Plotting your fiction novel a la Avatar

Cameron's characters, Jake and Neytiri have vastly conflicting goals that create good conflict in Avatar.

This is the third of a three-part blog about what you can learn from James Cameron’s hugely successful film, Avatar.

 In parts one and two, universal theme, high stakes, and new twists were discussed. Today, we’ll look at the tried-and-true concept of GMC .. or GMCD (Goal-Motivation-Conflict-Disaster).

Solid story, good old GMC. Cameron’s stories are character-driven, his characters highly motivated and invested in their stories. This engages the reader and makes him or her care about the characters’ fates, as well, creating memorable, satisfying stories.  Because character-driven plotting makes for seamless, compelling stories, it’s my favorite workshop to present.                                                    

See Avatar.  Use it for the colorful, fantastic inspiration it is to create your own best work.  I’ll leave you with the delicious tidbit that inspired this column.  It’s taken from James Cameron’s February, 2010 TED talk.

Cameron says:   Take risks.  NASA has this phrase that they like to use: “Failure is not an option.” But failure has to be an option in art and in exploration because it’s a leap of faith.  No important endeavor that required innovation was done without risk. You have to be willing to take those risks. So that’s what I’d leave you with, is that, in whatever you’re doing, failure is an option–but fear is not.

 

The joy of getting published

Signing Pam's copy of my debut novel in Omaha

Thanks to Michelle Reynoso who asked, “How many people do you know who said I should write a book…”

Most of us have been inspired to write about our lives, our loves, our trials.  The world could learn much from each of us.  In the pursuit of reaching “The End,” however, a writer discovers that three or four hundred empty pages present a daunting challenge.  For those hale and committed enough to reach that finish line, the ordeal of getting published is yet another topic worthy of its own novel.

Thinking of all my friends who have accepted these challenges, I reflected on my own experience and came up with this insight to share today:

“Nothing but my wedding and the birth of my children surpassed the joy of holding my first published book in my hand.  Nothing but my wedding and the birth of my children surpassed the commitment in time, love and energy I devoted to holding my first published book in my hand.”

If you’ve reached “The End” and/or been published, was  it that big of an accomplishment to you?

Twitter – Social Media Marketing Tool, or Time-waster?

Twitter-will this birdy's air stream help you fly?

Part 2 of the Twitter series by Janet Lane

(See prior post for part 1)

My survey
I surveyed eighty members of RMFW, asking (1) How long have you been Tweeting? (2) how many tweets do you generate per day? (3) How many Followers do you have? (4) Do you Tweet for just your novel writing, or do you have multiple brands/objectives? (5) What have you found to be the most helpful aspect of Tweeting? (6) Your final answer: Is Twitter a  /__/ time-waster or /__/ worthy promotional tool?

Survey says …
Out of eight author/writers, I heard from only four who have harnessed Twitter’s power to network and accomplish specific promotional goals.

The responses from non-Tweeters ranged from “never heard of it” to deep concerns that it would be a terrible time-waster.  One especially incredulous statement: “As an introvert, I’m just appalled.  Who needs to be in touch with people every moment of the day?”

What Twitter is
http://twitter.com  Twitter is an on-line networking group of over seven million people. Messages (tweets) are limited to just 140 keystrokes, so it’s what Associated Press writer Michael Liedtke calls “a potluck of pithy self-expression simmering with whimsy, narcissism, voyeurism, hucksterism, tedium, and sometimes useful information.”

Why Twitter is bad
The brevity of just 140 keystrokes severely limits your messages. The messages may never surpass mind-numbing chatter. It can be a huge time-waster, with no useful outcome. It can be a distraction from your more meaningful work and promotional activities. If you’re successful at building an interesting collection of people to Follow, you’ll never have sufficient time to listen to all of them. At the opposite end of the spectrum, you may send out a Tweet and receive absolutely no response. It’s hard to find people that you should be following. You may get obsessed with Twitter and become effectively chained to your computer or phone.  There may be negative Tweets about you or your company that may devastate.

Coming next – why Twitter is good, and how some writers have tapped this latest promotional tool’s strengths to promote their brand.

Like what you see?  Please credit me.  Thanks.

Greetings from Bangkok

Dominic Rivard's wines

This blog was just recommended by a winemaker from Bangkok!  Now, how often can you slip a sentence like that into your cocktail conversation?  Many thanks to Dominic Rivard, who writes an outstanding blog of his own about wine making – with rich descriptions and bright, luscious photography.

My research into the Twitter world continues.  I have enough material for a book at this point, and my mind is continually spinning.  At first I thought I could use a Dramamine, but now I’m thinking, this is all exciting and so colorful, and I’m meeting so many interesting people – I rather like the exhilaration of accelerated learning.

I’m delighted to know that you’re reading my blog, and that you’ve found it to be helpful.  Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.