Day 46: It is emotionally costly to write well...

"...Dancers, for example, know that they're going to have bloody feet. Pianists know that they'll have to practice until the pain in their fingers makes them cry. Writing a novel is not like writing a letter. Writing a novel is mentally exhausting, far harder than a nine-to-five job. When you write a novel, you live the lives of your characters."

You bet!

It is tough. Really. Of course, unless you're on the flow; but then you worry about if anyone is going to like it. Maybe all you write so excitedly turns out to be junk. Or be seen as junk.

Side note: I play piano. I don't think you're play till the pain in the fingers makes you cry. I used to play quite long--4-6 hours everyday--and I never got any finger pain. I was on the flow. In the zone.

The point is taken though.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

54 days...

Day 45: Anton Chekhov’s remarkably simple advice was this:

"“If a gun hangs on the wall in the first act of the play, it must be discharged before the end.” You have to “look” at the total work with that piece of advice in mind and cut out anything that doesn’t help the story complete itself."

In other words, every word in the story has a purpose to be there. Our real life there are many things going on, and they probably are not exactly all related. But in the story, every move and every event has a purpose to be there. Every word said leads us to the evolution of the story.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

55 days...

Day 44: Don’t get discouraged. Keep writing.

"Remember the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Ironweed by William Kennedy was rejected by 13 publishers before Saul Bellow intervened on its behalf. In rejecting Laurence J. Peter’s The Peter Principle, an editor wrote that he could “foresee no commercial possibilities in such a book.”"

Just take a look at this:
14 Best-Selling Books Repeatedly Rejected by Publishers

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/14-best-selling-books-repeatedly-rejected-by-publishers.htm/printable

Amazing... I can't believe those authors have been rejected so many times. My stories have only been rejected like 2-3 times; guess I still can work on it.

The problem is I can't find proper publishers.

Really, I don't expect to be some great writer; I know I have a lot to improve. But I write w/ my heart, and I believe I'm progressing. So far probably no one really reads them. But I'll keep writing. At least I have to finish doing something.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

56 days...

Day 43: The Roman poet Horace observed...

"...around 14 B.C. that writers should attempt “to say at once what ought at once to be said.” In other words, grab your reader by the throat from your very first sentence."

You mean, like, a shocking opening/statement or catchy twist? Something like "she had an affair while her husband was lying on his sickbed" or "little did he know that this woman was going to make him pay back what he had done to her years ago"?

BTW, I committed to this project by devoting at least 30 minutes everyday so far. But I just can't write 300-400 words a day. Sometimes I write just 2 sentences. Yes, it sometimes takes me a whole 30 minutes to come out that 2 sentences. The progress is slow but kind of steady. I probably won't finish this story in the first 100 days. But I can keep going.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

57 days...

Day 42: Good characters grow and evolve out of basically two things...

"...their actions and their beliefs. We develop a sense and understanding of people by what they do and think in the dramatic events of the story."

I see... guess that's why good stories always involve people with difficult situations and strong emotions.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

58 days...

Day 41: "Thinking about it all day"

"Shirley Jackson, as the mother of four children and wife of a college professor, rarely had time to write during the day. Yet when she sat down at her desk at night, a story like “The Lottery” flowed out in a perfect first draft. Why? Because she had been thinking about it all day. Count on your subconscious taking charge and “working over” ideas that come to you during the day."

(Gee, google isn't connecting right; I hope this one can be posted on time.)

Yea, I do that. I thought about this story during the day, especially when I have to be somewhere that is boring and/or time consuming, and I have nothing else to do.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

59 days...

Day 40: "Power and precision"

"Rick Bass, one of our finest stylists, says that fiction writers — like masons — require both power and precision to construct a good story. “You’ve got to lay the stones one on top of the other so they fit together, but you’ve got to have the strength to lug them around.”"

I'm not sure how much I can learn from this one. Power and precision? I probably need someone to elaborate for me. This sounds a bit like "If you want to get good grades, you'll have to study hard." The problem is we all know we should study hard, but how? By studying all day and all night?

I guess this is a general principle for us to search ourself.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

60 days...

Day 39: Ideas, new and unique —

"--that’s what surprises, satisfies and pleases readers. Stay away from the tried and true. Write with imagination."

Yes, I think that's a precious advice. I can write my morning routine as a story; it is true, but it will be a very boring story.

But sometimes it is difficult to know what people perceive as "interesting." I teach a lot of interesting things in my class--from my perspective, but still some students fall asleep. Guess you just can't please everyone.

Like the story I'm writing now: the struggles of Jason and his mail-order-bride mother. Some might find it interesting, some might not. I don't even know if my opening is good enough.

I'll just keep writing. Revisions (...or reconstruction) will come later.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

61 days...

Day 38: Without descriptions...

"...the reader doesn’t have a sense of place and time and mood — all critical for your story. But with too much, your story will bog down and get boring. Get in. Give the telling detail. Then get out. Don’t drown in your descriptions (or your research). Create a world where your characters can live and breathe, but not vegetate."

I think it is difficult to balance it. You never know how the readers are going to react. Sometimes you think the descriptions are adequate but the readers fall asleep. That probably relies on experience.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

62 days...

Day 37: Don’t overwrite...

"...Just remember that The Great Gatsby is only 200 pages long."

So in other words, don't overkill.

More revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

63 more days.

Day 36: "Aim for one startling image on each page..."

"For example, try and match this image of a sunrise at sea by Philip Caputo in The Voyage:

A golden shimmer appeared where the horizon was supposed to be, then a red sun pushed up, like the head of some fiery infant bulging out of the gray sea’s womb — water giving birth to its opposite element."

...really? Every page? Ok, I'll take that w/ a grain of salt....

I've done some more revisions.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

64 days...

Day 35: Try writing first in longhand, then on a computer.

"...This will give you two passes at the prose before you start editing."

I'm not sure about that... I do everything on computer. The only time I write things down probably is when I'm in church on Sundays, when my computer is not around.

But yes, sometimes I write things down at church and take home to type in the computer, and I find myself editing quite a few places. Tomorrow is Sunday, maybe if I go to church I'll write something.

I'm keeping on editing the story:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

65 more days.

Day 34: Body language

"When using characters to present clues, don’t forget body language. Nonverbal signals can communicate much more effectively than words. Ask any two lovers."

So I should describe body language. Cool.

BTW, I've decided to change the opening of the story. The old opening is weak; not interesting at all.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

66 more days.

Day 33: Suspense is a basic ingredient of fiction...

"...Because of it, readers ask: What is going to happen next? They will keep reading to find out."

I don't know if I've created enough suspense. If there's anyone reading it please let me know.

BTW, my other short story in the writing.com has got another very brief but positive review today. Happy. =) It's here:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

Everyday I update my following story:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Sometimes I go back to the previous chapter and change something too.

67 more days.

Day 32: Carry a note pad with you...

"If you’re waiting for a meeting to begin, start writing. If you’re on an airplane, start writing. Whenever there’s a second to write, do it. Once you have written it down, you own it."

That's a great advice. I know some people don't like the inconvenience of writing, so they bring a tape recorder instead.

This probably is worth of cultivating as a habit.

68 days to go...

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

Day 31: Commit yourself to a point of view early in your planning...

"...This way the reader can get a footing in the story. Once you have decided which character will be the viewpoint character, stick with your decision. Do not shift point of view. If you decide on multiple points of view, show the story through one character at a time, in order to avoid confusing the reader."

I guess what it means is who will be the narrative. Maybe the main character, or maybe an objective voice telling the story. I choose the later one, though I seem to remember some suggest that the other one is more popular.

I don't think I'll shift the point of view. That will confuse myself too.

More updates in the website:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

Day 30: Talent is extremely common....

"(by Novelist Kurt Vonnegut)...What is rare is the willingness to endure the life of a writer. It is like making wallpaper by hand for the Sistine Chapel.”"

Good say!!

I really can't say I have the talent to be a great novelist. But I guess I'm willing to write persistently. Little by little, step by step. Maybe someday I can build a cathedral from many, many little unnoticeable rocks.

70 days to go.

Please visit this site:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

I update it everyday. =)

Day 29: Look into the mirror and write about the person you see...

"...Try and describe the person you see in the mirror to a man or woman you have never met. Keep the description under 300 words. Make this “person” a character in your novel, either the protagonist, the narrator, or one of the minor characters of the plot."

What!?

Why? Why should I write myself into the story? I can imagine the protagonist may have some parts of myself, or some of the characters have some of my shadow, but write the person in the mirror into the story?

I don't know... why is it necessary?

I'll have to think of something. Anyone, if there's anyone, has been reading this blog, please share insights.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

71 more days.

Day 28: Conversation is not dialogue....

"Dialogue has a purpose. It pushes the story forward. It keeps the reader tuned in to the story, and makes a person feel at the heart of the action. Therefore, don’t describe distant events second hand. Put the reader in the middle of your story’s action and your dialogue will sing naturally. Keep your talk efficient and forceful. And always make certain the reader knows who is speaking."

I guess what he means is using as many dialogues as possible? Will do. But sometimes I still will narrate.

Posting the story here is very inconvenient. I constantly change a lot. Also, the format in the word processor is different from this blog's. So, I've posted the story here:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title

And this blog will be just a place for my thoughts.

BTW, I've changed the beginning, adding some elaboration about the characters. I feel good about it.

72 more days to go.

(Damn, the daylight saving time is here.)

Day 27: Your novel is a work of fiction, but...

"...that doesn’t mean your facts don’t need to be straight. Nothing turns a reader off quite as fast as a wrong fact. And nothing gives a story the ring of authenticity like the right fact or detail....Gore Vidal used old editions of Harper’s Magazine for details when writing his historical novels."

That's a good idea: Harper's Magazine. I'll see how to make a good use of it and other magazines.

The opening seems to need a bit revision. I didn't introduce the characters; they seemed to come from nowhere.

Maybe starts like this instead:

“Can you check if there’s some brown sugar left, hon?”

Rachel was in the living room getting the kids ready for school. As a 2nd generation Chinese American, she seemed to be more like a Chinese than an American. For example, she saw the home as her domain—a domain that she determined to assume sole responsibility and to take a very good care of it. She would not allow herself to make her husband worry a thing about it.

She was turning 30 in less than a week. A critical turning point for many women, even for the married ones. But not for Rachel. Her life had been all about her family and her family only.

73 more days.

Day 26: Set a goal for your self to write at least four pages a day...

"That is 300–325 words, double-spaced. Some days you’ll write one page; others you’ll write 15 pages. Try to average at least four pages a day."

I don't know how he calculates it, but 4 pages is not 300-325. I wrote only less than 1 page, it's already 202. And it is double-spaced, mostly dialogues!

The following is what I wrote yesterday and today. This is the beginning of the story. I might, alone the way, come back and change. In fact I'm pretty sure about it.

Here we go:

===

1.

“Can you check if there’s some brown sugar left, hon?”

Rachel was in the living room getting the kids ready for school. In the kitchen, Jason was checking the refrigerator for breakfast. He opened the cupboard. “Where’s it?”

“Should be on the upper shelf,” Rachel was kneeling down, trying to put shoes on her 6-year old daughter, Hannah, who was sitting in a chair, swinging her feet and giggling. “Stop it, Hannah! You’re going to be late. You know the school bus won’t wait for you.”

“I don’t see it,” Jason said, “where on the upper shelf?”

Rachel sighed. “Never mind, I’ll go look at it. Emma,” she turned to her 7-year-old next to her, “help your sister with her shoes.”

“She can do it herself,” Emma frowned.

“You’re the oldest, take care of your sister.” Rachel stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

“You can tell me, I’ll look for it.” Jason protested. “That’s ok. There, the white box over there,” she pointed at the right corner of the upper shelf. Jason got it for her. She opened it up. “We almost run out of brown sugar. Can you get some on your way home this afternoon?”

“Ok.” Jason shrugged.

“Don’t forget.” She turned to the kids. “Ok, time to go!”

“Mommy, I want to go to school too,” 4-year-old Adam gripped his mom’s apron. “I wadda skool, dada skool,” 2-year-old Eric joined in. “Oh you wanna go to school too, honey?” Rachel lifted little Eric up and into her arms. “You’ll be in preschool in 6 months, Adam.”

The two older girls went out waiting for school bus. In a bit, the bus came, the two girls waived good-bye to Rachel.

“You know, you don’t have to run everything yourself. I can help too.” When Rachel came back in to the kitchen with two little boys, Jason said, and opened up the refrigerator again.

“It’s easier that way...Don’t keep on opening the fridge! What are you looking for?”

“We don’t have milk?”

“Here,” Rachel reached over and got the milk. “Oh, I didn’t see that. Why did you put it behind the veggies?”

“Cause I want to cook them for lunch,” Rachel said. “Here’s your cereal.” She already got his favorite cereal in her hand.

Jason took the cereal and sat down. “And here, your toast with sunny-side-up,” Rachel handed him the toast and egg. Then she sat down and fed little Eric. He wasn’t too happy to sit still, not very interested to have anything.

Jason looked at her and slightly shook his head. They have been married for 8 and a half years, and he still had no idea how she managed that—she had this ability to take care of everybody’s needs before they asked for it.

That was supposed to be fantastic. He knew he should 110% appreciate her.

“You haven’t eaten yet, I’ll feed Eric.” Jason said.

“That’s ok.”

“COM’ on, let me.”

She gave him the bowl and the spoon.

“Oh, look at that, what do we have here?” Jason scooped up a spoonful of potato and made noise of an airplane. “The 747 is going to be swallowed by the super-duper cookie monster, oh no, help! Help!!” Eric giggled, opened wide and swallowed the whole spoon. “Wow! He must be the most terrible monster in the world!”

“Monter,” Eric shouted. Rachel smiled.

“I’m sorry, hon,” Rachel said. “I know I like to take over things. I’m not very patient.”

“Who can blame you? You’re running a zoo.”

===

74 more days.

Day 25: You now have made...

"1. a commitment
2. a working schedule
3. a story idea
4. a cast of characters
5. a detailed plot of the entire story
6. a short description of what your novel is about."

I would not say I have a detailed plot of the entire story....

But I started the 1st page already!

75 more days...

Day 24: A well-written page-turner that is more character...

"- than plot-driven and has a clear beginning, middle and end is what editors (and readers) want."

I can't believe I got sick again! All day I felt tired and weak. I was thinking about resting for a day, but then figured maybe I still can put some words.

Honestly I don't really understand what the guide says for today. Does it mean I just have to think of all the page turners to keep readers' interests? More important than the plot itself?

The last book of Michael Crichton's I read, he spends tons of pages explaining things. Man, I don't know about other people, it is not a page turner for me.

Ok, I'm coughing and it's late. Will continue tomorrow.

Day 23: Hang the cards and outline...

"...you have developed around your office or room so that they can be easily read."

I'm also thinking that Jason should have one thing he really is good at and/or is very passionate about. This thing is the motivation of his life. Maybe people don't believe him, but he beats the odd and shines.

This thing may not be related to his work, so people don't know he has this skill/talent.

What will it be? So far I'm not sure. Maybe painting? Or an instrument?

Also, though having a tough childhood, there should be some people or some place he can turn to for comforts and recognition. I'm thinking about a nurturing aunt (American father's side) or a nice school teacher. Or maybe some friends and their families. Or a church. Anyway, this will be a place for him to hold on to. Otherwise, he probably will go insane. Or becomes an alcoholic.

77 more days to go.

Day 22: Do nothing — absolutely nothing....

"...on your novel in terms of actual writing until your plotting (along with your characters and their roles in the drama) is complete and down on paper.

Do not fall victim to that old author line: “I just start out with a basic idea and a couple of characters. I never know where I’m going. I let the characters tell the story for me.” That may work for brilliant and experienced novelists, but most of us need a clear road map if we aren’t going to get ourselves and our readers hopelessly lost."

Another one of my big problems! I usually like to just start a headless story. That's probably why I have so many unfinished projects.

I'm thinking about another idea: the main character, Jason, has a Chinese biological mother. I haven't decided about his father: maybe Chinese, maybe American.

Maybe Jason's mother is something like mail-order bride. Or maybe she knows her American husband through internet. Maybe Jason is the result of his mother's previous marriage. They come to America for the dreams. But things get totally wrong.

This probably is a more convincing point for Jason's insecurity. And it reflects the problems of some social phenomenons: mail-order bride, cultural conflicts, fitting in, etc.

Day 21: Prepare a rough outline of the story’s action from Chapter One through to the end.

"Novelist Katherine Anne Porter put it this way, “If I didn’t know the ending of a story, I wouldn’t begin.”
Write down the last paragraph of your novel and put it in the drawer. At the end of a hundred days, lets see how close you came to following your imagination."

My, that sounds reasonable, but then I have a lot of works to do.

Let's see... a very general outline is here:

A man is abandoned by his own dear-mother as a child and that leaves a deep, deep cut in him. As a child he also receives lots of mocks and unfair treatments, but manages to go through everything and build a career and a good family. He vows to establish a great family, a great marriage, the one that is totally different from the "family" he is originally from. However, his insecurity gradually comes and gets him and takes toll on his marriage. He starts to be attracted to the idea of having an affair...

Does he really go for his impulsion? Will he be caught? What's the end of his marriage?

Well, I kind of have a rough ending, but I can't reveal it here. We'll just see how it goes.

Another man will also be a contrast to him: this man plays around and breaks many hearts; that sort of becomes his hobby or mission. The main character despises him, but later finds out he himself probably also has a weak spot.

Now, there probably is no sci-fi in there. I would like to add sci-fi element but so far just can't think of any. The idea of time traveling seems to have no place in this outline. If there's no place for sci-fi, then I don't want to force one.

Gee, a lot of people in the story will suffer. Painful. But what can I say? I'm no comedian; absolutely not good at telling jokes. Well, there will be hope though; life is not totally, always bad. Ups and downs. That probably is life.

79 more days to go.

Day 20: Don’t attempt to “sound like” some famous writer.

"Your “voice” is your voice. Your “style” is your style...Keep writing and keep cutting away at the awkwardness that might creep into your writing. Be a natural. As the French novelist, Francois René de Chateaubriand wrote, “The original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.”"

Guess I'll just do my own style.

I'm thinking about the plot all day. I'm also thinking about the "arrangement" of the story: maybe alternate the time--start from the childhood of the main character, then jump to his 20s, then jump back to childhood, and jump to his 20s again... so on and so forth. I've seen a novel does that, and it looks very good. The purpose I do this is to show how the main character's childhood influences his adult life.

But it's just an idea, and it might change.

Another thing: I'm in fact not so sure if this will really become a "novel;" a novel is a very long story. I'm afraid I can't write a story that long. Maybe start from a novelette or novella. We'll see.

I feel like I have something to say, but don't know how to present it to make it interesting and appealing; not sure how the story develops, and most importantly, how it is going to end.

But at least I'm thinking and writing.

80 more days to go.

Day 19: Keep asking the question, “why?”

"As you reach the end of the second week of defining characters, you will have a stack of 5x7 character cards that spell out intimate details about the personal life of each and every character in your story, down to their waist measurement and favorite color. The novelist Vladimir Nabokov composed all of his novels on index cards."

The woman who Jason has an affair w/:

Sara A. Lewis

27, married young to a jerk, has one 4-year-old boy, divorces him after finding out he has a series of affairs and is involved in some legal issues. Strong and competitive at work, but lonely and no close friends. Poor taste of men. Likes to fantasize love stories, college graduate, cheer-leader in high school.

81 more days to go.

Day 18: Figure out who you need in the story and what they do together or to one another...

"...and the story does to them. Are they all pulling together in one direction? Are they pulling in six different directions? Ask yourself the critical question: Which would be most interesting to the reader? That’s the real litmus test of character development and plotting. Will the reader be interested? Will the reader care?
To be successful in character and plot development, you need to make hard choices. You need to be ruthless with your characters and your story. Who’s in, who’s out? What’s in, what’s out?
Frankly, here is where a lot of first-time novelists stop dead. They can’t bring themselves to choose. They become fascinated or paralyzed by the possibilities.
Don’t you dare do that. Be brutal. Try different choices, of course, but move the story forward event by event, bringing each character along with you. As each event unfolds, each character must react to it. Just as they would in real life.
If a child is hit and killed by a car, the driver’s life is changed forever, the parents’ lives, the lives of the brothers and sisters, friends, even the crossing guard and bystanders. You have to decide what the changes are. You must decide. This is your chance to play God — and if you’re going to write you must play that role. God is in the details, and God decides the course of the novel."

Ruthless. Brutal. That is my problem. I have too much mercy.

Jason is a good guy. But more or less, consciously or unconsciously, he's good so to be appreciated, recognized, accepted. He also can be arrogant and hot-temper. Sometimes he doesn't do it on purpose though. Generally speaking, he's not a bad person, but a nice guy w/ many flaws and insecurity.

He clearly knows it's wrong, he struggles, but he will have an affair. His wife maybe finds out (or not?), then involves in a car accidence and has amnesia. She forgot about him.

That's the basic idea so far.

82 more days to go.

Day 17: You need a strong protagonist...

"...Most writers have a problem with creating a character who is larger than life, fully developed, and a consistent protagonist.
Remember, your protagonist is your story’s major character. This is the person with whom your reader will identify. You want your readers to care about your protagonist. He or she is your new best friend."

The reader will identify with this person. His story people will care about. He will fight, maybe wins some and loses some. But he'll fight and people will hold their breath.

It's not enough that I write beautifully. The most important key is the plot.

Man, it's easier to say than done. I have to work on my characters' emotions and their goals.

I think I'll make Jason L. Wayne and his wife my main characters. His wife will be Rachel J. Wayne. 29, middle class family, very conservative, stay home mom, takes care of everything at home. Assuming the position of traditional woman's role, drop out of college, works to support husband to go through college. Plays piano, loves kids, very good at cooking, would suffer silently instead of complains. Not interested in working and being "independent," not very interested in listening to Jason talking about work.

83 more days to go.

Day 16: The reader has to believe that your characters exist or could exist...

"— and they need to be distinctively drawn. And nothing better defines characters than their actions, their purpose in life. Their purpose may be good or evil. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that the reader sees their actions and purpose, believes them, and is continuously interested in them.
Do not write a story peopled with a cast of thousands. Write a tale about one, two or three memorable characters, all of them filled with purpose."

Another character:

Jason L. Wayne
34, harsh childhood: an illegitimate child, close to mother, but later mother suddenly disappears. Being taken cared by grandmother. Being looked down and mocked by others. Study hard and graduate from a good college. Very self-conscious, eager for attention, eager to be liked, sometimes socially awkward, but is liked by many. Marry to a very traditional woman, and together raise 4 kids.

Looks like a very nice guy. But in fact can be very impatient and angry; always feels anxious and lonely inside. I can't decide his career yet, but he should have a moderately successful career.

84 more days to go.