My CFT post this week pays tribute to the late Barbara Large, MBE, who founded the Winchester Writers' Festival (as it is now known) and the Hampshire Writers' Society. I cannot think of anyone else who has done so much to help so many writers over so many years. She will be much missed. I first met Barbara many years ago and her encouragement made a huge difference. So many writers will say the same (including the children's author, Anne Wan, whom I've also interviewed for CFT).
Influences matter to a writer and can make all the difference to whether someone keeps going or gives up. This applies to our characters too. What influences are your characters under or swayed by? Are they positive ones? If there are negative influences about, what do your characters do to fight that?
Barbara's life was very much a life well lived and that is something we should all aspire to do.
As for our characters, what do you want your people to aspire to be? What drives them? What gets in their way? Answer those questions and you have the very essence of a good, drama driven story. And isn't that what we all want for our books and stories?
Influences matter to a writer and can make all the difference to whether someone keeps going or gives up. This applies to our characters too. What influences are your characters under or swayed by? Are they positive ones? If there are negative influences about, what do your characters do to fight that?
Barbara's life was very much a life well lived and that is something we should all aspire to do.
As for our characters, what do you want your people to aspire to be? What drives them? What gets in their way? Answer those questions and you have the very essence of a good, drama driven story. And isn't that what we all want for our books and stories?
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