Submitted by DaveK on Mon, 08/11/2014 - 2:49pm

I have trouble making my characters do the wrong thing. I know what the bad guys are doing or going to do so it seems obvious to me what thr good guys should do. The problem is that at that point in the story the good guys don't yet know what the bad guys are planning.

TV movies don't seem to have this problem. The guy with half a face and a pitch fork is outside, don't open the door. SPLAT! Or what I call feeding the monster: Al go check on the phone. Bob, Al is late you go check on Al. Charlie go check on Bob.

Some of my problem comes from not having the story completly outlined before I start and I think of cool things to add which don't fit in right where I'm writing at the moment. 

I don't want my characters to be stupid, unless some TV show writes me a big check, so what I need is a list of what the protag knows and make his decisions from that list.  Maybe I'll try that next time.

8-11-2014

What to do when you don't feel like doing it:
http://writetodone.com/motivation-to-write-2/

Why did you do that?
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2010/08/find-your-plot-fridays-back-fill-those.html

Didn't see that coming:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/08/an-unpredictable-and-funtrick-to-keep.html

Keep your pants in:
http://storyfix.com/value-pantsing

7-28-2014

Step 1: Get in the right rut:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/07/how-i-stay-motivated-during-tough-times.html

Keep it going:
http://writetodone.com/how-to-write-a-book-6-danger-stages-to-overcome/

Ready,set, go:
http://storyfix.com/better-way-open-novel

Turtles all the way down:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2011/08/sharing-spotlight-how-much-time-do.html

Remember, writers read too:
http://io9.com/21-books-that-changed-science-fiction-and-fantasy-forev-1610590701

 

7-21-2014

From NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/archaeology_anthropology_and_interstellar_communication.html#.U8qKS7EuK8A

Does it include numbers:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2010/03/world-building-week-painting.html

And then:
http://udleditions.cast.org/craft_elm_foreshadowing.html

Step away from the keyboard:
http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-not-to-start-novel-four-things-to.html

 

7-14-2014

If you can't go forward:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/07/having-trouble-plotting-forward-try.html

Market:
http://www.write1sub1.com/2014/07/interview-with-sam-bellotto-jr-of.html

Practice, practice, practice:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/07/do-writers-practice-their-art.html

Those darn characters:
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2011/04/wanted-one-character-willing-to-work.html