Becky Levine has an interesting post on tension, and she writes of setting goals for the characters. She says:

We make it clear what they want, or–at the very least–what they’ve assumed will happen. And we create obstacles. Big obstacles that arc over the scene, and mini-obstacles that hit the characters like scatter-shot, all through the scene. Some of those obstacles come from other characters, some from the environment, and some from the character actually going for the goal. An obstacle can be challenging, painful, irritating or laugh-out loud funny.

One of the main criticisms, apart from not making one of the characters as well-developed as the MC, is that it lacks tension. Most of the tension comes with the MC struggling with her doubts, but how do I extend that so it creates more head-knocking with the other characters? This week’s exercise is to create a list of goals for each character.

I realize this is rather elementary and I should have done it way back when, but when I started Julius I had an idea and just wrote. I was a pantser. Now I see the benefits of planning, outlining and structuring. There is, though, a part of me that wants to buck this exercise in organization and just write. I want to finish! Alas if I stick to my old ways I’ll never finish. So I’m doing a George Costanza. Remember when George decided to the opposite he normally does and how good his life turned out (at least for a few episodes)? Instead of letting the characters do what they want, it’s time for me to take control and plan some predestination. After all, I’m writing it. I am their God.

And on that note, time to play God.

This morning while checking email I came across one from a writer on the Writing List of the Internet Writing Workshop. The subject header read: An Apology. This is what it said:

Dear members,

I want to apologize for giving bad advice. I think I told someone to stop writing and I want to apologize for that. I have no idea why I would say (write) such a thing to anyone, when it would break my heart to hear (read) such a thing.

I would like to tell that person I am sorry. I do not remember who it was or what they wrote. I want to apologize. I agree with someone else who wrote “usually a writer simply needs encouragement and where can they turn to for that, if not a writers group”.

I apologize, once again for giving such heartbreaking and negative advice. I can only hope you will forgive me and realize that your writing is worth the effort, the sweat, the tears, the frustration, the time, and energy it takes to get it onto the page.

I am grateful there were others who countered my advice and encouraged you to continue your writing. I hope you take their advice and continue to write. There are no words to say how badly I feel about giving such advice.

Thank you,