Comments on: The X Factor—How Character Determines Plot https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/ Author, Blogger, Social Media Jedi Sat, 03 Jun 2017 20:22:47 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.8 By: Characters https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-76539 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 20:22:47 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-76539 […] Kirsten Lamb looks at how character determines plot […]

]]> By: cynthia mahoney/pen name Claire O'Sullivan https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-74115 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 17:56:28 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-74115 Hi Kristen

good blog post as usual! I make copious notes on my main characters, less on lesser characters.. but before I start a story, I may have up to 20 pgs of characterizations from physical to speech patterns and usually 2 problems that cross paths. One MS- thief becomes (backsliding) Christian while chasing a murderer. Second WIP, Christian struggles with faith/lack of because of an abortion, all while trying to defend a friend who is suspected of murder. Another, a new Christian is faced with a serial killer and a new lab tech, throwing off the ability to keep a Christian walk pure. It is pure, but the Christian in that novel is a fun noir character.

Each has a birth order (and I look that up), abnormal psychology for serial killers, etc. The antagonist has to be as complex as the MC, a worthy adversary.

I end up devoting a notebook to each novel as things change to meet my needs. Not everything, obviously, is in the novel. But I know my character, and keep the character … in character. I also write a query and try a short synopsis- amazing how a sum-up can help with plot holes.

]]> By: Melanie Page https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-74078 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 01:10:48 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-74078 Genius.

The only problem is, now I have a massive glaring oops in the middle of my WIP. Bother!

As always, your insights are spot on.

]]> By: Tim Young https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-73811 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 22:08:12 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-73811 Great stuff Kristen,
I just finished my first novel and have started book 2 in a series. This kinda re-enforces where I want to take my story.

Thank You

]]> By: Claire O'Sullivan https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-73747 Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:01:20 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-73747 In reply to Newt Johnson.

I do believe I know you, silly girl.

]]> By: Kristen Lamb https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-72923 Wed, 22 Mar 2017 19:20:49 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-72923 In reply to Kathryn Graham.

I would say his approach evolves, but I would also say that this might be a Buddy Love structure with Toothless a co-protagonist. Toothless changes quite a lot. Also there are characters who remain more or less static because they are driving forces of change. Romance can use this structure. If we look at “Titanic”, Jack stays more or less the same, he drives the arc of Rose (co-protagonist).

]]> By: Kathryn Graham https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-72892 Wed, 22 Mar 2017 17:23:47 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-72892 I have a question about heroes who don’t change. I don’t know if it’s a snafu to link to another page about writing, but here it is anyway. I was struggling with this idea that all protagonists need to start with a false agreement and then eventually learn how they were wrong (or refuse to learn, I suppose).

Because we seem to have good examples of heroes who do not change in this way. The example used in the link is Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon. Would you say Hiccup does change because very early on he goes from wanting to have recognition as a good ‘tough dragon killing’ Viking, and then he discovers that the Viking war on dragons is misguided? That happens very early. The bulk of the movie is all about him fighting against his society’s idea of dragons. He doesn’t waver at all once he meets Toothless. Does this qualify him as a ‘changed’ hero or does he not really change, and it’s the world around him that needs to change?

http://narrativefirst.com/articles/heroes-who-dont-change

]]> By: Karen Mace https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-72655 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 02:46:46 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-72655 Thanks, Kristen. Really helpful as I start pulling things together into a first draft.

]]> By: jody https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-72368 Tue, 14 Mar 2017 13:39:39 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-72368 Wowza! That’s it. It’s in my head, but not on the page. Thanks so much. You’ve made my day.

BTW, great to have you up and running. They can’t keep a good woman down.

]]> By: Dawn https://authorkristenlamb.com/2017/03/the-x-factor-how-to-character-determines-plot/#comment-72289 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 13:57:31 +0000 https://authorkristenlamb.com/?p=21276#comment-72289 The first draft of my story had none of this. I’ve tried to add conflict without changing my characters and think I have done a much better job in this third draft than in the first. But it’s something I still need to work on. As a character myself, I hate conflict. :p

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