In one of the continuing education classes from the ACFW conference, author Gayle Roper posed some questions writers should ask when writing a novel. Here are some of them:
Why are you writing this story?
If you can’t answer that question, then that could mean trouble. Knowing why keeps us focused when our stories start to drift.
Can you explain your novel in 20 words?
Yikes! 20 words! Here’s a bigger challenge: Can you do it without using cliche generalities? Can you be very specific, so that whoever may be listening can get a sense of your story’s essence?
What is your character arc?
How does the main character change from the beginning of the novel to the end? Also, if you write for the CBA, what is the spiritual arc?
What is your main character’s personality type and how does it conflict with the antagonist or romantic lead?
Here is a model of four personality types based on four humors of the body (something a bit simpler than the Meyer-Briggs model):
- Sanguine – outgoing, extroverted, the “life of the party”, looking for fun and a good time, unorganized, forgetful, make friends easily
- Choleric – a d0er, a Martha, an ambitious person who likes to be in control, these are often leaders, extroverted
- Melancholic – the creative, reflective introvert, a perfectionist, these people often feel deeply and think deeply
- Phlegmatic – passive, easygoing, agreeable, often introverted, relaxed, affectionate, a people-pleaser, avoids conflict
Think how differently these character types would interact. How might you play with these in order to maximize conflict? How might a certain personality type affect your character’s relationship with God?
Are your characters likable?
Even the bad guys? Have you built in something (a pet-the-dog moment) that allows your audience to identify with them? Basically, you want to humanize all of your characters. Make them easy to identify with.
What are your characters’ back stories and how do they affect the story “now”?
What kind of family did they come from? A family that encouraged or discouraged? How does this shape the way in which your character sees the world? And is this perception accurate, or way off? How does it impact the decisions they make in the present story world?
Those are just some of the questions I took away from Gayle’s class. I’d love to know…
What question do you find most useful? What other questions might be helpful to consider when writing a novel? And for fun – what personality type are you?
