said, "your subconscious knows what go write, so get out of the way." When I don't know what to do, I just write anyway and believe that the answer will come when I need it. Amazingly, it works. ^_^krystal janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02115542477066959046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-27663026020226561322014-06-04T09:53:27.604-07:002014-06-04T09:53:27.604-07:00Sometimes when you start writing the 'what'...Sometimes when you start writing the 'what' the why becomes apparent. When the characters start acting and reacting on paper, their motivations are more understandable. At least, that's how it's worked for me.S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-53813346877595638152014-06-04T09:06:51.162-07:002014-06-04T09:06:51.162-07:00Maybe they have a case of fleas and really really ...Maybe they have a case of fleas and really really need to go to some far off land to find the flea killer? No? Worth a try, lolPat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-10646541311367388952014-06-04T08:16:17.465-07:002014-06-04T08:16:17.465-07:00The why and who usually come to me first. I'm ...The why and who usually come to me first. I'm big on goal-setting, and goals and dreams for my characters usually fuel the story.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-72045539445683567462014-06-04T08:15:44.166-07:002014-06-04T08:15:44.166-07:00Wait...I'm supposed to know why my characters ...Wait...I'm supposed to know <i>why</i> my characters do the things they do?<br /><br />Excuse me...<br /><br />M.J. Fifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15626475963328519693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-36781546058305674352014-06-04T08:11:37.021-07:002014-06-04T08:11:37.021-07:00Indeed it is a hard job. And I think it's beco...Indeed it is a hard job. And I think it's becoming harder each time I set out to write something new. How can that be?cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-51088702624401720142014-06-04T07:54:06.219-07:002014-06-04T07:54:06.219-07:00Start writing and the why will come. As characters...Start writing and the why will come. As characters grow in your mind and on the page, they will take on a life of their own and start speaking to you. Yes, it is hard, but you can do it! <br /><br />(It also helps for me to carry my characters with me in real life (in my head). What would be their favorite food, favorite song, how would they vote...get to know them.)Elizabeth Seckmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00045076826326574984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-40378933124895068022014-06-04T07:40:56.073-07:002014-06-04T07:40:56.073-07:00At one of my conferences we had a speaker indicate...At one of my conferences we had a speaker indicate that motivation is something every character in every scene has. I'm like, huh? I guess if you think about it, George may be motivated to have sex with Betty, but Betty might be motivated to gain George's respect. :D Oh well, now I guess I have to be conscious of all my characters while writing? ARRRGH!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-14012133549001058472014-06-04T06:41:53.637-07:002014-06-04T06:41:53.637-07:00Motivation is definitely the key and usually somet...Motivation is definitely the key and usually something I think about first. What do my characters want more than anything? What will happen if they don't get it?<br /><br />I'm a pantser myself (although I did outline one novel before sitting down to write) and I do try to answer those questions first but like Madeline said, sometimes the writing itself provides the answers.<br />mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.com