#writingcoach

i help authors like a dramaturg (basically your guide for structure, shape, & clarity without ever taking over your voice). dramaturgy makes a piece cohesive: the writer, the characters, the audience, anyone involved, all on the same page. noticing what everyone’s doing to make the story actually work ✨

the project is always yours. it is incredibly important to me that you defend that. no matter what advice I may give. i only give the help you actually want (promise 🫵🏼)

i’ve worked on:

— plays

— short story collections

— poetry

— personal & college statements (undergrad + grad)

—dissertations for phd candidate’s

—fanfic 🤙🏻

— curriculum

…basically anything i can help bring to life

i help with:

— writing critique & advising

— streamlining storylines you can’t see bc you’re too deep in your own brain 😵‍💫

— structure & organization

— any tasks you may need

— research

— revision

— bouncing ideas around while you figure out what the thing even is (yes, even that weird plot twist you love too much 😅)

as a theatre major → playwriting & dramaturgy

as an english major → creative writing

i notice intention, form & momentum before polish. care about the work, not ego 🤍

i work with higher expectations bc the people who come to me care. lots of writing coaches/tutors don’t actually tell the truth. i try to be honest in a safe way. if i push back, you can push back on me. defend your work 💕

also here for:

— questions

— stressed out moments

— venting sessions

— “sit with me while i work or disassociate ” sessions

writing is messy, exhausting, confusing. i want to make it easier & more fun because i love it myself. if you have a project you’re thinking about, stuck on, or actively working through, hmu. i’d love to work with you 🤍

english & theatre double major

leadership minor

reasonable rates !! dm me :)

mood: ☕ late night typing + obsessive editing + re-watching and reading every single thing you put in our documents

What is Character Motivation? Character motivation is the driving force behind every action a character takes. It is the reason behind their decisions and behaviors in various situations, propelling them toward their goals, through conflicts, or around obstacles. Without strong motivation, characters may appear flat or their actions arbitrary.

Why Important? Strong motivations enliven characters for the reader, clarifying their actions and making their decisions relatable. This understanding fosters a believable journey through the plot and fuels the conflicts that make stories compelling.

Kinds of Motivations

Internal vs. External Motivations

Internal Motivations: These motivations are personal and intrinsic to the character, such as desires, fears, beliefs, or emotional deficits. Examples include a desire for acceptance, proving oneself, or overcoming a personal fear.

External Motivations: These motivations arise from external forces that compel the character into action, like societal pressures or environmental challenges. Examples include quests for treasure, missions to save someone, or escaping danger.

Positive vs. Negative Motivations

Positive Motivations: Motivations stemming from positive desires like love, ambition, or justice. Characters with these motivations are driven to achieve beneficial or noble outcomes.

Negative Motivations: Driven by negative impulses such as fear, revenge, or greed, these motivations typically focus on avoiding adverse outcomes.

Craft Compelling Motivations

Know Your Characters

Backstory: Characters should have rich, detailed backgrounds that inform their current desires and fears based on past experiences.

Personality: Personality traits (optimistic, pessimistic, brave, cautious) significantly influence what motivates a character.

Set Clear Objectives

Specific and Measurable: Goals should be concrete, such as opening a bakery in their hometown, rather than vague ambitions like "being happy."

Achievable: Ensure the goals are realistic within the story’s context, challenging yet possible to attain.

Establish Stakes

What are the consequences if the character fails to achieve their objective? High stakes increase motivation, whether these are personal losses or broader dangers.

Show Growth and Change

Changing Motivations: As the story progresses, a character's motivations might evolve, reflecting their dynamic nature.

Internal Conflict: Characters may experience conflict when their motivations clash with their beliefs or values, adding depth and complexity.

Examples of Motives

Classic Motives in Literature and Film

Revenge: In 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' Edmond Dantès seeks vengeance against those who wronged him.

Love: In 'Romeo and Juliet,' the love between the protagonists highlights the futility of family feuds.

Novel Example of Survival: In "The Hunger Games," Katniss Everdeen fights to protect her family and survive against all odds.

Different Motivations

Redemption: A former villain seeks redemption for past deeds.

Curiosity: An explorer driven by the need to discover new worlds.

Legacy: An artist wants to create works that will outlive their own mortality.

Writing Tips on Motivations

Show, Don't Tell: Demonstrate motivations through actions, dialogue, and internal monologue rather than exposition.

Internal Consistency: Ensure that motivations established at the start align with actions throughout the story to avoid frustrating readers.

Make It Personal: Personal stakes engage readers more deeply than abstract ones.

Avoid Clichés: Add unique twists to classic motives to keep them fresh and engaging.

Test Motivations Against Obstacles: Challenge your characters’ motivations through trials to reveal their true nature and create tension.

Conclusion

Writing can be a truly daunting task, and sometimes it can be challenging to get into the right mindset to be productive. Whether you're a professional writer or just starting, there are certain techniques you can use to boost your productivity and make the most of your writing sessions. In this post, I'll be helping you add five beneficial ways to make your writing sessions more productive, so you can achieve your writing goals efficiently.

Section 1: Set Clear Goals

The first step to making your writing sessions more productive is to set clear goals. Without clear goals, it's challenging to measure your progress and stay motivated. Start by defining what you want to accomplish in your writing session. It could be completing a chapter, writing a specific number of words, or finishing a blog post draft, etc. Once you have defined your goals, break them down into smaller, achievable tasks. Create a to-do list and prioritize the tasks based on their importance. This will help you stay focused and on track during your writing sessions.

Focusing on one task at a time will also help you avoid distractions and increase your productivity. Take the time to plan your writing sessions, and you'll see a significant improvement in your output.

Section 2: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Creating a distraction-free environment is crucial for a productive writing session. Eliminate any potential distractions, such as social media notifications, phone calls, or emails. Turn off your phone or set it to airplane mode, so you're not tempted to check it during your writing session. If you're writing from home, let your family members know that you're working on a project and need some quiet time.

Choose a workspace that is comfortable and conducive to writing.

A cluttered or uncomfortable workspace can affect your concentration and reduce your productivity. Ensure that your workspace is well-lit and has good ventilation. You could also consider playing some soft background music to help you stay focused, but make sure it's not too distracting. Creating a distraction-free environment will help you stay focused and produce quality work in less time.

Section 3: Take Breaks

While it may seem counter-intuitive, taking breaks can actually increase your productivity. Sitting in front of your computer for extended periods can lead to burnout and reduce your creativity. Taking regular breaks can help you recharge and get back to work with renewed energy. Plan your breaks in advance and stick to them. It could be a short walk, a coffee break, or a reading session to one of those unfinished books sitting on your bookshelf. Whatever you choose, make sure it's something that helps you relax and recharge. Avoid checking your emails or social media during your breaks, as this can lead to distractions and reduce the effectiveness of your break. Remember, taking breaks is not a waste of time. It's an essential part of staying productive and achieving your writing goals.

Section 4: Write During Your Most Productive Time of Day

We all have a time of day when we're most productive. Some people are morning people, while others are night owls. Identify your most productive time of day and plan your writing sessions accordingly. During your most productive time of day, you'll be more focused, alert, and creative. You'll also be able to produce more quality work in less time. If you're not sure when your most productive time of day is, try experimenting with different times until you find the one that works best for you. Writing during your most productive time of day will help you stay on track and achieve your writing goals more efficiently.

Additionally, I am currently developing a writing session routine generator that is designed to be highly customizable and supportive. My aim is to deliver a tool that will be of great benefit to all of my followers and users.)

Section 5: Use Writing Prompts or Outlines

Using writing prompts or outlines can help you stay on track during your writing sessions. Writing prompts can help you get started if you're struggling with writer's block. They can also help you generate new ideas and perspectives. An outline is a structured plan that outlines the main points of your writing. It can help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your writing is coherent and well-structured. An outline can also help you save time by reducing the need for extensive revisions. Using writing prompts or outlines is an effective way to stay productive and produce quality work in less time.

As a personal guideline, I make it a point to have an outline, particularly for my blog posts, unless I am engaging in freestyle writing.

Conclusion

Writing is a challenging task that requires focus, discipline, and creativity. By following these five techniques, you can make your writing sessions more productive and achieve your writing goals more efficiently. Start by setting clear goals, creating a distraction-free environment, taking breaks, writing during your most productive time of day, and using writing prompts or outlines. Remember, productivity is not about working harder, but about working smarter. By implementing these techniques, you'll be able to produce quality work in less time, and achieve your writing goals with ease.

The Heart of Your Tale

Nearly all stories in science fiction and fantasy deal with new systems of power—whether it be Frodo’s magic ring or Asimov’s robotics, ultimately you’re creating a new system for acquiring and maintaining power, and when you do this, as Orson Scott Card put it, you are forced at some level to consider the question, “What is the right use of power?” The understanding of power is vital to making better magic systems for your world.

Very often, the answer to this question becomes the very heart of your story. Certainly, it did for Frodo with his ring of power, for Luke Skywalker as he struggled to master the Force, or for Ender Wiggins as he fought to outwit his aliens.

Indeed, if your story is going to have an epiphany—a powerful moment of realization where the audience actually learns something of value—you as a writer have to contend with the issue of the proper use of power.

It’s for this reason that Algis Budrys, the longtime science fiction critic for the Chicago Sun Times and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction pointed out that “Science fiction and fantasy are the last bastion of moral fiction in America, the only place where you as a writer can talk about good and evil.” (In the mid-1980s when he said it, there was a backlash in popular fiction where people refused to talk about morality. Given the recent #MeToo movement, corruption in politics, and our persistent mass shootings, I suspect that maybe some folks will begin to realize that, “Hey, maybe we should have been trying to reach a consensus on what is right and what is wrong.”) We ignore moral questions at the peril of our own society.

Thus the issue of morality tends to become the very heart of your tale.

Now, there are thousands of “power systems” in the real world. If you think about it for a few moments, you’ll recognize them. In our world, money can give you power. You can use your money to do good—to cure cancer and help others—or you can become totally self-serving and build your pool until the day you abruptly expire. But other power systems exist. I’ve known men in politics who tried to gain power and then been destroyed by others in their own political party. I know writers who use their gifts primarily for self-aggrandizement until they become the Harvey Weinsteins of the publishing world. I’ve seen priests who were destroyed by public adulation, along with rock stars and actors and sports figures and so on. Heck, I’ve even seen mothers use their parental authority to become evil moms.

You’ve probably heard Acton’s quote, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He continues, “Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.”

Take that quote to heart. I think that when most of us hear it, we assume that Acton was talking about someone else. Let me assure you, he was talking about you and me. He was talking about the protagonist of your story. Whatever power system you serve and struggle to use, it can and will corrupt you. All of us need to learn how to handle power without being destroyed by it. Part of learning how to use power is understanding how and why and when to give it up.

What does that mean to your story? Whatever wanky magic system you create in your tale, it is a monster that is likely to turn on and destroy your protagonist. If you missed the prior tips on this topic, you can start here!

Happy Writing!

Make Your Setting Kick Butt

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of writing where setting is just… Well, it’s missing.

You begin a chapter and there are just these talking heads and you’re not quite sure where they actually are.

Chapter One of Book Of Pretend

I grabbed a Coke.

“I am so upset with you,” I said.

“I’m more upset,” he said.

“No way in heck.”

“Seriously.”

  And the reader is like, “Cool. They have Coke. They are…