Lesson 3 | Hacking the First Draft
You have your premise, and you know your genre. Now what?
Characters.
And I'm using Kairos to escort you through this phase because he's a wizard, and you are just about to perform magic, so I thought he'd be a good icon to inspire you.
Your premise is going to define some of the qualities of your main character. So grab a piece of paper or a blank word document or whatever program you use, and write your premise at the top. You don't ever want to lose sight of that.
Think of a name for your MC (main character).
I have a little bit of a process when I invent names, but I write fantasy and different worlds where people's names might need to be more unusual than in today's world.
Now considering your premise, think for a minute.
What does your main character want? This would be the conscious goal that he's striving for. Perhaps he/she wants to further their education, or become rich and famous, or maybe they want to get revenge for the death of a loved one. Maybe they want to make a mark in the world or be in the limelight. Or maybe they just want to live in peace. This conscious desire is going to be what motivates him. So, considering the premise that you wrote, there's going to be a driving force within your character that moves him throughout your story.
EXAMPLE: Kairos has two things he wants at the beginning of my story. He wants to be in good favor with the king, and he wants to marry the king's daughter.
Now! What does your main character need? This has nothing to do with what he wants. Put yourself in the place of his psychologist. Sit him/her on the couch and determine what this character really needs, especially as opposed to what he wants. Maybe he needs to put his ego aside. Maybe he needs to take a closer look at his heart. Maybe what he really needs is an awakening to the world around him. Maybe he needs to get off his duff and do something about his circumstances.
EXAMPLE: Kairos needs to be himself. He tries too hard to be who his father was (a famous all-powerful wizard whom the king loved dearly). Because of that, he fails miserably, and the king considers him inept and doesn't want him anywhere near his daughter.
While you answer these questions, feel free to write up some back story for your MC (and for your antagonist.) This will help you and give depth to your character, make him real and by making him real you're going to grab the hearts of your readers. He has a reason he wants what he wants, and there is an even deeper reason for what he needs, even though he might not realize it. Needs and wants will create conflict within the character. Some of their backstories can eventually be integrated into your novel. Not as an information dump, of course, but in little pieces here and there.
What characteristics make your character want the goal listed in your premise?
List 3.
1.
2.
3.
What is the crisis or obstacle written in your premise?
Thinking only about your character, his wants, and his needs, (forget about the antagonist for now) answer this question.
Why is he/she going to have trouble overcoming this obstacle?
List weaknesses:
What characteristics does your MC have that will help him overcome this obstacle?
All right. Now that you've done that, let's bring another person into the story. The antagonist. Not every story has a human being as an antagonist. Sometimes the thing that creates conflict can be the MC himself, or it could be a power or force against him. But usually, we'll want to see that thing that stands against the MC personified in some way. So without considering unique circumstances, let's look at the antagonist as if it were a human being.
Who is the antagonist in your story?
Without thinking about your MC, what does your antagonist want?
What does he/she need?
What good traits does he/she have?
What weaknesses does he/she have?
How does his/her desire put a stumbling block in front of the MC? To what extent will they go to ‘win the prize’?
Think of some supporting characters.
These people are usually helpers to either the MC or the antagonist. Sometimes they are comic relief, sometimes they are there to give a helping hand. Sometimes they are treacherous and spoil plans. List a few supporting characters you want in your story.
NOTE: Subplots will involve these people. They can have love affairs and problems of their own that hamper the MC or the antagonist. The subplots will always have to interweave with your main plot and somehow give substance to it. It is good to plan a subplot or two even if you don’t use them all.
Need examples?
Watch your favorite movie or read a good book and ask these questions as you do. It will help you develop your own characters.
That should be enough homework for the weekend. Come back for lesson 4 on Monday!
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