Character Driving Plot and a Fear Busting Free Lesson from the Hero's Art Journey from Mira5/25/2015 Dealing with fear in this awesome free telesummit put together by Kathy Scheiern As creatives, whenever we look at that blank page, whenever we’re making decisions on where to take a character, whenever we submit our work or attend a conference, we’re facing fear. Most of us are sensitive types, many come from some kind of trauma, so facing fear is an important topic for us just as it is for many of the characters in our plot-driven stories. In my interview I talk about my background in a way that I rarely do and share a fear-busting lesson from the Hero’s Art Journey, which is my gift for the telesummit participants. There are lots of other free pressies there as well, so I hope that you’ll check it out here. Character Driving Plot When you write a regular blog, you're constantly wondering... what can I write about that will be really helpful for my people. So in honor of our upcoming Craft and Business of Writing Picture Books course, I decided to do a series writing about the main elements of writing plot-driven children’s books that we'll be going into in the course on a much deeper level. But here they are: 1. Character 2. Plot 3. Pacing 4. Voice and Language In the following months I’m going to write about each of these, starting with character. So here goes: Character How well you know your characters makes a big difference in how well you write them. Physical descriptions (kept to a minimum in picture books) and shown through actions e.g., instead of “she was short” – “Angie was tired of standing on her tip toes to hug her friends” are only part of the picture. It’s your main character(s) hopes, fears, greatest desires that really drive the story or plot. Whatever your main character’s greatest fear is–that’s what they must face and overcome. Whoever their greatest enemy is–that’s who they must vanquish or friend. Whatever their greatest desire–that’s what they must strive towards and attain either in that book or one of the following books if it’s a series or attain if it’s a picture book. Their challenges become assets. Whoever their friends are, these are either allies on the journey, or characters that they have conflict with, or characters that they must save in one way or another. The more you know your characters, the better that you can write them. Even if you never use most of the stuff that you know about them, your character will still come across stronger for that knowledge. Being a visual person, I like doing mind maps. So here’s one that I did for one of my stories that I’m sharing with you guys as well as a downloadable blank version that you can use with your own work. Let me know if you find it helpful. Yours in children’s book love, Mira ![]() Mira Reisberg has helped MANY authors and illustrators get published. She has worn just about every hat in the industry including art director, editor, illustrator and author, and literary agent. Mira holds a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on children's literature. She is also an award-winning children's book illustrator and writer. Watch for the upcoming Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books, which she will be co-teaching with the fabulous Kelly Delaney, an acquiring assistant editor at Random House/Knopf! ![]()
19 Comments
5/25/2015 09:44:43 pm
Thank you Mira. This is fabulous. My own fears hold me back and it will be good to push though them. I am off to my first ever writers' conference this year and trying to move up to a more professional level as a writer and your post could not have come at any better time. The character sheet is fabulous. Thanks again. Hugs from upside down under. <3
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Mira Reisberg
5/26/2015 06:00:09 am
Thank you Cecilia. Without fear there is no courage and I salute you for your courage. I hope you signed up for the lesson. It's fun and liberating.
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Gail
5/26/2015 04:07:34 am
Thank you for the character template. This helps a lot. :)
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Mira Reisberg
5/26/2015 06:01:39 am
Thank you for the comment. So glad that you'll be using the template!! I love making these kind of things.
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Tracy
5/27/2015 05:01:54 am
Thanks, Mira. A very thoughtful post. I love the character sheet, and have already printed it and used it to better know my character in my current story!
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Mira
6/1/2015 08:35:53 am
Thank you Tracy. Am so glad that you are finding it helpful!
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7/25/2015 12:28:41 am
Thanks for sharing, Mira! I love the way you've broken this down :) And thanks for the great printable resource!
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We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome new bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with editor/art director, & CBA Director Mira Reisberg PhD who is handing her Mondays over to awesome former now tradtionally pubbed students to widen their audience. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature Bryan Patrick Avery, published writer, man of mystery, and professional magician among other things. 4th Mondays feature funny Aussie author Sharon Giltrow sharing awesome Aussie books. And 5th Mondays will feature Libyan American author Koloud Tarapolsi sharing wonderful diverse books. Archives
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