Greetings, writers—
Last spring, I substitute taught for a kindergarten class at my kids’ former elementary school. During free time, one girl was very studiously making a book called “Thengs That I Licke” (sic). There were going to be lots of pictures in it, she told me, and these pictures would be of all the things that she liked. She was pretty sure this was going to be a good book to have around. I agreed with her. I thought for a half a minute about making a book like that of my own.
What is some thing or things that your characters deeply and abidingly like? What do they want to keep close by them? Talismans, memories, pets, good socks, nature, their work, a partner, a rosary, a magic stone, coffee….?
Every how-to-write book will tell you that your character must want something that they do not have, and that the obstacles they encounter on their quest to get what they want will make a gripping story.** I’m not saying these books are wrong. But what do your characters already have?
Write your character a scene in which your character interacts with something that is precious to them. Something they don’t have to seek for. We’re so often throwing problems at our characters, so today, consider writing yours a nice scene. Stories need ups and downs both.
Happy writing,
Emily
** “Make your characters want something right away, even if it’s only a glass of water. Characters paralyzed by the meaninglessness of modern life still have to drink water from time to time.” — Kurt Vonnegut