Evolution of Character

This week each of the kiddos has a paper due. The boy is writing a paper on the evolution of Telemachas through the first 4 books of the Odyssey. The girl had to review, summarize & provide insight on a short story. And, she redeemed herself from last week's debacle by choosing the one I wrote for a competition.

Last night, after boy finished his rough draft, I quizzed him about his paper. You have to know that spelling is his bane. I was concerned. I asked all of the mom/once-upon-a-time English major questions; "Is it a 5 paragraph essay," "What's the word count?" The usual. Then I asked him to explain his supporting evidence & this is what I learned.

"We had to pick people who had the most profound effect on changing Telemachas from a boy to a man."

"How many did you choose?" I asked. This is a valid question considering his desire to complete the minimum & no more.

"Five," he said.

"Tell me about them."

I have to say right now, I was impressed & quite surprised by the answer. My little 15yo boy decided that the Greek world did not elevate women & as a result he focused the bulk of his paper on the influences of both Athena & Helen of Troy. What?? In his estimation, these two females did the most to educate Telemachas & build him into the man he became. His evolution stood in direct complement to the womanly influences thrust upon him. Uh, did I say I was impressed?

To the girl. She thrust her evenly spaced,  freshly typed, one-page summation into my hands. "Read it, I want you to read it."

"Okay." And then I read it.

In one sheet, she discussed the evolution of the two MCs & she actually discussed things that are only implied rather than told. She picked out the underlying concepts that shaded the entire tale. I was impressed & my pride got a tickle. She got it; she totally got it!

I passed it to hubs & he read it. He finished, looked over at me & said, "Wow, she really read it. It shows." Now we were both impressed.

What does this have to do with writing? Character evolution is subjective & secretive known only to the writer until it is shoved out the front door to meet its first day of criticism. You kiss it on the cheek, provide a protective snuggle & promise that all is well in its little world. No matter where your MCs are in their evolution, they look to us, their creators, for reinforcement & safety. They struggle as we struggle. It is a symbiotic relationship that will one day find its way out of the nest.

Questions: Do you view character evolution from a parent/child perspective or some other? At what point do you feel they no longer need you? How do you shield them from criticism?

Happy Writing,

Patti

Point of View

This week I am reading Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne & King. The book devotes an entire chapter to POV; which, is crucial to the telling of any story. And, one of the areas I have worked relentlessly to master.                                                                                             

First person, third person & omniscient. I have to say that of these, I was most fond of the last. And, after reading, I understand why. I could head hop like a hurdler making for the final gate, present everyone's POV & confuse everyone, including myself, all at the same time - which makes me the multi-tasker that I am. Wow, talk about convoluted reading - and writing.

So, I went back to my little novel & started thinking about who needed to tell the story. My MC, of course. It's her coming of tale, not anyone else's. Then I pondered the idea of first person narrative - the older, wiser version of herself able to provide valuable commentary, not on interior monologue, but on her plight of the moment.

That led me a wonderin' if a flawed narrator, a comedic narrator or another versioned narrator wouldn't improve the jumbled mess I'd made. Of course, the  "I" version denotes a level of intimacy that can be engaging, emotional & empty perspective. How many times have we retold some story & whittled out the embarrassing, the outrageous or the plain silly (from our view) parts in order to do the telling? I don't know about any of you, but I have a tendency to weed out the really embarrassing stuff for my own psyche to chew on, unless of course, it is super funny. If the flag's going to fly, I want it to have purpose.

Ah, so I came to third person, perspective - that's what I needed. Perspective. The equal distribution of intimacy & optics; a gymnast on the balance beam of my keyboard did I become. The filter on the world I needed turned out to be through my MCs eyes in such a way that did not embarrass her by being too close, clue her in too early thus elongating the commentary or spew cynicism for her younger condition. And, there you have it. I chose the third person & am pushing the consistency, the emotional view & the descriptives from one singular pair of goggles.

I have to say, though, that mastering all three is the eventual goal. For now, I have a direction, but the several tales in the back pocket of my WIP folder will eventually call for all of these, in some fashion or 'tother. In the meantime, I cram a book's worth in & regurgitate like a final-examer. Hoping to 'use the force,' find my equilibrium & write with the gale force of a Montana wind.

Q: Do you have a preferred method of story-telling; 1st, 3rd or omniscient? Why?

Happy Writing,

Patti Struble