Lazy Writer, Shallow Stories

I’m well into my self-imposed sentence at my Screenwriter’s Re-education Gulag and it has been, well, a real eye-opener. I have quickly learned that I am a Lazy Writer creating Shallow Stories. Why? Because I write lazy, shallow characters.

In the past I would, for the most part, develop my characters on the fly, adding attributes as situations dictated. No more – nada – uh, uh. This is my new 12 Step Program for recovering Lazy Writers. Well, maybe not exactly twelve, but close. Here we go – ask yourself (your character):

What makes your character really mad? List three examples of what causes extreme anger in your character:

Then find a time in the story when your character gets most angry and let him/her rant: “I’m so angry because…”

Pick one of the three examples from above that is not in the script now, but could/should be.

Finally, imagine three things he might do as a result of the specific anger you are exploring.

Next, determine what makes your character afraid? Three examples:

Find a time in the story when your character is afraid and again, let her rant: “I’m so afraid because…”

Pick an example of fear not in the script now, but could/should be:

Again, imagine three things she might do as a result of the specific fear you are exploring:

Finally, what would lead your character to love?

Find a time in the story when your character feels love and let him rant: “I’m so in love because…”

Pick an example of love not in the script now, but could/should be:

Imagine three things he might do as a result of love:

These are characteristics I never thought of when writing about my characters in the past – no more – nada – uh, uh.  That’s it – what I’ve learned about writing characters – so far. What I’ve learned about my own writing – so far. Two months and three weeks left in the Gulag. I’ll be in touch.  

Defy Gravity – Keep Writing!