#peoplearestoriesinprogress

Many years ago, a reader asked me how I crafted Lena's subplot. 

Years ago, I started answering, and today, in People Are Stories-in-Progress, I've released the answer. 

It's here.

Technically, all of this Season is part of the answer, because I'm also explaining all the different tools I used to craft her subplot. 

But this week, I dig in deep into how I finished Lena's subplot, with all its targets, touchstones, story currents, and other delights. 

You can find it in the first link in my profile (but I'll also be sharing in Stories too). 

If you’ve been following my work for a while and you’re familiar with my series, The Ever Afters, you may remember that I often used this phrase: “Believe in your own story.” If I was signing a book for a reader who told me that they wanted to be a writer someday, I used to write this: “Believe in your own story—the one you’re writing and the one you’re living.” 

Beyond just a phrase, I intentionally developed a world in the Ever Afters where the Characters live a once-familiar story, which changes based on their actions. The novels are set in an afterschool program that trains young fairy tale characters, and they all explore the same theme: the characters begin living a story you think you know, like “Cinderella” or “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and then those stories shift under your feet until you’re in new territory—a whole new plot line. Each Character learns to hold the old pattern and the new developments in their mind, and they make a choice about how they want the story to turn out. 

I understood this approach intimately, because that is how I live my life. 

In other words, Characters are stories-in-progress, a story that they write with their choices and actions. That’s true in the novels, only because in my own life, people are stories-in-progress too. 

I can’t separate them, because this is quite simply how I see and understand the world. (It’s actually an example of a “foundational lens.”)

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This is an excerpt taken from People Are Stories-in-Progress, which is a summer-long exploration of the intersection between story structure and character development, both in fiction and in individuals. This is one of my favorites from the first week, probably because it reminds me of The Ever Afters!

The pic is of my current journal. 

As you might have read in People Are Stories-in-Progress, my journal writing practice is essential to the way I make meaning. In fact, I consider it a hidden root to every other creative project that I make.

What you see here on Tumblr, for example, I’ve usually discovered through writing in my journals.

So, I made a video about it! I talk about:

✨ how this practice developed in my life

✨ how my understanding of it has grown 

✨ a bit about starting a practice of your own.

This Sunday, 7/24/22, will mark OF GIANTS AND ICE's ten year anniversary!

I wanted to celebrate this somehow, so we’re doing another Community Q’s, via Instagram Live. You can find my Instagram page here. 

I did a quick Pop-Up Community Q’s last Thursday, and it was fun! However, since it had been a while, I forgot to save the video at the end for reposting. I’ll remember next time, AND I’ll also post some questions I had for you readers in the Instagram stories so that anyone can answer.

I hope to see you then!

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In case you've never attended Community Q's, here's the process:

If readers can’t attend live, they can ask questions ahead of time. You can find that form on the contact page of either on the JourneyPen website or my author website. 

At the time of the event, you can find me on Instagram, and you can join me there.

Readers bring the questions. I answer them. You can ask anything, from behind-the-scenes info on The Ever Afters or questions you have about People Are Stories-in-Progress.

I prioritize the questions of those attending live, but it’s absolutely okay if you only want to attend and listen to other people’s questions.

If there’s time (and there is usually time), I answer questions submitted from those who can't attend live.

Next Sunday, 7/24/22, will mark OF GIANTS AND ICE's ten year anniversary!

I wanted to celebrate this somehow, and I've been trying to think of a great way to bring Community Q's back too.

When I realized that the 10th anniversary for OF GIANTS AND ICE's publication was coming up, I thought, "Oooo, fun! Let's do one then!" 

I'm actually holding two: a shorter one ahead this Thursday (7/14) and a longer one on the day of the actual anniversary (7/14).

This is so that even if you can't attend one, you might be able to attend the other one.

I hope to see you then!

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In case you've never attended Community Q's, here's the process:

If readers can’t attend live, they can ask questions ahead of time. You can find that form on the contact page of either the JourneyPen website or my author website.

At the time of the event, you can find me on Instagram, and you can join me there.

Readers bring the questions. I answer them. You can ask anything, from behind-the-scenes info on The Ever Afters or questions you have about People Are Stories-in-Progress.

I prioritize the questions of those attending live, but it’s absolutely okay if you only want to attend and listen to other people’s questions.

If there’s time (and there is usually time), I answer questions submitted from those who can't attend live.