Cloud Nine Girl

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Thank you Raimey!

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Would you agree that most people are creatures of habit?

If you agree, and maybe you’re one of them, do you believe people have a difficult time adjusting to change?

According to K.M. Weiland in Creating Character Arcs, characters like people wish for change, swear they’ll do it either to themselves or for someone else, but all in all, they fight tooth and nail against change. Unless something major happens to them, hence the plot.

Today, I’m reflecting on the character arc and the reason behind change: the lie we hold as truth so tightly we can’t see or allow ourselves to believe in any other way.

Unless something major happens and we do change.

Really change.

And hopefully for the better.

The thing that keeps us from change is the what Weiland points out is “The Lie.”

And what is a lie?

Something in your character’s life is lacking, “some reason that makes the change necessary … He is harboring some deeply held misconception about either himself, the world, or probably both. This misconception is going to prove a direct obstacle to his ability to fulfill his plot goal.” (Weiland)

Let’s take one of my favorite movies: Star Trek.

Young Kirk starts off stealing a corvette, completely alone, and defies the local police by driving it straight off a cliff. He survives. The car does not. He could have died. But he has something to prove: rebellion, independence, and affirming his deeply healthy ego in how right and awesome he is.

According to K.M. Weiland, a character arc for positive change is made up of The Want, The Need, and The Lie.

This Lie “plays out in your character’s life, and your story, through the conflict between the Thing He Needs (the Truth) and the Thing He Wants (the perceived cure for the symptoms of the Lie). Chapter Two.

The Kirk Want = He lives for himself, his own rules/kingdom, and no one will get hurt because no one else is let into his world.

The Kirk Need = Earn honest respect in Leadership by putting others first, like his dad.

The Kirk Lie= Being right and doing it better than anyone else makes you the best at whatever cost.

So how do you find the lie?

Weiland has a great list of questions to consider and I’ll just mention my two favorite:

 

• What misconception does your protagonist have about himself or the world?

 

• When the story opens, is the Lie making his life miserable? If so, how?

 

 

There are so many other great questions to consider. Need more examples? The book is filled with them. I also ordered the Character Arcs Workbook as a secondary resource. So far I’m loving them both so much.

Happy Hop Day 🙂

[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here]

This month’s awesome Co-Hosts feature other fabulous writing friends: Lee Lowery, Juneta Key, Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin! 

Check out our IWSG homepage for recent news and events.  And as always, thank you to founder Alex J. Cavaugh 🙂 

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The meaning of words strung together to communicate meaning has changed through my experiences.

As a child, I struggled to read. I struggled to communicate my complicated thoughts clearly so others understood what I meant for them to hear. In high school, I thought if I knew complicated words, I’d master the art of reading. I studied words in a seminars class. I’d write out lists of vocabulary terms, synonyms, antonyms, and all the definitions. The problem later came to be, I couldn’t figure out how to incorporate these new complex words into my own speaking. Until I discovered Shakespeare. I fell in love with his speech.

This month’s IWSG Question asked: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

Words and meanings have changed. They continue to change as I work to simplify more with less. Later in my career centered world, I discovered the power of the spoken word—finally. Someone actually believed in my presentation skills enough to hire me as a public speaker. I spoke every day in presentations to managers for three years.

Now when I think of the power of the word and language, one movie, one vision flashes through my mind. In this single vision I see this man’s emotionally distraught face with giant eyes, bulging veins in the neck and a wide-open mouth as he helplessly screams “FREEDOM!”

You’ve got it. Braveheart. Mel Gibson has always been one heck of an actor in my book. Moved, I couldn’t help but feel my own heart sink and soar on a roller coaster of hope and sorrow. This is a GIPHY MP4. The actual seen in my head is too heart wrenching to share.

My mind shifts again. When was the last time someone told you something great about you? If it’s been longer than you can think, I hope you can say something great about yourself, right now.

Use your words to inspire. To give hope. Everyone deserves a shot at his or her dreams.

[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here]

This month’s awesome Co-Hosts feature other fabulous writing friends: J.H. Moncrieff, Natalie Aguirre, Patsy Collins, and Chemist Ken!

Check out our IWSG homepage.  And as always, thank you to founder Alex J. Cavaugh 🙂 

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When I was little, I remember this awesome birthday party at my best friend’s house. Sunset distorted long shadows along the grass, along the sides of the brick duplexes, and the car I hid behind, as I waited quietly, heart pounding ferociously. We were playing a game of hide and seek. With glow sticks. I was the last girl standing. I remember running down the long street, passing shiny cars and trying not to look back. I remember every single girl at that party chasing me.

I screamed.

I smiled.

I still screamed until my legs gave out.

This month’s IWSG question asks: If you could use a wish to help you write just one scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be?

I’m sort of writing a scene just like it in my book, only my characters are on a wild goose chase at the mercy of a homeless old man who doesn’t give information away for free. Lessons are always taught.

If I had one wish to make this scene perfect, I’d blink myself to the location. A real star trek moment. I’ve been to the real location. It’s been awhile though. I’d like to go again if only for a  weekend, but flights aren’t cheap, hotel stays aren’t free and it’s my busy time of year at work.

What’s a girl to do?

Thank goodness I have google maps. Thank goodness I have YouTube. I’ll hopefully get down to Texas this fall.

I’ve got my fingers crossed.

What about you?

What’s you one fast dream that could make one moment today, this week go just right?