To IvyFlight

"Too much happiness? No such thing." -- J. Kociuba

I wasn't entirely sure where to put this, so I decided just to make a post.  It could benefit anyone to read, but It's mostly directed at Ivy.

I really liked your first four bullet points, because they really said something about who your character is, you know?  I can see her, even though I don't really know what she looks like.

After that, however, you really get into her relationship with Falcon, and after that, a lot of things are centered around what he thinks of her and what she does.  That's not really the point of this character exercise.  This is  to help you figure out who she is as an individual.  You have to be somebody before other people will become your friend, and you definitely have to know who you are before you fall in love.  Does that make sense?  Of course it's fine to say that she meets him and whatnot, and I'm sure that he's effected her thoughts and beliefs over time, but don't worry about that.  Forget all of the other characters, forget everything about the story that isn't absolutely relevant to who Nameless is as a person.  Think about who she would be if there was no Falcon, just her.  Who is she?  What does she want from life?  Why does she want it?  What's driven her to love history and want to go beyond her knowledge and see everything?

I really like her strengths, but her weaknesses... eh.  To me, weaknesses are something that is going to truly hinder the character's goal.  It's something that they are going to have to truly work to overcome in order to succeed.  That's what makes a good story.  Don't you think it would be more interesting if she had her own beliefs, but was completely unable to see any other side but her own?

Everybody has a real, hindering weakness.  In books and in real life.  My own personal weakness is being too introverted.  I can never trust people with the things that really mean something to me.  There isn't a reason for it, necessarily.  It's just me, and it's something that I have to work on every day.  Find something like that for your character.  Something that they are going to have to beat.  Because that's at the heart of all the great stories.

The quirks were good.  They made me laugh. (:

And I love the quote.  Quotable people are the best.  Haha.

Thanks for sending me what you have!  I really think that your story sounds awesome so far, and I hope that I was able to help in some small way.

Love Always,
Kayla

I Love Ron

"Did I tell you I've invented a broomstick that'll reach Jupiter?"

This is the shirt I made for the Deathly Hallows Premiere!  My friends and I all had different characters. (:  Just thought I would share this with you.  It was pretty great.

Love Always,

Kayla

"We'll be there, Harry," said Ron.

"What?"

"At your aunt and uncle's house. And then we'll go with you, wherever you're going."

Some Really Good Advice

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

--Robert Frost

I didn't write this. Nick did.  It's just some general advice--I was talking to him about my story.  It pretty much speaks for itself:

Look, stories aren't supposed to just magically appear (pun by accident). We have to create them with are own minds, and even if we plan, the journey is gonna change some things. I originally knew a plan of Summer With Potter (Go read it! ♥PL). Then I introduced Selina, and Sirius became much more important, and suddenly it wasn't just a Lily/James story. It was MY story, something that had just happened when I was writing. I put myself into it, with my own humor, not someone else's. It was supposed to be longer, but when does length matter? When does anything matter except the story? The words don't, the people don't (usually), but what we receive from that story is what matters. If Jo changed Harry's name to James II, and made it six years instead of seven, or shortened some parts off, I doubt people would love it less.

What I'm trying to say is, you have the ending. And you have the basic plot and the "big" events. Ignore everything else, just let the story take shape itself. You might just skip some events to create better ones, you might add some, delete some, possibly create ANOTHER character. Life changes. You think Jo began the entire series knowing the plan? She knew the beginning and the end. she just needed the middle. And everyone knows the middle is always in the midst of change. Let the story write itself. When you're writing it, don't take anything back, don't add anything. JUST WRITE. I don't get why some people don't understand that to make a great story, all you have to do is write to your best ability with all your soul. POUR everything into this, and you won't be disappointed.Writing. . . well it's just Life. . . or something like that. Everything good (at least in my opinion) I've written has a small, or large, imprint of me in it. Love the story, and it will love you back.

Pretty amazing, huh?

Love Always,

Kayla

Writing Tips: #2 Creating A Character

I know that you have probably begun reading this with pre-conceived characters in mind.

Forget them. 

Now, once you've done that, grab a pen and a notebook (yes, I want you to use PENS AND PAPER).

We may begin.

When an author first decides to create a character, they usually begin by thinking of said character's name and appearance.  We're not going to worry about that.  At least, not much.  Why?  Because that isn't important in the grand scheme of things.  

Instead, we're starting with a blank piece of paper and your imagination.

So, you must first know at least the general setting for your story.  Is it down town New York?  A farm in the middle of nowhere?  Are you writing fanfiction?  Is your setting Hogwarts?

Okay, so if you already have your plot in mind, take a moment to think about how this character is going to affect that plot.  If you have no plot, hopefully it will sprout from this character.

First, on your blank piece of paper, start writing--anything that comes to mind about this person that you are creating that is NOT appearance.  Is the character an extrovert?  Is he arrogant?  Is she shy?  Write out the basics. What does he/she like to do in their free time?  Do they secretly love another character?

Once you've got a good idea of basic personality traits, answer this question:  What does the character want?  Does he want to study law?  Does she want to drop out of school?  Maybe he wants to sail to a foreign land or she wants to become a mermaid.  Whatever it is, that is going to shape the rest of the character.

After goals, write about habits and quirks.  Does he tap his foot whenever he's impatient?  Does she crack her knuckles when she's bored?  Don't, however, get too hung up on these things, otherwise they will come off as over-done in your story.

Give a brief family background.  His mom is a surgeon.  Her dad is a pilot.  He has six younger brothers.  She is an only child. Etc.

Then you want your strengths and weaknesses.  These are very important, and when writing your story, STICK TO THEM.  Of course, the whole point of your story might be so-and-so overcoming their fear of public-speaking, and that's different, but for the majority, make sure that you hold true to who the character is.

Talk about their beliefs.  He's a Buddhist.  She's an animal rights activist.  Their beliefs are important, because they often determine characters' actions even more than their goals do.  Does this character fight for their beliefs?  Or are they an agnostic?

Finally, do a brief likes/dislikes list.  But don't force it.  Don't force anything.  Just close your eyes for a moment and think to yourself: Who is it that I'm writing?  Allow your character to tell you rather than you trying to mold the character.

Do you have an idea of who they are?  Okay, go back over what you've written and decide is this person realistic?

What is ideal is balance. Do their strengths and weaknesses even out?  Is her goal something that a person of her skill and background would be able to accomplish? 

Make ABSOLUTELY sure that your character is NOT good at everything.  Maybe they are excellent at art, but terrible at sports.  Things MUST be somewhat equal or the character will be flat and uninteresting.

If you are going to create a character with a certain stereotype (cheerleader, geek, drama queen, etc.) make sure that you give them their own personality.  Think Peyton Sawyer from One Tree Hill.  She looks the part of cheerleader, but she is really into art and music underneath.  Don't make them so stereotypical that they have no actual thoughts and feelings.

Let me know whether or not this did you any good.  I can always do numerous posts on characterization.  Also, let me know what other kinds of writing tips you want to see. 

This is one of the characters in the Dominique story that I'm working on.  I hope the example is helpful . (:

CLICK FOR FULL VIEW

Love Always,

Kayla

Oh. My. MERLIN.

"Long Live Harry Potter."

- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Deathly Hallows was utterly FANTASTIC.  I cried at least six times.  It followed the book so so so well, and the acting and effects were SUPERB.

I can't believe it's the beginning of the end.

Harry Potter has always been such a huge part of my life.  I waited for the books, went to the premieres--the whole shebang.  And now... there's only one left.

Of course, I'll always have fanfiction, but somehow, it's just not the same.  It's not what I originally fell in love with.  It's not the characters that have found a place in my heart.

Whenever there has been a new book or movie, it's always been the magic that I've needed in my life at that moment in time.  Fanfiction is wonderful and brilliant, but it lacks some of the memory and enchantment of the original.  JKR is my inspiration, and I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen once it's over.

I'm not even sure what else there is to say.  I don't really have anything deep or insightful.  But Harry Potter means the world to me, and that in itself has always been enough.

Love Always,
Kayla