Day Seven: evil plan guide

I’m up in Whistler presently, diligently maintaining my creativity whilst away. Since I am frustrated with all things crafty, I have dedicated this weekend to writing my novel. (Ha ha.) Although, mother and I perused the shops in town, as one is wont to do, and I got some ideas for things to try when I get home! More magnets, since magnets and I have a pretty tight relationship – I am going to try and copy some small ceramic tile ones I saw in a store; also the soap that’s in the house we’re staying in – it’s got exfoliating sponge or something built in to the soap! And really, how hard could it be to make soap.

Anyway. The next step on the “plot and write a novel” website I am following:

3. Write a one page summary for each character, including motivation, immediate goal, conflict, resolution, and a summary of the character’s story line. The time-saving factor for novelists here is that at this point, a writer knows whether or not the story has problems. If so, they can be finessed or changed completely to fix the story, without spending weeks and months writing a novel that won’t hold together.

I started with my main character, Greta.



Is painfully shy and socially awkward, the kind of person who fades into the background quite easily. Always sets hopes really high/optimistic without caution. At the start of the story, has been pushed to her limit and decides to develop a plan to be noticed once and for all, because if he notices her of course he will fall in love with her. “If he paid attention to me at all, he’d know how perfect we are for each other.” Has crazy dreams, from which most of her ideas are spawned. “No no, I’m sure it will be fine. In my dream it went like this, and it all worked out in the end.” Has brief moments of sticking to her plan of boldness, but is occasionally crippled by shyness. “What was I thinking? I am not this person!” Believes in fairy tales and stuff being meant to be. Refuses to give up, but will often just try the same thing over and over again, becoming angrier and angrier. Doesn’t understand when people doubt her obviously well-thought-out plans; expects everyone to be supportive, as she is supportive to everyone.

- protagonist
- immediate goal: recognition (via kidnapping, theft, weather)
- long term goal: love (via recognition)
- conflict: innate shyness, really just not a noticeable individual (more conflicts in the way of the entire plot)
- repeated line: “I’m sure it will be fine.”

Family: is an only child. Parents are very supportive of everything she does, but not in a really interested way – like they don’t pay attention but they generally think well of her. She was late in life for them, which should have made them indulgent of her, but they never got used to having a child around after being just the two of them for so long. Is used to doing things herself, because of that.

Friends: has trouble making friends, because people forget about her. Everyone’s really nice to her, like at her job and where she buys her groceries, but nobody ever seeks her out to spend time with. Whenever she calls someone or meets someone she knows on the street, people are either like, “Greta!” like they forgot she lived there; or they have trouble placing her. She works at a coffee shop and people are always asking her if she’s new because they don’t recognize her, even if they are regulars. Always cheerful about it, “I have one of those faces, I suppose.” Often has to remind her boss about giving her paycheck, or tips. “Didn’t I do that for you already?” “No, you forgot me again.”

I have already done the summary of her storyline as the whole story is about her.

Day Seven Highlights: shopping, exfoliating soap, progress in character development

Day Seven Lowlights: do I want there to be ghosts and how can I figure out the logistics re: moon-stealing and weather-device-building? And why would a man who hates the town be its mascot??? This romantic foil is causing me a heapload of trouble.

Tomorrow: more novel! Also I am trying to figure out how to do those "AFTER THE JUMP" things, so you can read further if you want, but don't have to read. I'll have to wait until I get home, though, because I don't have very much time left on this computer! PANIC! No, it's okay.