NOTES: Write Away (2004) by Elizabeth George

PREMISE

Hook (Primary Event) –> Expanded Idea –> Generic Characters –> Fleshed Out Characters –> Plot

INITIAL IDEA must have 2 of 3 things:

1. Primary Event
2. Arc of Story (BME), or…
3. Intriguing Situation that immediately suggests a Cast of Characters

PROCESS

1. Idea –> Research (travel, interviews, pictures) –>
2. Characters (as you flesh out, plot thickens) –>
3. Step Outline (15 rough scenes) –>
4. Running Plot Outline –>
5. Sketch out each scene (POV, Voice, etc.) –>
6. First Draft Fast (5 a day) –>
7. Editorial Letter –>
8. Second Draft (50 a day) –>
9. Cold Reader

Create blueprint/marketing for each LOCATION

Story is Character

1. Flaws
2. Past mistakes = doubt in themselves
3. Growth
4. Core need - “The need to be….” (Our Diamond Excuse, Racket)
5. Pathological reaction - “When our homeostasis is rocked…” (delusions, obsessions, compulsions, addictions, denials, hysterical ailments, hypochondria, illnesses, self-sabotage, harm others, abuse, manias, phobia)
6. Sexuality
7. Trauma - “a circumstance in the past that had a huge impact” (which gives us ACTS)
8. Wants

pg. 7 So the basic guidelines in creating characters should be:

• Give them flaws,
• Allow them to doubt themselves about something,
• See to it they grow and change, and
• Make certain you are putting them into conlfict

pg. 41 Plot is what the characters DO to deal with the situation they are in. It is a LOGICAL SEQUENCE of events that grow from an INITIAL INCIDENCE that ALTERS THE STATUS QUO of the characters.

PRIMARY EVENT gets the ball rolling - creates conflict, change

pg. 43 Skilled writers know that what you’re supposed to do is continually OPEN UP your story

You do this by creating scenes in which you lay down – but do not answer – dramatic quesitons.

CREATE SUSPENSE

T. Jefferson Parker –

“When my story stalls out on me. I’ve played my hand too soon: When you’re stuck, it’s because you put out too early”

THAD (Talking Head Avoidance Device) Something the characters are doing WHILE having dialogue to avoid talking heads.

8 hooks to start novels

1. Name a character in a book
2. Tell the reader something significant in the plot
3. Show the reader a personality quirk
4. Illustrate character’s attitude
5. Show the way the narrator’s mind works
6. Give a clue or trick in the plot
7. Lead the reader into excitement
8. Render a mysterious or suspenseful occurence

POV Voice (attitude) Dialogue

THE SCENE – ACTUAL WRITING Dramatic Narration Full Scene Partial

pg. 139 Be careful that the scene adds something necessary to the story’s devleopment: information, revelation, discovery, sudden change. If the scene you’re creating doesn’t do any of this, then what you have is something that doens’t need to go into a scene in the first place. That means there must be conflict. Think of a scene as you would a complete story."

Types of Scenes

1. Motion Picture (establishing shot, characters, dialogue)
2. Sound vs. Sight
3. Present, Past, Present

pg. 167 I consider suspense one of the most misunderstood elements of fiction writing, right up there with point of view and voice

SUSPENSE CREATES WANTS IN READERS

1. What happens to character
2. What happens to situation
3. What happens to plot?

CREATE CARE

• When we care, we are invested
• Character is the most obvious and easiest way
• Plot is next
• Devices are clunky unless executed really well
• Murder, fighting, discovery or working against time.
• Or MacGuffin everyone is after.

TRUST YOUR BODY, THE MIND LIES

pg. 177 Having no process is like having no craft Idea must generate a cast of characters

Bryce Courtenay –

He who possesses the best bum glue wins.