Pranav L - August 29, 2010 writes:

Hi all, Has anyone here done assignments 15, 16 and 17? All of them seem to require dialogue. Assignment 16 is better since it requires planning a novel which is easier. My problem is that I tell too much. I still consider my characters peaces on a chess board. I am unable to get inside them. So, I can write nicely in the first person but things fall flat if I try writing in the second and third persons. What should I do?

Wendy C - September 4, 2010 replied:

Hi Pranav. I wonder if it might help to think of your characters as actors in a movie rather than pieces on a chess board? When you've picked the focal character for the telling of your story, imagine that you are the actor playing that part (you can still tell the story in second or third person this way - it's only the 'camera view' you want for the purposes of this method.) What do you see and hear when you look at the other characters 'on set' with you? You won't know exactly what they're thinking or feeling at any given time, because you're not them - but you can often make very astute guesses, simply by watching their body language and facial expressions. So try to stand on your 'set' in the guise of your 'role' in the 'movie' and observe what those other characters do to make you think "she's angry" or "he's lying and he feels guilty about it?" If you can take this approach to the 'movie' playing in your head, you'll find you can let your reader know what they're thinking and feeling in just the same way your actor/character works it out. Hope that helps!

Pranav L - September 4, 2010 replied:

Hi Wendy, You have an interesting point. I can try that and see what happens. I am tempted to write my stories in the first person and then convert them to the second and third person. However, I suspect that will be too much work and I doubt it will be effective. Pranav