lorawinters

[lorawinters]

Merry Christmas to you! What did you get in your stocking? https://www.instagram.com/p/Br0PBrrggz8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17y249l4dq2p3

[lorawinters]

Got the tree last night! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq3dp_8AExx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uz3rwxmzahzk

[lorawinters]

Jennifer R. Donohue is creating Fiction | Patreon Become a patron of Jennifer R. Donohue today: Read 16 posts by Jennifer R. Donohue and get access to exclusive content and experiences on the world’s largest membership platform for artists and creators. https://www.patreon.com/JenniferRDonohue https://www.instagram.com/p/BqyLPGqA1uG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jonhthp5kq0u

[lorawinters]

[lorawinters]

Ways to find a plot when you have characters and a setting

… but only characters and a setting. 

You have a world. A universe. A setting. Good! Describe what happens in it normally - describe your main character(s)’s daily life. Now, what would destabilize this routine completely? If many things could, write them all down. Pick your favourite idea(s). Plots are born from change: everything was going normally… until it wasn’t.

Make a list with all the goals/motivations of your main characters. Can the plot revolve around your characters going after these goals? 

Which goals are more important? Focus on those. 

Are different characters’ goals in conflict with each other? Conflict is usually what propels a story forward. 

What could go wrong in your character’s pursuit of their goal? Make it go wrong.

If you don’t know your characters’ goals, go back to the drawing board; they probably need more development.

If there’s not enough conflict of different motivations, make a new character who creates conflict!

How do you want your main character to have changed by the end of the story? Do you want them to be less selfish? To have come to terms with a part of themself? To have learned something new? Write down ideas that could accomplish this change. 

If you can’t think of any way your character could be changed (read: improved) by the end of the story, go back to the drawing board. They might be “too perfect”.

Notes: 

The change that triggers your plot can be anything. It doesn’t have to be the start of an epic war that will bring forth the apocalypse, it can be your character meeting a new person who shakes things up in their life, or anything you want!

Motivations can be anything. It doesn’t have to be something grand - if your character’s motivation is to just live a quiet life, you can still come up with a plot that will get in the way of that goal! 

Character development can be anything, as well - you don’t need a cliché moral to the story; your character doesn’t even need to change in a good way, if that’s not what you want for your story!

This is what I’ve found works for me, but if you try it and it doesn’t, or if it sounds way too sententious and strict for you - that’s okay! Take it with a grain of salt! Maybe you think your characters are just fine and don’t need more developing even in the situations in which I recommended you “go back to the drawing board”, or maybe you have better ways of coming up with a plot. That’s fine, the writing process can be very personal!

[lorawinters]

HEY GUYS! MY friend Ellen wrote a book! Dee Ryder didn't have faith in magic, much less the magic of Christmas. All she wanted was a simple, happy life with her daughter Emma at their burgeoning B&B. But when a chance visit to a new Christmas store in town, followed by a surprise guest to her B&B present her with an opportunity for happiness, will she take it, or will she fail to recognize the magic happening right in front of her? A Mother's Christmas Wish https://www.amazon.com/dp/1978403712/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_r1c.Bb5J4NEE3 #amothersxhristmaswish #writing #writingabook #writerslife #amwriting #writer #author #books #writersofinstagram #inspiration #reading #writingprocess #fiction #literature #bookstagrammer #publishing #writersoninstagram #motivation #family #love #writers #christmasbook https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsL31Qnfsq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=106i0euzpzfr3

[lorawinters]

https://www.instagram.com/theresafractale/

[lorawinters]

Cuddles with the kitty https://www.instagram.com/p/BqpZ8E6gHkM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=26bg2au5xbra

[lorawinters]

If I keep writing today, I *might* be able to finish my novel this week.

[lorawinters]

If I keep writing today, I *might* be able to finish my novel this week.

[lorawinters]

I literally have no actual sex happening in my novel, but I still mention my one character being bi bc why not. She's a human with more than just one side and she wants sex, I just don't show it to the audience.

“why bother writing bisexual characters if they just end up in a m/f relationship”

my dude

my guy

my pal

stop talking forever

[lorawinters]

I literally have no actual sex happening in my novel, but I still mention my one character being bi bc why not. She's a human with more than just one side and she wants sex, I just don't show it to the audience.

“why bother writing bisexual characters if they just end up in a m/f relationship”

my dude

my guy

my pal

stop talking forever

[lorawinters]

Books live at my house.  They go from room to room and lounge on various pieces of furniture.  They go to work and to the store with us.  They sit at the kitchen table.  They ride in the car and fly in planes with us.  They live with us and pay rent in fantasy.  

[lorawinters]

I literally have no actual sex happening in my novel, but I still mention my one character being bi bc why not. She's a human with more than just one side and she wants sex, I just don't show it to the audience.

“why bother writing bisexual characters if they just end up in a m/f relationship”

my dude

my guy

my pal

stop talking forever

[lorawinters]

Books live at my house.  They go from room to room and lounge on various pieces of furniture.  They go to work and to the store with us.  They sit at the kitchen table.  They ride in the car and fly in planes with us.  They live with us and pay rent in fantasy.  

[lorawinters]

Books live at my house.  They go from room to room and lounge on various pieces of furniture.  They go to work and to the store with us.  They sit at the kitchen table.  They ride in the car and fly in planes with us.  They live with us and pay rent in fantasy.  

[lorawinters]

Happy #thankyoupatronsday ! I just want to say thank you to all of my wonderful patrons. As a reminder, you can also be a patron by going to patreon.com/VampyreWinters #writerslife #writing #amwriting #writingabook #writer #author #patreon https://www.instagram.com/p/BqaIgO6gb6W/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11nrmp0x1453a