Monday, June 20, 2005
New Article: Balancing Plot and Character
Writing for the DenverPost.com, novelist and Colorado State University professor David Milofsky facetiously translates euphemisms bandied around by agents/editors. On his list, "plot-driven" equals "superficial" and "character-driven" means "no story." Unfortunately, Professor Milofsky's tongue-in-cheek glossary is an all-too-true commentary on many manuscripts.
An all-or-nothing approach to plot or characterization produces stories either immediately forgettable or popular among a minuscule audience. A writer is only fooling herself, not readers, if she thinks, I'm writing a plot-driven story. I don't have to learn all that complicated character stuff. Or, I'm writing a character-driven story. My fascinating characters shouldn't be bound by an artificial formula...
Continue reading the new article: "Balancing Plot and Character"
An all-or-nothing approach to plot or characterization produces stories either immediately forgettable or popular among a minuscule audience. A writer is only fooling herself, not readers, if she thinks, I'm writing a plot-driven story. I don't have to learn all that complicated character stuff. Or, I'm writing a character-driven story. My fascinating characters shouldn't be bound by an artificial formula...
Continue reading the new article: "Balancing Plot and Character"
