|
Hi I live in Houston, and we were hit by hurricane Beryl on Monday. Much of the city is still without power. Downed trees block major roads. Hurricanes always bring a lot of gratitude. Gratitude that my loved ones are safe; gratitude for power, especially air conditioning; and gratitude for the lineman who are working 24 hours a day to restore power. Most of all, hurricanes leave me optimistic. Houstonians are resilient and caring. The minute the storm had passed, everyone was out in their yard picking up debris. Neighbors checked on each other. Folks with chainsaws chopped up everyone's branches. People took care of their elderly neighbors’ yards first. Houstonians fed each other and those with power open their doors to people needing to cool down and charge their phones. We are at our very best when things are at their worst. This incredible resilience got me thinking about our stories. For stories to be compelling we must put our characters through the worst to see them triumph by being the best. Look at your current project. Are you torturing your characters enough? Are they going through challenging, tough experiences that will keep audiences on the edge of their seat to see if they can overcome? What can you do to multiply your characters’ obstacles? Think of an extreme situation and make it worse. Is it time to put your hero in the middle of a hurricane, blizzard, or in a burning building? What is the worst thing that could happen? Let me know what you come up with. In Case You Missed ItPrioritizing Freedom in Your Career Unlocking the Power of Universal Fantasy How to Reignite Your Creativity When You're Having a Bad Day Cheers, Lindsey Thanks for reading! You can share this article here. Was this week's newsletter useful? Help me to improve! Click on a link to vote: 👍Super! - 😐 Meh - 👎 Not my jam |
Hi, I’m Lindsey. I love helping people discover their superpower, create compelling content, and feel excited about pitching and networking. I teach people how to pitch like a boss, network like a VIP, and write like an Oscar winner. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for actionable creativity and career tips.
Hi Reader, Last week we talked about the villain's journey. Now let's build your villain. 1) Villain or Antagonist? A villain is a malicious character who opposes the hero through selfish, immoral actions. An antagonist is anything that opposes the protagonist’s goal (person, force, idea, emotion). ☐ Is your opposing force malicious (villain), or simply in the way (antagonist)? 2) The Villain thinks he’s the Hero. Your villain wakes up thinking: “I’m justified.” “I’m correcting an injustice.”...
Hi Reader, Your hero’s journey is the focus of your story. But plot twist, have you ever thought about your villain’s journey? In The Villain’s Journey: How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate, Debbie Burke takes us through the bad guy’s character arc, giving a fun new way to think about stakes and conflict. Villains vs Antagonists: What’s the Difference? The villain is a malicious character who opposes the hero and drives conflict through evil, selfish, and immoral actions. The...
Hi Reader, Every year, I pick a theme, one simple idea I can use like a compass. Not a 37-item resolution list. Not a personality transplant. Just one guiding star that helps me make better decisions when life (and inboxes) get crazy. This year’s theme: I Love Data! Before you hide under a cozy blanket with your favorite novel, hear me out. Data doesn’t have to mean spreadsheets. Data can be as friendly as a sticky note. It’s just information that helps you make smarter choices. And if you’re...