Post by marylahree on Nov 17, 2012 1:31:01 GMT -5
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your latest newsletter discussing 'characterization and plot' and the necessity of purposely developing an understanding of basic human drives - psychology - as a matter of writing believable characters and stories they play out. Personally, it took me a while to grasp that writing was more than thinking up clever situations to place my character in. To understand that the character, like real people - like myself - had to have depth - and that to that end, I was loaning my character pieces of my own system of beliefs, whether things I am opposed to, or things I uphold, or things I am still deciding about. There very much is a connection between my "internal world", as you wrote and my "external" work. You leave me wanting to learn more about how - short of taking psychology courses in some college - your average aspiring writer can tap into his / her life-long acquired understandings of human drives. Because I think the answers are in each of us since our childhoods, if only we can learn how to re-connect with them.
On a last note: It's good to know that you are an email away if I have questions. I've missed this forum, the interactions, since I have been away (prolonged illness). You are an awesome teacher of your craft(s). Aspiring writers finally have a place where they can learn truly helpful information and skills that go beyond mere writing.
Thank you for your latest newsletter discussing 'characterization and plot' and the necessity of purposely developing an understanding of basic human drives - psychology - as a matter of writing believable characters and stories they play out. Personally, it took me a while to grasp that writing was more than thinking up clever situations to place my character in. To understand that the character, like real people - like myself - had to have depth - and that to that end, I was loaning my character pieces of my own system of beliefs, whether things I am opposed to, or things I uphold, or things I am still deciding about. There very much is a connection between my "internal world", as you wrote and my "external" work. You leave me wanting to learn more about how - short of taking psychology courses in some college - your average aspiring writer can tap into his / her life-long acquired understandings of human drives. Because I think the answers are in each of us since our childhoods, if only we can learn how to re-connect with them.
On a last note: It's good to know that you are an email away if I have questions. I've missed this forum, the interactions, since I have been away (prolonged illness). You are an awesome teacher of your craft(s). Aspiring writers finally have a place where they can learn truly helpful information and skills that go beyond mere writing.