Creative writing - Mike Sanders 2014

Developing the underdeveloped
Revising and editing
Drafting, researching, and editing

Underdeveloped aspects of a project can mean way too many things. You really have to look at the preliminary notes as a whole to see what’s driving the problem. It also might not be easy to fix.

Here are some of the things that might be behind an underdevelopment issue:

·  The characters might not have unique voices.

·  They might not have character arcs.

·  They might not have emotional journeys.

·  They could be inactive and are simply moving from scene to scene.

·  They might not have their own wants and needs.

·  They might not have their own unique mix of traits.

·  The names might sound too generic or too much alike.

I think when editors say “underdeveloped,” what they’re really saying is your writing is not real enough. They don’t know who a person or place really is. I don’t think you can fix that by adding a couple names. Instead, you have to delve into details.

For example, screenplay readers look for characters who are realistic and, in the case of the protagonist, relatable. Are they believable? Do they say and do things that could and should be expected of them in their circumstances within the parameters of the story world? Is the protagonist someone people can root for?

The trick to writing believable and relatable characters and narratives is emotion. If you can make people feel what the character feels and what’s transpiring in a scene, the people become involved. They subconsciously transfer empathy to the page and want to see the characters succeed. Equally, a great antagonist makes people dislike him/her intensely.

If your characters are busy doing (that is, engaging in action) you might want to give them some opportunity to show their internal workings (i.e., feelings). A successful protagonist has to undergo emotional growth. You don’t need big, melodramatic moments for that, but you also don’t want a narrative that’s underdeveloped. Instead, to enliven and develop your story, provide windows for the characters to show what goes on inside them in relation to the plot. Let the reader participate in their journey.

WRITING PROMPT

Take an underdeveloped character from your journal or from a book or film you admire. Then add fictional qualities that would make the figure developed enough to serve as a protagonist in a given narrative.

The least you need to know

·  Pay attention to your misgivings to improve your narrative rather than allowing them to discourage you.

·  Reading aloud is a great way to catch mistakes and improve your writing.

·  Language is important in reflecting characters, the narrator, and the overall narrative.

·  Length plays an important role in establishing pacing for a narrative.

·  Watch out for underdevelopment, especially with characters and settings.