A small bite

Sometimes when faced with a big task, I work on other things I can get “done” to clear my head in preparation (ahem, procrastinate while still being productive). I’m actually going to start using this trick in favor of my writing life—tragic flaw made into redeeming quality. So, I don’t have time to write a lot for this post, but I do have a little thing that I would really like to capture…

I recently signed up for a 6-week web-based workshop through NV SCBWI with Jenny MacKay. When I got our worksheet for the week, I had what I’ve heard Kate DiCamillo call a “sinking aha” moment…the kind of moment that you realize what you need to do and you know at the same time that you’re afraid you won’t be able to do it.

The worksheet focused on our main character’s arc—or as Jenny calls it, the “V” because it’s really a downward to upward trajectory. I realized, I couldn’t quite plot that V for my MG main character…I know it (I think). But I have been so focused on the story’s plot points that, looking at that worksheet, I felt like I couldn’t articulate my character’s change.

In the workshop, we talked about what we need to know about our character in the beginning in order for the character to go through that satisfying transformation. This gives me a great framework to plug my brain into. I love finding new angles to think about my story and this gives me exactly that fresh take I needed to believe I can do this character justice.

Stay tuned, I have a feeling next week’s workshop and discussion will inspire even more creative problem-solving!