“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ~Roy Disney (1930-2009), longtime senior executive for The Walt Disney Company Every day we make decisions. And if we stopped and really thought about it, we’d realize we made those choices based on our values – the things that are important to us. Or as Proverbs so aptly puts it: Everyone does what is right in his (or her) own eyes. (Proverbs 21:2) Guess what? The imaginary characters in our books? They have to do the very same thing: make choices based on their values. What: Values Things we desire, whether we have them or not, such as forgiveness, honesty, money, compassion, power and trust Why: We don’t like it when we wander around aimlessly, not sure […]
Read the RestTag Archives | skills
TEE’s What and Why: The Ds
Ah, the fun of writing a novel. You, the writer, get to wreak havoc on your characters – all the while ignoring any and all havoc in your life. (At least for a little while. You must return to reality at some point.) Wreaking havoc – that’s just another term for “the Ds”: the events that distance your hero or heroine from their goals. Let me be more specific: What: The Ds Think Distancing, Denial, Disappointments and Devastation. Yes, there are Dreams and Delights too – even a dream-come-true, like your heroine getting offered that job she’s always wanted – can wreak havoc in her life. Ds distance a character from what they want, deny them something – a relationship, maybe – and create a Y in the road, forcing […]
Read the Rest
TEE’s What and Why: Writers Conference
I’ve used the words “What” and “Why” to unpack different terms from the MBT glossary like “Story Question” and “Dark Moment” and “Black Moment.” Today I’m using “What” and “Why” to tackle the term “writers conference.” As a writer, you’ve either attended a conference or you want to so badly you’re saving up by digging loose change from between your couch cushions – as well as your closest friends’ couches. What are friends for, if not to donate spare change to a good cause? So what is a writers conference? What: A conference involves tossing a bunch of clothes into a suitcase the night before a way-too-early morning flight to attend workshops where we learn about craft, while deep-breathing through 15-minute editor and agent appointments, and finally meeting people we’ve […]
Read the Rest
TEE’s What and Why: Boy Scout Moment
Say the words “Boy Scout” and most people will think “Be prepared.” (That’s the Boy Scout Motto.) Or they might think of words like trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous … (These are parts of the 12 Points of the Scout Law. I know this because my husband, who is an Eagle Scout, recited all 12 Points to me in rapid-fire succession. Once a Scout, always a Scout.) And yes, this Scout trivia is applicable to writing a novel. What: Boy Scout Moment This is a sweet moment in the beginning of the book where we glimpse the hero or heroine doing something kind – petting a dog, saving a cat, helping an old woman across the street (Boy Scout, remember?) –that functions to create likeability of your character. Why: I […]
Read the Rest
