Storytelling

In The Writer magazine, August 1989 issue, Linda Barlow wrote an article on "Great Storytelling." In it, she discusses how important it is to create characters that you readers care and will cheer for. "It is people--characters--who engage the emotions" and get the reader deeply involved in the story.

First, "what happens to your characters happens because of who they are." [As in, use a character-driven plot instead of a plot that forces the characters into certain actions.]

Second, "It is not necessary for every one of your characters to be likable." However, you then need to have your hero doing something admirable early in the novel. This action will show the reader that he has the capacity to be admirable even if he isn't now. [Note that you have to fulfill this promise by making him more likable/admirable by the end.]

Third, conflict arises by how these characters relate to one another once they are brought together.

Your conflicts must be intense and believable....put doubt in the readers minds as to whether your characters will prevail.

If the reader cares for the character, their doubt that the character will succeed creates suspense.

Fourth, it isn't until the protagonist recognizes his own mistakes and alters his method of problem-solving that he's able to succeed.

Fifth, the impact of the story is diluted by shifting the reader's focus to the unnecessary.

You must be ruthless about expunging anything that does not develop your characters or your plot--that lovely description of the sunset...or that bit of research you...would like to show off.

Sixth, "...It takes a great final chapter to sell that reader your next novel." So your ending needs to be "in some way unexpected, yet, at the same time, it must be the only possible ending that fits everything you have revealed about the characters and their problems."