Getting into Character
If you read my blog several entries ago, you might recall that I had been labouring with the outline for Book 2 of the Zach & Zoe series -- Chapter 5 in particular. I did eventually finish the outline and got it approved by the editor, so now I'm at work writing the actual story. I got a bit mired down with Chapter 3 (which had been a breeze to outline -- go figure!) and then really mired down with Chapter 4. It took me a whole week to choke out that chapter, but when I finally finished it and read what I had written, I understood why. Not only was there a lot of action to paint, but the way I went about painting it was really important, since I was going to need to build on that foundation further on in the novel. And, I have to say -- at the risk of patting myself on the back -- that I'm pleased with the result. This was a chapter in which the personality of one of the main characters really comes into play, and though I had to portray the character in a negative light, I also had to plant some positive seeds to allow for growth and turn-around later in the story.
When I read the chapter to my mother this morning, she disliked the character with a passion and wanted me to hoof him out of the book. Understandable. The kid is not nice, and my mother doesn't tolerate bad behaviour from children. I pointed out that the character's actions provided necessary conflict and that he would be a nicer boy by the end of the novel. She still has her doubts, but I'm confident it will all work out.
That's the beauty of writing. I create a world and people it with characters -- and I can make anything happen.
Besides, I have an outline.