Vegan Vic

Want more preparation exercises? Check out National Novel Writing Month’s Young Writers Program’s Novelist Workbooks, which our nonprofit provides free-of-charge to more than 2,000 educators and 8,000 young writers around the world! 

"Most people think that an intriguing plot is what makes a story good, but the truth is that exciting plots are made up of original and well-developed characters. Not only are characters with hidden depths and secrets more fun to read about, they’re also more fun to write about.

It’s a great idea for you, the author, to try and get to know your characters before you begin writing. We asked a team of scientists, mathematicians, and creative writing gurus from around the world: “What’s the easiest way for writers to get to know their characters?” Hands down, the experts all agreed the single best way is to fill out our 46-Question Character Questionnaire”:

Transformation photos always lift my spirits, a reminder of the progress I’ve made. I remember my life in the before picture. I had just gotten out of a tumultuous relationship and I had become my heaviest. My before pose has no confidence at all. I wish I could go back and pick her up and tell her “Everything’s going to be okay. You’re going to finally get it.”

Four years later after losing my twin girls to TTTS and realizing the purpose of life I finally found myself. I’ve become the confident gorgeous woman I envied. I’ve also realized that I can recover from anything, which has made me unbreakable. I’m not afraid to fail anymore and I’m certainly not afraid of life.That was my problem I was afraid to live and I bottled my emotions and everything into my body. I can just see the unbelievable difference in my spirit from the before to the after picture.

"You only get one life so you might as well make it a happy one, and that’s why I tend to jump into things. I’m sort of a fearless idiot that way." - Nia Vardalos