by Dalyn Weller, @dalynweller
As an author you have an obligation to stir up trouble. Don’t get too excited, I mean you’re obligated to create conflict for your characters.
A compelling story is about a character who goes through a transformation. But why should they change if they’re comfortable? Comfort is the enemy of change and without change you don’t have much of a story.
You, dear author, must stir the pot. Your characters need adversity to grow and become who they were meant to be. They need disturbances, roadblocks, enemies, strife; a reversal of fortune never hurt anyone. Or maybe it did. Mix things up and confuse them with the unexpected, either good or bad. Better than he expected? Great stuff now and then. We like to call that false hope. Make sure there are a few strings attached to that. Don’t allow them to win until the end.
The trouble with us is that we’re conditioned to not make trouble. We’re too nice to make our characters suffer. We really have to get over that.
We all want to read a good story. We want to go on a journey with a relatable character who stumbles and gets back up. Someone who overcomes disaster gives us the hope that we too, are able to overcome our problems. We want to sympathize with and relate to those kinds of characters.
So, give yourself permission to thwart your character’s desires, make things worse, add a few hindrances; kick him when he’s down. Should you create obstacles to her happiness? Of course you should. Silly question.
Disasters are always nice. Missed opportunities? Delightful. Give her a frenemy; force her to experience detours, betrayals, destruction, and chaos, oh my…sorry, I got carried away.
We must make our characters suffer. I know I sound sadistic and the unenviable truth is I have trouble being mean. But I’m convinced that unless a person experiences adversity there won’t be significant growth. How boring. How not story worthy.
A character who’s been in the wars and come out stronger, better, smarter, and still able to love is more impressive than one who doesn’t suffer much, and their transformation is the story we want to read.
Go write that story. And then let me know you did so I can read it.
Christmas magic happens in the Cascade Mountains…The last thing reclusive children’s book author Noelle Albright wants is an intrusion of her quiet world. Noelle just wants to be left alone to rebuild her life—and her muse– after the death of her husband and baby. She doesn’t need her noisy neighbors suddenly opening up their tree farm for the entire world. Don’t they know Christmas only brings heartache? Colton Howell has big dreams…but they don’t include a tree farm in the Cascade Mountains. Or a crazy neighbor. Colton longs for a place to call his own. After growing up in foster care and living the past six years in the dust of Afghanistan, he has plans to move to Alaska where big money awaits. Maybe there he can build a new life. When his plans are interrupted by a call for help from his foster father, his sense of responsibility sends him back to help manage the Christmas tree farm. But the crazy lady next door might just get in the way. The Christmas tree farm holds magic…As the season settles upon them, Colton realizes he’s in over his head. And Noelle can’t seem to stay away from the farm…at least if her dog has anything to say about it. Somehow she finds herself working alongside Colton…and opening her heart to find new possibilities. Colton discovers that maybe he’s found the dream he’s always longed for. But there’s a saboteur afoot…They’ll have to work together to save the farm, the community’s efforts to help foster children this Christmas… and their broken hearts.
Dalyn Weller is a small-town girl, living with her real-life romantic hero on a horse ranch in Washington State. She writes from the ranch with dogs at her feet, horses hanging their heads over the fences, and dairy goats and sheep munching grass around her chair.
Dalyn writes devotional books and romance with a country flavor. Her inspiration comes from real life characters all around her. Life in wine country is full of romance and dirt roads lead to love.
website: dalynweller.com and be sure and sign up for her newsletter: Writing From The Ranch
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Rooted & Blooming, Flourishing In Desert Seasons available in print and e-book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, Google Play & Apple Books
(audio is in production)