When you write emotion in fiction, you can’t tell the readers how the character is feeling. Readers need to feel emotions. They need to go on a journey with your character. You need to immerse, literally soak, your readers in the experience without feeling spoon-feeding them what they should feel.
Tag: mindset
Crafting Believable Characters Using the ABC Model
Crafting believable characters is at the heart of compelling storytelling. One of the keys to achieving this lies in understanding how characters respond to events within the narrative. In psychology, the ABC model—used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—provides a framework that can be applied to the development of fictional characters. By exploring the activating event, the character’s belief about it, and the subsequent consequences, writers can infuse their characters with depth and authenticity.
Using Push and Pull Motivation to Create Dynamic Characters
Character motivation forms a crucial thread that weaves the plot and narrative together. Characters in a story, much like real individuals, are driven by a mix of internal and external forces. Psychologists have labeled these push and pull motivations. You can use this trick to breath life into your story and create dynamic characters.
The Five Commandments of a Scene According to The Story Grid
The five commandments of a scene, as outlined by Shawn Coyne’s revolutionary Story Grid approach, will bring any scene to life. These commandments — Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Crisis, Climax, and Resolution — are the pillars that sustain the drama, tension, and satisfaction in any given scene.
Attention Adventure: Achieve Mindfulness and Boost Your Creativity
I suck at meditation. I know it’s the best way to achieve mindfulness and calm my mind, but honestly every time I try it, I just get bored. My thoughts wander and soon I’m thinking about anything but my breathing. Then I stumbled upon Bill Keaggy’s Noticing Workout (he called it Attention Adventure when working with kids, and I like that title better). It’s a method to achieve mindfulness that won’t bore you to pieces. Plus it’s fun.
How Procrastination Can Make You More Productive
In a world buzzing with constant stimulation and digital distractions, it might seem counterintuitive to sing the praises of procrastination. Yet, for creative writers, stepping away from your main project can be a hidden gem, a fertile ground for inspiration, and a powerful tool for honing their craft. Learn how procrastination can make you more productive rather than feeling like wasted time.
Worry Seeds? Coping with Anxiety in Writing
Sometimes I’m afraid to write the next new chapter. It’s like a seed of doubt growing inside my head. As an avoidance, I switch to revising. Like that will somehow dodge this fear. Yet this slows down my writing as a whole. Coping with anxiety in writing can be daunting.
Time Dieting: Maximize Writing Time
Writing is my passion. I’ve been at this crazy endeavor since I penned my first “story” about a battle between a chimera and a swordsman (big D&D nut here). But now, decades later, I have a full time job and a family. Oftentimes, my writing time each day is a scant fifteen minutes. But I’m on a mission to change that and maximize writing time.
Question Every Thought (Inner Peace with Stoicism)
In this whirlwind of a world, finding inner peace might seem like an adventure of its own. But fear not, the ancient wisdom of Stoicism can help. And you know what the secret sauce is? Question every thought!
Embrace Discomfort: The Path to Writing Success
Us writers yearn for comfort. Yet true growth lies beyond the well-trodden path. Stepping out of your comfort zone to embrace discomfort is an essential aspect of a writer’s journey. Writers can harness the power of being uncomfortable to propel their creativity and achieve their writing goals.
