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This week: Performing with Plot and Character Edited by: Cubby  
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Hello, everyone! Welcome to this edition of the For Authors newsletter.  This week's topic is focused on the partnership of Plot and Character, but first off, I'd like to share a few quotes with you. Enjoy!
Quotes:
'Life to me is a journey - you never know what may be your next destination'
~ David Russell
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'There is more pleasure to building castles in the air than on the ground.'
~ Edward Gibbon
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When my horse is running good, I don't stop to give him sugar.
~ William Faulkner
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To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.
~ Herman Melville |
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Performing with Plot and Character
Writing a story is very much like performing in a circus. You must juggle, balance, and entertain to keep your audience mesmerized.
And while there's action going on before the audience's very eyes, there are also things going on behind the scenes. The show must go on, and not without its star performers, Plot and Character. These two are what keeps the pages turning.
Whether your story is plot-driven or character-driven, is up to you as the writer. But you can't have Plot without Character nor Character without Plot. They are partners. Goal and Growth. Outward action, Inward action. And they, together, must create a story that performs and seeks balance while entertaining its reader to the very end.
A circus consists of more that one show, but there is always a main act that pulls in an audience. This, too, is the same for plots.
 Main plot: Visualize a road map from your departure point to your point of destination. There is usually a main highway or expressway that will take you there easily (well, most of the time!). Think of this as your main plot. This is the storyline for which your novel is based on.
Subplots: If you stray off that main road, you'll find yourself driving through twists and turns, ending up in places you never expected. Think of these smaller roads as subplots, the little interruptions in your piece that layer and slowdown your journey, making it more interesting.
Now you must weave in the entertainers, the characters.
Protagonist: This is the star of the show!
Antagonist: And here you have the challenger, the opposer, the one who makes the story interesting for the protagonist.
It's up to you whether you first begin with the plot or the character, but you do need to weave them together in a way that will keep your audience on the edge of their seats!
A few related links:
http://www.darcypattison.com/plot/plot-plot-layers-subplot/
http://www.pgtelco.com/~slmiller/characterdevelopment.htm
 Now for a prompt...  Begin a story with a character. Now rewrite the beginning with the plot. Which do you like better?
May you have an inspiring week and an exceptionally inspiring year!
Keep on Writing!
 Cubby ") |
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~FEEDBACK~
Red Writing Hood <3 
Great newsletter, as always Cubby 
~ Thank you!
Milhaud - Tab B 
You make some salient points, Cubby. But one word kept distracting me: "ficticious". It stopped me every time I read the word -- twice, I believe. That's because the word is misspelled; it should be "fictitious". I thought you'd want to know.
~ Thanks for heads up on that! I changed it right away.
geniusrobot
Wooow!! This is really beautiful!! I love it...
~ Gee, thanks!
ccosello
I think you gave excellent advice. Like all advice it is "easier said than done" but if it is kept in our minds long enough, it will root and grow in a natural way which will surprise us when it happens.
~  Right on!
Ruby_MyDear 
Hello Cubby!
Being a writer that doesn't know a whole lot about writing I have decided to write a book. Now I know that the plot is great and I know that I can even trick myself into believing that what I write is real, probably because I so desperatley want it to be!
I was wondering though, if you have the time that is if you could help me on a few description areas. I either over do it or I don't do it enough, I can't always really find a happy medium...
La Vie Est Joie
~ Sure! Send something my way and I'll take a look at it.
Allen Riley
Thank you Cubby, I always enjoy your insight.
~ Thank you so much...
Duchess Laughing Lemurs
Thanks a lot for the link to the Writing-World article about creating a realistic fantasty world. It's already helpful to me in the advice it gave in looking up certain books on clothing and what "modern" conviences were available in Medieval times, etc. Definitely looking for the books the article recommended!
~ You are most welcome!
starink
I'm new here but thought I throw out the following suggestion and see what others think about it.
Has anyone thought about authors presenting an audio recording of some of their work? I'm talking maybe one author a week records a writing they may have done or having the staff select a written piece and anyone can click on it to hear and shall we say audiobook-(so to speak).
That's my suggestion...I am StarInk
~ Anyone here interested? If so, let StarInk know.
 Thank you all for the wonderful feedback!
As always...
Have a wonderful week!
AND KEEP ON WRITING!!!
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For Authors: May 26, 2010 Issue [#3765]
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