Monday, January 16, 2012

Avoiding a Passive Beginning

S.P. Sipal asked: "How do I create a character whose story arc is to discover and own her inner power without making her come across as too passive in the beginning?"


Great question! The moment I read this one my mind went immediately to SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi. In SHATTER ME, Juliette begins in prison, completely broken, having been taught her whole life that she is an abomination. That could break anyone. But we follow Juliette on her journey as she learns to embrace her power and accept herself as a good person. 


Never once while reading this did I think to myself what a passive weakling Juliette was. Why? Here are a few things I noticed that Tahereh did to avoid that feeling:

  1. Make the situation interesting. The circumstances are so unique and intriguing that the reader would want to know more no matter what the character was like. 
  2. Make a multi-dimensional character. I know I harp on this a bit, but seriously! Your MC may be passive in some ways - but not in EVERY way. Juliette is broken when we meet her, but not entirely. We can still see glimpses of her core. And even if she doesn't realize it, we see that her concern for another human being trumps her self-pitying circumstances. 
  3. Use the voice. Oh oh oh. The voice in this manuscript is so unique and poetic that it's hard not to keep going. It's Juliette's voice and it sings. You may like it, you may not, but you cannot deny the presence of it, nor the impact on the manuscript. 
These are all tips we can use to enhance our own manuscript. It's the combination that makes the manuscript. The world, the characters, and the plot all weave together in a dance to carry us through. It's a tricky balance, but when we get it right... WOW. 

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16 comments:

  1. StinaJanuary 16, 2012 at 4:32 AM

    No kidding, especially on the voice part. There was definitely a little spark in Juliette that made me want to keep reading. But Adam also played a big role in it too. I was curious about him. And that (along with the unique writing) kept me reading.

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  2. Laura PaulingJanuary 16, 2012 at 5:06 AM

    In other words, you have to be a great writer! Using all the tools and using the right ones for your story and character!

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  3. S.A. LarsenッJanuary 16, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    Love how you pointed out unique circumstances in the opener. That's what I'm working on now. I simply must have this book. Thanks for sharing your observations!

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  4. LTMJanuary 16, 2012 at 9:35 AM

    very cool, Lisa! I haven't read SM, but I know loads of folks are loving it. I'll check it out. I love the idea of starting with a character who's in some unusual situation (like prison) and then having them grow and learn about themselves from there. Good stuff~ :o) <3

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  5. Margo BerendsenJanuary 16, 2012 at 11:48 AM

    Good point about her concern for another person keeps her from passive. Reminds me of how Katniss' concern for her sister Prim, in the Hunger Games, kept her relatable when she might otherwise have come across cold.

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  6. UnknownJanuary 16, 2012 at 12:57 PM

    Great points. Voice and multi-dimensional characters are key, for sure. I've been working on this with my own MS and I feel that finding your own unique voice (or your character's for that matter) can be challenging, but so worth it once you have

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  7. HeatherJanuary 16, 2012 at 2:56 PM

    Mult-dimensional characters are so important! I haven't read Shatter Me yet. I've got to, it sounds excellent!

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  8. Leslie S. RoseJanuary 16, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    Good tips. I have Shatter Me on my Kindle. Can't wait to dive in. One of my favorite openings is the opening of WHITE CAT by Holly Black where the MC is on the roof.

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2012 at 4:34 AM

    I'm working on a passive character right now who's been de-humanized by a cult that snared her. She has "sparks" of strength and courage at moments that I hope show her as the strong character she's meant to grow into by the end.

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  10. AdrienneJanuary 17, 2012 at 7:38 AM

    Yes, "sparks" of strength is a good way to look at it! The MC in Shatter Me may come across as weak at tje beginning, but she is strong in other ways. What a great example!

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  11. Ghenet MyrthilJanuary 17, 2012 at 8:14 AM

    Great tips, and a perfect example. SHATTER ME is such a brilliant book!

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  12. Julie MusilJanuary 17, 2012 at 10:51 AM

    Such great tips! The balance thing...that is tough to get it right, and thankfully we have great books to help us figure it all out.

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  13. Cynthia Chapman WillisJanuary 17, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    I have yet to read Shatter Me. It's on my list of books to reach for next. And I'm not a fan of passive characters, but if they have other qualities and a strong or unique voice, I'll keep reading. Great post.

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  14. cleemckenzieJanuary 18, 2012 at 12:06 PM

    Those beginnings are so important. In fact, I just blogged about those over at Cheryl Rainfield's blog. Are we on the same track or what?

    Guess I have to get this book. You've made me very curious.

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  15. Teri HeyerJanuary 19, 2012 at 1:10 PM

    Thanks. A very nice reminder to avoid a passive beginning. Well said.

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  16. Kristen WixtedJanuary 20, 2012 at 11:39 AM

    I like the frequent reminders to make the MC multi-dimensional, personally. Like a real person.
    So important.
    I really want to read that book.

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