Pixar’s Rule #19
Coincidences to get characters into
trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.
Coincidences. Things
happen. It isn’t always a long road to
the trouble your character gets into and it can just be ‘coincidences’ that put
them into this horrible or terrifying situation. If they just coincidentally get out of the
situation, you lose too much. You don’t develop
your character. The character doesn’t
evolve or change or learn. Thing just
happen to them and they don’t make anything happen. Where is the fun in that? It is cheating.
Keep it simple. Not words to live by as a writer. Don’t get me wrong it can’t be so complex
that the reader throws it down, never to look at it again. You need them invested. Don’t drag them along, slowly tug them by the
heart. Make them love the character as
much as you do. They need to pull for
the characters and yearn to see them succeed.
They have to need more and flip pages like they can’t get enough. If things just happen to the character that
page flipping frenzy will never happen.
The book will be a lump on a coffee table that they just turn their nose
up at as they walk past. Writers want
people to run to that book ever free moment, sometimes stealing a moment under
onn their lap under the table during dinner, that is what we live for.
In a world where, “We
want more. We want more…” We need people to want more of our writing, more from
our characters, and more of our books.
That is the best. That is the
thing I am striving for, and I hope it happens soon.
Are you cheating as a
writer? Are you cheating your readers?
Also, all of you should
check out the posts from my blogging friends who are doing this challenge with
me! The first posts go up today. Links to Kate Brauning, Talynn Lynn, Mary Pat,
and Alex Yuschik’s blogs are located on the side bar.
We’d love to see comments
on our post and share anything you enjoy.
Thank you for reading!
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