Writing Main Characters: 5 Tips Bestsellers DON'T Want You To Know
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ก.ค. 2024
- Ever wondered what tips and techniques bestsellers use in writing main characters to make them real? No need to wonder anymore!
In this video, I talk about 5 MEGA BESTSELLER secrets I’ve run into over the years that work amazingly well. Authors like King, Grisham, Roberts, Koontz, etc. use these techniques every day, in every one of their books.
Watch the rest of my Writing Main Characters series: • How to Write Engaging ...
Learn how I use the five senses to write more effective fiction: www.michaellaronn.com/episode7
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I'm always weirded out that there are hardly any views or comments on your videos. Your content is well-presented and offers great, easily-digestible tips. Keep it up!
You’re too kind. The comments will come with time. :)
@@AuthorLevelUp Yeah. I've learned a lot from you (even though my aim is to write/draw comics and not novels) and I hope many more will find your channel to learn. :)
I've thought the same thing and wondered if it isn't an issue regarding Search Engine Optimization, because the info here is great. I know early on I forgot the name of his channel and had a hell of a time finding it again.
I been looking at author videos for years. and this channel has legit not showed up before today.
Maybe the pleasant lack of shake-down tactics has an impact on views
I love the passion and genuine helpful nature of your videos. Wish you success in your journey. Binge watched your videos which says a lot about the powerful content you have
I can see a huge mic in your video but I had to crank the audio all the way up to hear your tips.
It's not the size of the microphone that counts, it's what you do with it.
I had no problem hearing his tips
No wonder;this is a secret...
Holy s****!!..your example about the painter painting when she's angry....I have a story where that happens!! Omg now I know why the scene wasn't coming out as powerful as I'd imagine, I wasn't focusing on the right thing.... oh, thank you so much! That pumped me up to revise that story and try to finish it!
Wow! What a coincidence! :) Glad the video inspired you! :)
#4 is a form of setup. You can either stick with the expectations you set up with this, or you can subvert expectations and have a twist or complete surprize. Often what you choose depends on the genre or the milieu of the story or world the story is set in. It works if done well, but if you do it too often without proper care you can ruin the reader's experience. You have to be almost hyper-vigilant when you do this a lot because it can make the story too predictable. Even if you decide to subvert expectations you still have to put in little unobtrusive clues so that when you do subvert expectations the reader doesn't perceive it as "deus ex machina" and get bored, but instead sees the logic and says to him/herself "wow, that was really well done. I didn't expect this, but it makes complete sense!"
Also, IMO, if you are going to do this, the best way to do it is to set up the plot/events/scenes of the story so that most of these things that happen where the reader knows ahead of time what's about to happen you have set things up previously so that there is, or seems to be, no other possible course of events for the character(s). That course is particularly powerful if you then decide to subvert expectations. The problem with this is that this kind of writing usually requires extensive planning, plotting, and outlining. It's extremely hard to pull off for "pantsers" until they get a few published works under their belt (and/or have written so many things that never made it to publication like Stephen King did before he became published and Brandon Sanderson did before he was published -- Brandon wrote like 11 complete novels before he was published and wrote 2-3 more before he found out that Elantris had been accepted) and sometimes longer, but they can do it. See Stephen King's books as he is an admitted "pantser." Brandon has stated that he considers himself a "hybrid" style writer, so he plans and then lets the characters take him where they will if necessary.
But as I said, it can be done by pantsers, they just have to fix things in revision, usually a lot more than other types of writers.
Thank you for all your videos right at this perfect time. When the student is ready, the teachers appear. Stephanie Perry recommended you👏
Thank you! :)
I like the way you break these subjects down and give examples. Thank you!
Great and thoughtful work. I especially like your observation that a lot of great writers have started their books so consistently. Thinking back on the series that I have read and loved. That is absolutely something that they do regularly. A great and very usable insight!! Thanks!
Just a quick tip regarding the blue yeti mic, you're supposed to talk into the side, not the top. Great video as usual.
Thanks. These are tips that I have not heard a lot, or at all. I will keep them in mind. Being a newbie, I need all the help I can get. Peace.
I have watched 8 videos from your channel and I learned so much more in 8 videos than 11 years of English classes.
Great information, thanks Michael!
This is excellent advice! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
Thanks my trilogy has a male protagonist. This video was very helpful.
Michael - Another excellent lesson! Much appreciated.
Brilliant video, thank you for all the tips!
Amazing video! I just finished reading Be A Writing Machine and felt so inspired to tune into your channel! Thank you so much for helping aspiring authors (myself included!)
Thanks for reading the book. Welcome aboard!
Really love your videos! Good tips!
Great advice. I'm so glad I found your channel.
These are concrete, actionable items. Thank you so much!
I'm astonished you don't have more subscribers.
to put the readers one step forward than the characters in book is indeed a hardwork
Another great video! I just wanted to add my two cents about tip #4. When you said that it isn't always a bad thing to keep your readers two steps ahead of your characters. I began to think of additional reasons why that might be true. I think it largely depends on the type of story you have. If you are writing a mystery, only then would it be a bad thing to allow your readers to know or figure out what the outcome will be. If the reader believes that he/she is reading a mystery, they are anticipating the solving of the mystery and want to go through the journey of discovering who done it. If you are writing a thriller or a suspense novel then the most important piece isn't whether the reader knows early on what the outcome will be, what's important is the reader being able of feel the intense anxiousness, fear, worry and emotion that happens with suspense novels. In other words, whatever you tell your readers that you are giving them, it better be that. If you say you are writing a mystery. It better be mysterious. If you say you are writing romance, it better be romantic. You can't say you are writing a particular type of writing and then go write something contrary.
Good points, especially about mystery! :)
@@AuthorLevelUp Sometimes it can be confusing because a novel can have different elements. For instance a suspense novel can have a murder or a theft take place in it. But it's ok if it is revealed to the reader early on who did it because the book isn't a mystery novel, it's suspenseful and as long as the author is fullfilling the intent of the book then the author's readers will be happy.
I love the added tension when I know what's coming because I'm anticipating how character Y will react to it.
Thanks!
Another great video. I subscribed. Thank you for sharing awesome advice
Thank you for watching.
Thanks Michael. This was so clear. So on point. Can you do a video teaching how to build your supporting character that you plan on bringing to the forefront in a future book. Like in a series. Also how to kill off a character or i guess when to.
Thanks Kimberly. Check out the Engaging Characters Playlist. I have a video on supporting characters, but not quite what you're looking for so I'll add it to my list. I do have a video on how to kill off a main character: th-cam.com/video/hYWvYMRy0zg/w-d-xo.html
Author Level Up : 5 senses
Me : *Grab a bottle of wine*
Thanksss
A writer(or any other artist) will benefit naught from all the tips in the world if he hasn't the talent and natural gift
How do you do the five senses through the eyes of a character?
I love Crichton but I hate Andromeda Strain so much.
I love your content, Michael, but I can hardly hear you on this video and I'm wearing a headset! :(
The CLICKBAIT title all TH-camrs LOVE to use!!
이분 뭔가 애교?있게 영상찍음
I love your content, but I feel like you're not looking directly at me in the video, slightly to my left.