Your main character needs to overcome his/her inner demons prior to his/her final showdown with the story’s antagonist, and the overcoming of those inner demons becomes the enabling factor that helps him/her conquer all exterior obstacles.
That’s why you need to focus on the inner demons and make them really compelling and really believable—It’s going to be the thing that makes or breaks your main character.
- Create a detailed character profile.
- Use character quirks to break stereotypes.
- Know your character’s family.
- What Would (My Character) Do?
- Write a biography for your character.
Self-doubt is the enemy of the writer. It is most certainly one of the worst, if not the worst, in the writer’s rogue gallery of nemeses. You let self-doubt get a hold of you, it’ll kill your work dead.
You mustn’t be seduced by the callous whispers of the doubting monster at your back. To survive as a writer you must wheel on the beast, your sharpened pen at hand. Then you must spear him to the earth.
We’re All Part Of The Self-Hatred Quilt
Self-doubt has the singular power to make you feel very alone indeed [but] you’re not alone. We all get it. The difference is that some writers pull their boots out of the hungry mire and others sink deeper and deeper until they’re caught in an inescapable nest of old Druid bones.Time And Practice Are Two Of Doubt’s Mightiest Foes
Sometimes self-doubt comes from a real place, a revelation that you’re just not ready. The problem isn’t this revelation but rather how writers react to it. The reaction is: OMG NOT GOOD ENOUGH MUST EJECT OR DIE. What a terribly unproductive reaction. Or, more accurately, over-reaction.
You’re not going to be perfect right out of the gate. Time and practice will improve your mojo, and an improved sense of one’s mojo will go a long way toward mitigating doubt.Validation Comes From Within
Don’t go looking for validation elsewhere. Don’t look for it from friends, loved ones, publishers, editors, agents, mailmen, or cats. External validation isn’t a bad thing. It just isn’t what you need. Because it matters little that they believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself.
Read the rest of this thoughtful, funny (and possibly NSFW) article here.
Having a meaningful flow is crucial for ensuring that your story hangs together. Without it, readers won’t be able to follow what’s going on, or else they won’t be engaged enough to care.
