Member since:
December 17, 2005

Harry Potter Is a Wimp! (Saturday Writing Essential)

September 24, 2011 12:01 PM UTC

views: 0 | 12 people recommend this | comments: 37

[PLEASE NOTE: This is the draft version I wrote yesterday and it’s somewhat incomplete. I apologize for that, but I want to get this posted before my monitor goes out again.]

Please don’t shoot me for the title. I used that to get your mind into thinking about how we develop characters. As an editor I normally have to evaluate the character development in stories as well as the overall plot.

Harry Potter isn’t what you’d call the strongest protagonist ever, even though he comes through at the end to be the winner. Superman is ultra powerful yet Clark Kent is a wishy-washy nothing. Peter Parker is nothing but a nice guy but Spiderman is everything many people want to be.

By now you should know me well enough that you know where I’m going with this week’s challenge.

This Week’s Challenge:

Describe your two main characters: the protagonist and the antagonist. For each one, describe their strengths and their weaknesses. Don’t concentrate on the physical things, talk about the emotional things that make them either weak or strong. This doesn’t lend itself to an essay but, if you’re up for it, I’d enjoy reading it. Prose or poetry, let me get to know your two main characters.

Ideas:

If you haven’t started your novel, now’s the time to develop your characters.

Think about Wonder Woman, but without any powers at all.

Watch Out For:

Didn’t have time to include anything.

Recap:

It was very cool to see how many people came up with some kind of instructions. Again, I apologize because I know I’m going to miss some, but I have to get this posted before I lose the monitor again. I’ll make it up to you next week.

Follow my instructions.... (SatWE) by Inmate 702

How to Grow Popcorn in Containers - (Saturday Writing Essential) by Lynn P.

Saturday Writing Essential (Directions): How to Watch a Bad Action Movie on DVD by A. F. Stewart

Saturday Writing Essentials - Directions - Massage Oil by Marilyn is looking for whatever there is. N.

This is How I make crockpot meatballs SWE by karen vaughan

Previous Challenge Responses:

A Detergent To Wash It Away: Saturday Writing Essentials or Pissing In The Wind by William Dotani

Open Doors (SatWE) by Allen H.

September a mind blowing month (SatWe, 3rd, 2011) by Angela A.

Folklore, wive's tales, oh my! (SatWe, September 10th, 2011) by Angela A.

We all love them... by Inmate 702

Weekly reminder: Don't forget to recommend an article that you like (to learn why, read Ann Marcaida's article Attract More Writers and Artists to Gather!). Also, try to place a comment on at least one article and say more than you liked the piece. Tell the author what worked and what needs work.

The Rules:

Put this challenge statement at the beginning or end of your submission so readers will know what you’re supposed to do.

Challenge: Write about your two main characters: the protagonist and the antagonist. For each one, describe their strengths and their weaknesses. Don’t concentrate on the physical things, talk about the emotional things that make them either weak or strong. This doesn’t lend itself to an essay but, if you’re up for it, I’d enjoy reading it. Prose, poetry, let me get to know your two main characters.

There is a limit of three submissions from each member per day. If you’re extremely prolific, spread out your work and post only three submissions per day.
Post to Gather Writing Essential.
Tag your submission with SatWE.
Include (Saturday Writing Essential) as part of your title.
I ask that you make your submission(s) by next Friday afternoon.

Good Writing!

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Find more about: satwe articles, satwe, saturday writing essential, writing, character development

Find Gather groups: The Triple Name Club, Not Gathering Dust, Write Write Write, The Surreal Circus, Len Maxwell's Writing, Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists, Writing Is My Passion, Gather Writing Essential

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12 people recommend this post

Ed Da Head Toker

Lynn P.

Elsie Duggan

Angela A.

Granny Janny

J. Reid

Ann Marcaida Sep 24, 2011, 12:04pm UTC

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Best Writers and Artists. Now featured.

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 5:52pm UTC

Thanks, Ann.

reply to this comment

JOHN BECK Sep 24, 2011, 12:14pm UTC

Not being a novelist, I would guess that character development is one of the key and most fun aspects of novel writing. Good choice for a prompt.

Kathryn Flynn Sep 24, 2011, 12:40pm UTC

Truly. And all of the blockbuster movies, bestseller novels, plus the best commercial fiction, romance/mystery/thriller - are based on archetypes, which date back to Greek theater and of course to Homer.

Bond: The ultra cool international detective:
The foils: Evil or sneaky foils
The women: We all know their pet names (P. Galore.)
The double crosser: The women he sleeps with and the men who try to kill him.

etc.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Sep 24, 2011, 1:00pm UTC

What I enjoy about novel writing, John, is how the characters reveal themselves to me as I'm writing. It was very exciting to me recently when I wrote about Soren's father. I learned more about why Nils (Soren's far) was so strict, yet had a deep vein of compassion running through him. Nils' father was a Baptist minister.

Barbary Chaapel Sep 24, 2011, 2:49pm UTC

And how about The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series...

Kimberly Blackadar Sep 24, 2011, 3:23pm UTC

I'm with Susan. My characters take on a personality of their own and don't always turn out as I expect.

JOHN BECK Sep 24, 2011, 5:48pm UTC

I suspect that all good novelists let the characters direct their own stories to some extent.

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:11pm UTC

John, I think all of us go through that process to some extent no matter what we’re writing. Even when we write a short response to one of the GWE prompts, we might include character(s) and, at some point, we have to figure out who that character is. We might not write out a full character development, but we, at least, think of whether the person is going to be a good or bad guy/gal and what strengths and weaknesses (s)he is going to display.

I also agree completely that my characters usually take over and guide what I'm writing.

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Kathryn Flynn Sep 24, 2011, 12:37pm UTC

Archetypes!!! yayah ~~~ I am taking a course in that, for the third time - yaya. I will write something quick this weekend.

Kathryn Flynn Sep 24, 2011, 12:42pm UTC

I will do it for the 'sample' mini novel I am writing, which is all about archetypes.

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:14pm UTC

That's an interesting idea and many SatWE writers will regret you mentioned that because it gives me an idea for a new challenge. Thank you and I'll look forward to whatever you submit.

reply to this comment

Liz H. Sep 24, 2011, 1:46pm UTC

Dratted technology--a blessing and a bain on one!!
Cool prompt--will get my mind working on this as I wash windows!!

JOHN BECK Sep 24, 2011, 2:59pm UTC

Quite! When one needs to make a decision as to whether to pay $12.95 for one hour of wireless internet service in an airport while waiting a your flight, one becomes aware of how addicted we have become to our technology playthings.

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:17pm UTC

Thanks, Liz. Would love to read whatever you can come up with.

I'm old school, John; when the computer is down I pick up a book and read.

reply to this comment

Kimberly Blackadar Sep 24, 2011, 3:25pm UTC

Great prompt, Len. This is a solid foundation for building a novel.

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:18pm UTC

We'll see how it goes. Other editors have posted prompts dealing with character development.

reply to this comment

J. Reid Sep 24, 2011, 4:34pm UTC

I like the title, it had me thinking before I opened this tab to read what is was about. I am highly stimulated by controversy, or something to prove, or disprove. A happy accident?

Smiles...

Thank you for sharing with: Not Gathering Dust!

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:19pm UTC

I think all writers can relate to that feeling. Most of what we write depends on controversy or conflict in some way.

J. Reid Sep 27, 2011, 2:52pm UTC

Though, I am drawn to sociopolitical controversy. I simply cannot be moved, or motivated by minutia: one to one events which are encapsulated, family bound, and does not affect the greater social structure.

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Allen H. Sep 24, 2011, 6:11pm UTC

Yes, I never liked Harry Potter either;
the character's a wimp with a wand!
And Hermione ends up with a Ginger:
what was she or the Author thinking of?

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:29pm UTC

Well, we know the author was thinking of $$ or ££. And I'm not sure about Hermione; I haven't read the books and haven't yet watched the last two movies, so I don't know what happens to her.

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Angela A. Sep 24, 2011, 9:14pm UTC

What a great prompt! It will help us authors the most.

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:25pm UTC

Possibly more than authors. There are a number of writers who haven't actually started writing yet and I think this might help them as well. I'd like to see someone make their first foray into writing by trying this.

Angela A. Sep 27, 2011, 8:40pm UTC

But, of course

reply to this comment

Elsie Duggan Sep 24, 2011, 11:23pm UTC

I hope I can do this one, not being a novelist, yet, :) and I will make it fit into a poem, hell or high water, love, Elsie

Lynn P. Sep 26, 2011, 7:48am UTC

With Hell as your antagonist and High Water as your protagonist? Or...is it the other way around? ;)

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:20pm UTC

Thanks, Elsie.

Interesting take, Lynn. Now, can you personify both Hell and High Water as characters?

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Bernard C. Sep 25, 2011, 6:27am UTC

An interesting challenge and prompt - good luck to all participants :-)

Thanks for submitting to
The Surreal Circus.

Len Maxwell Sep 26, 2011, 6:22pm UTC

Thanks, Bernard; I'm hoping we'll have some good submissions.

reply to this comment

Lynn P. Sep 26, 2011, 7:50am UTC

Ack, one of the problems I have with most of my stories - no being is the antagonist. The antagonist is life itself.

Rather like your computer monitor - it's nothing personal, yet very personal when it happens to you.