Opening thoughts
- How do you want the reader to be affected by the story? This can help you work out what the protagonist should do to get what they want. This creates emotional engagement for the reader.
- What is story? How what happens (plot) affects someone (protagonist) in pursuit of a deceptively difficult goal (problem) and is internally changed as a result and either solves a problem or changes their perception.
- Whose story is this, what do they want, why does it matter? How is it affecting the protagonist in pursuit of that deceptively difficult goal?
- Do you think stories are about problem solving? Is this where you can build tension?
Writing exercise – pick one!
- Pick a character from a film, book or TV series and write them as a queer character. What aspects would change?
- Write a paragraph where a queer character does a simple action, like turning on a light switch, and make the reader marvel at how strange and odd it truly is.
- Have your character write a funny to-do list about the steps to becoming a queer superhero.
Developing a character
Think about elements of the character that the reader will never know about the character. Some writers feel that these will naturally inform your writing even though you don’t share the detail with the reader. Can this help enrich your writing and your character?
- What is your character’s relationship with their care givers?
- Has your character ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed them? If so, does anyone else know?
- What can be found in your character’s pockets?
- Is your character’s current socioeconomic status different than it was when they were growing up?
- Does your character feel more comfortable with more clothing or less clothing?
- What would your character make a scene in public about?
- What is your character afraid of?
- What is your character reluctant to tell people?
- What would completely break your character?
- What seemingly insignificant memories stuck with your character?
Happy writing!
O. S. King 