Lisa Kagan

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Until you make a decision, you have nothing at all

For goodness sakes just pick something. And stir up some trouble, wouldya? Most of the stories we write for work are about true events that already happened. But sometimes we have to write about something yet to pass, like a vision. Or we're sharing a hypothetical to explain a possibility. That's when we have to decide what the protagonist will do. Oh so many options. Oh so much analysis paralysis. Stop worrying about the right choice and just make one, preferably something that causes a rumble.Read this pep talk from Janet Finch and get fired up.

When in doubt, make trouble for your character. Don’t let her stand on the edge of the pool, dipping her toe. Come up behind her and give her a good hard shove. That’s my advice to you now. Make trouble for your character... Protagonists need to screw up, act impulsively, have enemies, get into TROUBLE.

Nobody wants to read about a goodie-two-shoes who stays good or a meanie who never redeems herself. Characters can't transform unless they are challenged. Remember what Janet says about the writer who is "both sadist and savior." Let's get wild and throw things at our characters and see how they slalom or splat.