Monthly Archives: May 2010

Zen of Writing: “Prediction”

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Prediction explores the effort to learn the course of one’s destiny. Destiny is the path to a particular fate, or through a series of fates. Fates are experiences or conditions one must encounter along the way as one’s destiny directs … Continue reading →

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Zen of Writing: Fate

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

The distinction between Fate and destiny is an important one. Destiny is the direction one’s life must take, Fate is any given moment along that direction. So whereas one can have many Fates, one can only have one destiny. Fate … Continue reading →

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The Objective Story Issue

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

The Objective Story is the overall story in which all the characters are involved.  Essentially, it is what the reader or audience will think of as the “plot” of the story.  To add meaning and purpose to your objective story … Continue reading →

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Matching Character Personalities to Archetypes

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

There is much to be gained by populating a story with interesting personalities, but personalities are not necessarily functioning characters. You can have as many “window dressing” characters as you want. Make sure, however, that each of the eight archetypes … Continue reading →

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Character Interests (Likes and Dislikes)

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

“Snakes… Why did it have to be snakes….???” What a character likes and dislikes takes the curse of its larger than life stature. Whether you are writing a novel, play, screenplay, or teleplay, your characters loom in the hearts and … Continue reading →

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Character Skills and Occupations

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Nothing can flatten a character faster than to give it only the skills it needs to get through the story. There are plumbers who play piano and scientists who hold seances. Football players knit, and actors paint. A character with … Continue reading →

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Character Affiliations and Beliefs

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Characters do not live by structure alone. Background information and personal attributes are needed to turn these avatars of dramatic purpose into living, breathing, human beings (or whatever). For example: Mark Twain once said, “I could never join a club … Continue reading →

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