Just a Touch of Madness...

Oh how I love watching the confused expressions that flash across people's faces when I attempt explaining my life.  I am not saying this with the slightest of sarcasm.  I truly do enjoy seeing the conflicting emotions that are a result of trying to comprehend my activities... or more accurately - one activity in particular.

Most of my daily routines are accepted as sufficiently mundane:

~ My primary job is as a commercial truck driver which requires my residing at work five days per week (70 hours on the clock, 60 hours of driving).

~ I am an avid reader that enjoys all genres, though I've been known to favor literature possessing elements of history, psychology, and dystopian societies.  Having a career that primarily places me behind the wheel, I have taken to acquiring numerous audiobooks... preferably unabridged.

~ I am a chronic consumer of music.  Again, genre does not matter.  Those who have had the misfortune of traveling any distance with me can attest to my varied listening habits as I transition from classical to heavy metal, bluegrass to modern pop.

~ I spend much of my spare time studying.  The topics are yet again greatly varied.  Politics, history, psychology, social dynamics, technological developments (ancient and current), science, medicine, art, fashion, and civil rights are but a few of my common pursuits.

~ Most unsurprising, I am a lover of food and coffee.  I'll eat most anything, but I expect my coffee to be thick and dark.

I know, you might be thinking, "These things seem normal enough.  You have many interests.  Nothing wrong with that." Truly, nothing I've listed thus far contributes to people's concerns.  In fact, my varied pursuits have led others to seek my advise.  Some friends and colleagues to start calling me Jeeves.

The confusion starts when the topic of my favorite pastime is addressed: Writing. 

Now, writing itself is not a subject of concern.  Many people write for many different reasons.  Be it the expression of opinion, the sharing of skill or knowledge, a telling of personal memories, or a product of pure imagination aimed solely at entertaining - authors have been putting thought to print for eons.  Personal diaries, blogs, poetry, lyrics, textbooks, epic novels -  the world has had more writers than there have been published authors.

By being a writer, I am not special.  The act of writing isn't what others find strange.  When people discover that I spend so much time writing, they tend to be curious.  Curiosity leads to conflict.

The following conversation was with a prospective writing friend... a conversation that seems to take a recurring path:

What do you write?
Mainly science fiction and fantasy.
Can I read something you've written?
Sure. (offer a piece fitting to reader's interests)
Where do get your story ideas?
I base my stories on reality.  Historic events, current news, and such.  Just need to shape the tale to fit the desired world.  You can take something as common as war and apply it to any era simply by expressing the appropriate technology and motivational drives.  Medieval conflict could be the desire to conquer new lands and gain resources - battle involves swords, archers, and siege machines;  likewise, a futuristic battle might involve the ambition to control a new planet for the same gained resources - the fight is waged with spaceships, lasers, and robotic warriors.
Are the characters based on real people, also?
Not in particular.  I don't make characters that are fictionalized versions of people I've met.  My characters are creations of my imagination.
How do you come up with so many personalities and manage to maintain a convincing dialog?
I spend about twelve hours each day talking to myself.
You talk to yourself?  Like speaking your thoughts out loud?
Like carrying the whole conversation for all the personalities.  I voice each person individually.
But, all people are different.  You can speak for two characters, but they would both still be you.
Unless you commit to the separate personalities completely.
Yes, but it is still you.  You can't accurately predict how characters would realistically react to each other.
And that is why I live my characters.  Speak as they speak, think as they think, feel as they feel... in real world situations.
You pretend to be a fictional character with real people?
No.  I am the character.  The people in my stories are real.  I make them real.  I give them flesh and I sit back watching what happens to my characters in the real world.
*a long pause* Uh... that's a bit crazy.  I've gotta go.  Nice talking with you.

Crazy.  Insane.  Mad.  Unbalanced.  Delusional.  Detached from reality.  Needing of professional help.  I've heard it all.  Perhaps they're right.  On the other hand, I find myself asking the question:

"Who hasn't lived the role of a fictional character?"

Before you claim innocence, I would like to offer examples:

When you visit your parents or grandmother, do you speak and act the same as you would during a night out with friends?

Do you talk to your boss in the same way as you do with a telemarketer calling during dinner?

Are you the same person whether sitting in church or sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic?

Chances are, you have adapted individual personalities to address varying situations.  I know personally, I can be quite crude and profane on a regular basis... yet I manage to maintain a level of decency when dealing with others who possess more delicate sensibilities.

The ability to embody such a wide range of personas is what makes the human mind so remarkable.  The adaptation of who we are is key to our survival and success.  Our pliable minds are what separates us from animals.  A wolf can't decide to be a lamb, but you can be anything you wish.

In closing, I wish to offer a challenge.  A challenge without set rules.  A challenge without winners or losers.  The challenge is simple:

Sit down and talk to yourself.  Have a conversation between the party goer and grandma's favorite.  Have a debate between the optimist and pessimist.  And if you have an interesting discussion with yourself, consider writing it down and giving your characters names.

A Whole New World...

Whether we are painting a picture or writing a tale, we must always consider the World.  When I say "World", I mean the whole World - land and sea; climate and atmosphere; plant and animal; past, present and future.  Everything.  We tend to take much of our world for granted. 

 

No... this isn't leading to a rant of how we need to become one with the environment and kiss a few trees;  though, I know many of us would benefit from a day "outdoors".

 

I would like to talk about the World that exists within our creations.  Where does your character live?  What is the weather like?  How does society function?  Is it modern?  Ancient?  Alien?  If we were to visit your World - would we be considered gods or demons or even simpletons?

 

Much of a story's foundation can be found in the created World.  In fact, the World could be considered a character within itself.  You will obviously hold to facts and avoid creative license if you are writing a strict, facts-only, non-fiction tale.  Biographies, historical accounts and specific events exist in the real, "concrete" world.  Ah... but fiction is in a whole different ballgame.

 

Oh, sure.  You can create a story in the World you know from everyday experience.  Writers do this all the time.  Look at authors like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, or Laurell K Hamilton.  Real states.  Real towns.  References to local establishments and landmarks.  Even details to the societal structures, mannerisms, and language quirks.  The World of the stories are replicas of our real world... but there's a twist.

 

A fiction author has the freedom to add, augment, and even warp the real world.  Vampires, werewolves, psychos, aliens and supernatural powers are common tools.  Influences greater than anything we would ever encounter are added to our normal little world.  Disasters and trials to test the human race. Why?

 

Simple:  To explore the human condition.  Stephen King was shown time and again how people may react to extreme conditions.  The World was quite normal in King's tales until he adds a simple conflict - a crazy dog, a bullied girl, a possessed car, a plague, etc.  Suddenly the World evolves.  People react differently - the rules have changed.  The story can go as far as the author wishes. 

 

Most writers are smart enough to stretch the World without "breaking" it.  Readers can accept some pretty wild concepts, but they have to make sense.  Some examples of "stretching" your World and what is needed to avoid breaking it:

 

~Magic~

First, we must ask "What is Magic?"  Often we think of Magic as chants and spells and potions.  Witches, wizards, sorcerers and mages.  For your story, this may be true and that is just fine.  Truth is, Magic can be whatever your want it to be so long as there is a system of explanation. 

 

Your readers don't need exact details (though some will ask), but they need some basis of reality.  Where does the Magic come from?  Is it used by many or few? What are the Magic's  limits?  How does a person gain Magic?  How to lose it?  Most important, is it really Magic or a misconception?

 

My friend, Ryan Carver, is a self-proclaimed "Hobbyist Illusionist".  He spends much of his time studying the Art of Magic Tricks.  When I asked him what he thought of real Magic, he said:

 

"Magic is simply an art of demonstrating the impossible.  Well... impossible for those who are watching you.  Can you imagine how amazed the people of the 14th century would have been if we could show them something as simple as a cigarette lighter?  Ha!  They'd probably use the same lighter burn us at the stake!"

 

~Superpowers~

Superpowers are great!  Everyone has dreamed at some point of being a superhero.  Being able to fly or shoot fire or become invisible... oh, so many powers to choose from.  You will want to make sure you create an explanation as to why people have powers.  Mutants?  Science?  Alien?

 

When using powers you must include an anti-power - a weakness.  If your character is immortal, invincible, strong, fast, can fly and is happy... your readers won't believe it.  Stan Lee is known worldwide for his Superheroes.  The Heroes aren't remembered for their powers;  instead, they are remembered for their normalness.  We can relate to a Hero who has personal issues.  Sad as it is, happy and content characters are unbelievable.

 

~Aliens & Non-Humans~

Biggest mistake a writer can make is creating an Alien without considering its origin.  You should consider the Alien's World.  Climate, gravity, plant life.  How long is a day?  What sort of government exists there?  Was is a peaceful society?  Would we exploit them?  Was it a militant world?  Are the visiting Aliens invaders or refugees?

 

What makes them different from us... or more importantly, you must consider what makes the Aliens similar to Humans.  Gene Roddenberry demonstrated the effectiveness of Humanizing the Aliens not only in Star Trek, but also Andromeda and Earth: Final Conflict.  There might be some differences of appearance and surely different customs, but what makes them like Humans?  Do they fall in love?  Do they care for others?  Do the mourn the dead?  Do they feel jealousy, hatred, greed, lust, sadness, joy, contentment?  As always... what are their weaknesses?

 

---

 

There are many different places I could go from here, so I'll stop and continue in a future installment. 

 

Happy Creating!

'Til Paths Meet Again...

Motivation to Care...

Have you ever read a story or watched a show on television and during certain scenes you find yourself thinking: "Why would anyone act this way? This is ridiculous!"

Well, you are not alone. It isn’t because you are missing some vital point or that the characters are just too deep for you to understand. Most times, it is nothing more than the author failing to create a convincing character or story.

An important part of writing is to create a character your readers can relate to and place your cast in situations that make sense.

I know… this sounds like a major obstacle and seems to infringe upon creative license.

“Why should I be forced to tailor my writing around the readers? If they don’t get it, then they aren’t the right type of reader for my form of creativity.”

I’m not talking about changing your story content… just how you are planning telling it. You can write a story about an orphan girl who trains a monkey how to fly a hot air balloon in Alaska… the trick is making your readers care.

One of my favorite tools for writing is Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

*read more about Abraham Maslow

 

If you are already familiar with the Hierarchy of Needs, then thank you for visiting and hope to see you next time!  For everyone else, here is how this simple pyramid can help you and your writing.

 

We start at the bottom and work our way towards the top.  Without the basic (lower) needs getting met, you cannot move forward.

 

 

Physiological Needs:  These are the most basic.  Food, Shelter, Breathing, Warmth, etc.  Those simple items we all need just to live. 

We see the physiological needs being the focus in a lot of writing.  It is something everyone can relate to:  if we don't find food soon, we will die - or - we are running out of air and we will die if we don't reach the ocean surface. 

Most important factor to remember at this level:  We need it or we die!


Safety Needs:  Simply put: Security.  Holding on to the things we have.  You can go basic as to protect your body, food or shelter.  You can also go as far as protecting a job or your family and even health.  You will also find that a person will risk their safety to fulfill the physical needs (Fisherman braving harsh seas to bring home food,  man will fight wolf to have cave during blizzard).

Safety needs often go hand-in-hand with Physiological needs.  As readers, Safety is something everyone deals with:  what will I do if they close the factory?  What if someone tries to break into my house?  It is getting late... maybe I should make sure the kids are "really" at their friends house.

Safety factor:  I have this, I need this, I need to keep this.

Now Physiological and Safety are easy to understand and sit well with the readers.  You don't need to explain why these things are important. 

The next three aren't so primal and require alot more skill in writing to actually make people care:

Social Needs:  Love and Belonging.  Friends, Family, Intimacy.  Need I say more?

You can find examples of the Social level at any time by simply tuning your television to Lifetime or Hallmark.  Social needs are the breeding ground of romance, drama, teen fiction, after-school specials, and non-stop sitcoms.  Hugs, kissing, loving... good stuff and many readers.  (note: also, there are many writers riding the love-train).

Social factor:  I need someone to love.  I need a place to belong.


Esteem Needs:  Yes, self-esteem up here.  Here you will also find Confidence, Respect of/by Others, and Achievement.

This is also where you find self-worth. This area usually requires a lot of extra writing to explain why it is important for Jeff to win the science fair - or - why should I care if Tanya finally stands up to her mother?  You must explain why this is important.

Esteem factor:  I need you to accept me and respect who I am.


Self-actualization:  Problem Solving, Creativity, Morality.  This is where you reach your potential.  A goal of personal ideology being met.  Being who you wish to be.

This is also a point where a character would find that inner purpose ... a meaning or reason to their actions.  Religion or artistic fruition being a common focus in writing.

Self-actualization factor:  This is who I am and what I am meant to do.


Now, this is in no way a complete and in depth look at character motivations.  This is only a brief look at a tool I have found to be quite handy.  I hope this has been of some assistance. 

Please subscribe or comment with topics of interest.  'Til Then...

A Plot with Character...

Plot and Character are codependent upon each other in many ways.

Our Characters give us someone to relate with. Who is this person? What do they look like? How do they dress? What sort of personality do they have? Nice, mean, shy, bubbly, gloomy, rebel, or maybe very plain . . . these all matter to the reader; more so, "why" is our character this way? Characters - just as everyone in the world - have back stories: dreams, motivations, accomplishments, failures, and defeats. Your Character is real… but they can’t function alone.

Plot is the wondrous road our Characters travel. Where are we? What time of year is it? What is happening around us - around the world? How did we get here? If things are bad, how do we get out? In many ways, a Plot can be seen as a Character within itself. The Plot needs a back story much like your Character. How do we create a Plot or Character that people can believe in and provide enough history/motivation to keep it all from falling apart?

Let’s start with some basics.


~The Vehicle~

You need to ask yourself: is my story plot-driven or character-driven? Are there amazing things happening in your chaotic world and your characters are along for the ride? Maybe the world is quite normal, but it is the characters who are vast and evolving. It’s alright if your don’t have an answer. You might not actually realize the truth of how your story works until you are well within it. Just keep the question in mind… it will help you later.

~The Map & Schedule~

Where are we going? What time is it? The following is a conversational snippet I have experienced many times (though the words were always slightly different, the result and content was the same):
Me: “So, you are going to write a book. That’s wonderful! Can you tell me about your story?”
Girl: “I want to write a romance with a bit of comedy and maybe some sci-fi.”
Me: “Oh… when will the story take place? Past? Future?”
Girl: “I was thinking past, but future would be easier.”
Me: “I prefer future myself. Have you started working out your outlines or plot ideas?”
Girl: “I said my plot was a romantic comedy.”
Me: “Um… that would be the genre. I meant the actual story line.”
Girl: “You know, the girl and boy don’t like each other but then they fall in love…. with funny things happening.”
Me: “Right… and where will the story take place?”
Girl: “I’m not sure. I will figure it out as the story develops.”
Me: “And your characters… have you started them? Developed back stories and passions?”
Girl: *shrugs* “I’ll figure out who they are while writing.”
Me: “Well… I look forward to reading it when you finish. Any idea when you plan to be done?”
Girl: “I have to change some of the story around and rewrite most of it, but I think I could be published this spring. (3-5 months)”
Me: “How long have you been writing this story?”
Girl: “About 2 weeks… why?”
Me: “Just curious. Well, good luck!”

As I am sure you see, this girls problem was a lack of direction. She wanted so badly to create something with her name on it, but had no idea how she was going to do it. She had no plot and no ideas for characters besides “they fall in love”. She hadn’t thought of a world for them to live in or circumstances for them to overcome/face. She also hadn’t thought of when her characters were going to live. (this girl has developed a lot since our conversation and I am sure she is reading this now. *wink*)

Sadly, this is a recurring theme for many prospective writers. “I want to write a story”, but no plan of where the story will start or what the story’s goal is. You must have at least one plot idea. It could be set anywhere within your story - the beginning, middle, or end - so you have a point to build from. The author Terry Brooks has stated that he tends to have the ending idea in mind and writes up to that conclusion. You just need a corner stone.

~Fuel~

How am going to get there? Knowledge in the fields Psychology and History can be very useful during your creative process. These two areas of study offer insight into how people think, why people act, how people acted in the past, and what people “might” do in the future. I will break down a couple examples:

We can look to our past and see the conditions of the world (environment/atmosphere). During times of war, you will often find advancements in technology. During major financial depressions or health pandemics (Black Plague…), we can see improvements to many areas of life along side the losses. People becoming more efficient - doing more with less.

We can also understand how and why people react to certain situations (war/persecution/illness). When a tyrant warlord decides to cleanse the World of all but one genotype… we find groups of people doing opposite things for the same reasons.
~ Bad people killing good people & good people killing the bad ones back… all in anger.
~ Some people hide while others cooperate … out of fear.
~ Merchants running with what they can while others exploit the victims with higher prices… greed.

Now, even if you could afford to run out and start classes, I wouldn’t recommend it. (Of course, if you are already studying the fields of Psychology or History… Congrats! And Good Luck!) For the rest of us, I have a few suggestions…
　


First: You are obviously using the internet if you can read this - so, USE IT! There is very little in the way of research data that can’t be found online. True - you might find dozens of useless pages for every valuable one. School offers the same thing: Many hours of boring, redundant information in anticipation of a few priceless gems of knowledge that are of any use.

Second: Though trends indicate that many people have forgotten this… Libraries have a lot of books. Plus, you can take them home for a while - FOR FREE!

Third: Book Stores. Many stores will even allow you to sit and read the materials - FOR FREE! (note: if you find a book of interest, check your local library for a copy. often, if they don’t have a copy, they can order one or borrow one from another library. test drive your books before buying)

Fourth: Friends, family, co-workers. You will never know what areas of interests your social peers have without asking. I may be known by most as a truck driver, though I am rarely contacted for my knowledge in the trucking industry. Instead, I get calls and emails asking for advice and reference in the areas of History and Physics - my key fields of interest and study. Likewise, I communicate with a dock worker in California when I need Theology material and a farmer in Illinois for Politics. Don’t make the mistake of assuming the “job” someone does is “who” the person is. Don’t miss out on potential sources of information.
　


NEXT TIME: I will get deeper into the development of Plots and Characters. If you are working on a project or wishing to start one, the next blog will provide several tools and tips to refine your needs. ’Til Then…