Pixar Challenge: Rule #13

Pixar’s Rule #13

Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.

Perfection doesn’t mean the character is perfect—without flaw.  Those kinds of people just don’t exist.  Real people have flaws, they say the wrong things and they do the wrong thing.  Sometimes no matter how much you yell at them or give them advice they travel down the wrong path and end up some place horrible.  And that is okay—better than okay, they learn things.  Those are the things that make them enduring, likeable, and believable. 

Those ‘plastic’ girls in high school were never the girls you wanted to hang out with, they were the ones you made fun of.  They floated through life without a hitch.  Everything handed to them on a silver platter.  They never said the wrong thing and worked very hard not to make any waves.  They liked everyone and tried to keep everyone happy.  Yuck! Gag! Where is the fun in that? You may have secretly wished you had a touch of their luck, at times, but did you really want to walk in their perfectly un-scuffed high heels—no.  You wanted to be that badass girl slightly on the outs, who said and did exactly what she thought.  And guess what?  That ‘plastic’ girl, she wished she was her every night as she hung over the toilet with stomach cramps, because she suppressed every one of her true feelings. 

In writing, you want to use character traits that are admirable.  You write about people who are real.  If the character says something horrible about a girl, like she is a slut, prove her wrong.  Make her feel horrible about her words and send her down a road to redemption for the wrong she has done.  You want to see the characters grow.  Don’t just let them go around burning bridges like crazy that is just insane, but give them flaws. Keep them likeable.  They do need a conscious. 

Perfection.  Flawless.  Wonderful.  These are poison to a writer.  No one wants to read about things that aren’t relatable.  Sometimes we just want to feel better about ourselves by seeing these flaws in others.  We want believable. Make them perfect because of their imperfections.

Are your favorite characters flawless?  Or are they flawed?

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!

Pixar Challenge: Rule #12

Pixar’s Rule #12

Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.

Write, Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite and Rewrite.

On the simple. Each sentence you write can be thought about and made better.  You can express yourself more clearly. We tend to speak simply.  Get rid of those tired overused words and add a few of those underused vocabulary words.  (Just don’t force the reader to reach for a dictionary with every page.)  Strive to make each sentence full of expression, make it visual, and make it come alive to the reader.

On the complex.  Your character isn’t just grief stricken by the death of a family member.  Take your character through the process.  Educate yourself with all the stages of grief.  Research and explore how different people with different personalities go through this painful situation.  Take us through the journey from denial to acceptance.  When the character is in Denial ‘don’t tell us, show us’ how do they deny the death?  In the process of Anger, let loose and show us how they strike out at others.  As the character Bargains their way back to the reality of the death that has left them so devastated, show them making a deal with God.  Let us be sad as they feel the heavy load of Depression.  We want to feel the weight of this stage.  How does it look through your character’s eye?  Last, bring them slowly and fully into Acceptance.  How? Why? When? Where? Did they finally come to this final stage? We will know and love the character and who they become out of this process.

Life is a process.  You go through stages.  Don’t deprive the reader of the journey.  Let the reader know how the character gets from point A to point B.  This doesn’t usually come from your first thought or even the second.  You have to get rid of the obvious and reach down deep to pull out that little something extra.  Then you will surprise yourself and your readers.

Think about it.  Stretch your limits.  Make it better.  Then make it the very best it can be.

Do you do multiple rewrites?  Does your final manuscript look like your rough draft?

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!

Pixar Challenge: Rule #11

Pixar’s Rule #11

Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.

It is hard to take a chance.  Your mind is a perfect safe harbor for your story.  No bad critique, no rejections, no editing—the story is perfect.  But, if you never sit down in that chair, pull out the tool of choice, pen or computer, and put those ideas to paper they will never be seen or heard by anyone but you.    

Once the story is written down, you can start editing the words.  You can see all of the short comings.  Find those things that don’t quite fit or work, and make them the best they can possible be.  In the mind, things are perfect—no grammatical errors or misused words.  Once you start the process you can find the mistakes and make them better.  Make them the best.  But, until you start the process you can’t perfect the process.

This rule seems pretty straight forward and simple.  You have to write it, first.  Then, do those wonderful things writers do to make it the best it can possibly be.  Last, you share it.  No one will ever know your ideas unless you write them.  If you don’t write them, they can’t be shared.

Do you have a perfect story stored in your brain?

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!

Pixar Challenge: Rule #10

Pixar’s Rule #10

Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.

Pull apart the stories you like. In my early years of teaching we taught a form of ‘writing to read’ in primary school.  The students learn to be better writers by reading and in reverse better readers by writing.  Find stories you love to read.  Dissect them and ask yourself, What do I love about this story?  What do I love about the character?  What do I love about this genre? When you discover what makes pull a book from the shelves at the book stores, then you know what you would be best at writing.  It is always easier to do a job you love.  Writing is your job, so you should love what you write.  It would be easy to get stuck in rut, if you hate what you’re doing.

One of my favorite stories is DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth.  Tris is a strong female.  If you were just given her physical attributes, it might not scream strong female.  It’s her inner confidence and emotional restraint that make her strong.  Four is the male main character.  He is respectful, strong, and confidence.  Two strong characters who complement one another, but don’t rely solely on the other person’s strength.  These are characters, I would love to be, to date, or to be best friends with, and that is what I am looking for in a main character.  So, when I write the traits that are important to me as a reader.  I don’t want a weak female that can only be saved by a strong male main character.  Can he save her?  Absolutely, but I want her to be able to return the favor. Down deep, that is what I like—it’s me.  Knowing this should make it easier for me to write about my characters.  These traits are things I recognize as admirable and they would make my character ‘real’ to me.

When I pull a story completely apart, I like to use story maps, outlines, or flowcharts.  You can easily plug in the story element and work your way through the meat of a book.  Again, in reverse using these tools will help you in writing a great story and working your way through characters, plots and sub-plots. 

Once you pull all these things from your favorite stories, and you feel them resonate with you. Recognize the parts that speak to you—positively and negatively.  Use this information to help you work your way through you own writing.  Write what you love and love what you write.

Immerse yourself in things that draw you.  Those are the stories that are part of you. 

What makes you love a story?

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!

Pixar Challenge: Rule #9

Pixar’s Rule #9

When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.

There is nothing worse for a writer than getting stuck.  Where do you go?  What path do you choose?  What do you want your character to learn?  Who do they need to be at the end? All of these questions are great.  They tell you where you want to end up?  What do you do when you don’t know?  You work backwards.

Sometimes it is easier to know what you don’t want.  You know where you don’t want the character to end.  You know how you don’t want the characters to act.  So, you eliminate as many options as possible.

Lists are an awesome tool.  When I write, I have a small notebook.  I find pictures to help me describe things.  I make lists of character traits.  They help me with the physical appearance of things or characters.  Working backwards, knowing where you don’t want to go and you hopefully won’t end up in the wrong spot. You eliminate tons of option and narrow your path.  Finally, helping you zone in on the place you want to go. 

If you don’t want you character to be weak.  You make a list of all the things that would make you character weak or even give the appearance of being weak.  Don’t make them weepy or cry too much.  Then, finding ways to make them seem strong will be much easier.

This should give you options and set the wheels in motion—again.

What do you do when you get stuck?

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!

Pixar Challenge: Rule #8

Pixar’s Rule #8

Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

Perfection.  As writers we edit, reread, rewrite, strike out, and polish until we feel the work is perfect.  Sometimes you have to let it go.  Let it sit, marinate, then come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes.  When you are ready to change and polish the work into a perfect piece of art your readers will love to read over and over again. 

To me 'the next time' can mean two different things.  

One.  You can set the manuscript on a shelf and come back to it at a later time, after perfecting your craft.  The new perspective may produce a much better story.  

Or two.  You can’t make this one perfect.  You don’t have a good grasp of the story and it slips through your fingers.  In this case, set it to the side and move on.  Learn from the mistakes you have made and strengthen your skills through the process.  It will make you a better writer.  In some cases, you learn more from failure than from success. 

Hopefully, scrapping a manuscript completely is never the case.  I would hate to see a true labor of love trashed.  The editing process should always build a better story.  Some stories may need tons more work, but as a writer, I think your story must come out.  It would be hard to let it go. You want your story told.

Do you think a story should ever be completely trashed?

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!

Pixar Challenge: Rule #7

Pixar’s Rule #7

Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

The best books I have ever read leave you wanting more because the story ends with you amazed.  It can’t be totally predictable and (my overused word) boring.  I tend to be a bit ADHD and with three of my five boys severely ADHD, I am constantly looking for books that keep your attention all the way to the bitter sweet end.  So, endings are super duper important.

As a teacher we teach with the end in mind.  I know it’s a little different, but—it has some of the same importance.  You know what the students need to know, you set a good pace, and you set up some amazing lessons to get them to the end.  Finally, they are prepared for the next grade level.

When writing if you get the most difficult job out of the way before you start—you have most of the work complete.  With the ending ever present in your mind, you can be cautious not to give too much away.  You can also set little traps for the reader and lead them down the wrong path.  This way you will surprise them in the end. But be mindful not to take a trip way off the main road.  

In my opinion, this is a great idea.  Know the ending.  Write an outline.  Use the fabulous ‘fill in the blank’ sentences from Rule #4 and set your story on a good path.  Take the reader on a magical journey and end the story in a perfect place.  In the end, make the reader anxious for the next book.

Do you always know where you are going when you start writing?  If you know where you want to end, is it easier to write?

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!