Discovering the Story Within

Mar 1, 2000 - © Roxianne Moore

  • Conflict Without Combat: Discover and develop the conflict inherent in your plot and characters.
  • The Heroic Alphabet: These exercises to explore your hero's personality and his conflicts, and to match him up with the right kind of heroine.

    I asked Rasley: How do you think your booklets are different from the many books on fiction writing that are out there?

    Mine developed out of the classes and workshops I teach, and include a lot of interactive exercises. I'm a teacher and used to working with students and overseeing "collaboration and critiquing groups," so I know that writers learn best when they can immediately apply what they're reading to their own material. Hence the exercises.

    I also know the value of examples because that's something I need to put information into context, so I include as many examples as I can fit in.

    I also have an approach that works with many writers who don't "get" more linear writing instruction. I work a lot more with the writer's intuition and inner wisdom in discovering (not just developing!) characters, encouraging them to regard characters as real people that they can get to know if they try.

    I also asked: And, because the full series is more expensive than a full-length book from, say Writer's Digest, do you think you give more for the money?

    Depends on what you want, of course. My booklets and my plot guidebook are more exploratory than any other books I've seen. They're more suitable for brainstorming and re-inventing a book. They send you back to your own story and your own writing process and force you to consider your own characters.

    I have to say, I have never seen "conflict" explored in any writing book as I explore it (and I buy them all ), and that's a central concept in writing popular fiction, and one that illuminates nearly every other writing element. Not to boast, but understanding conflict deep down, as I explore it, can transform your story and your writing process. As to whether it's worth the money, well, I don't have the economies of scale, so this is the price it has to be, but I've never received any complaints. :)

    The entire 6-booklet set can be ordered from CCNow, if you have a credit card, for $22. If you don't have a credit card, or don't want all the booklets, you can email Rasley for ordering information.

    The copyright of the article Discovering the Story Within in Resources for Writers is owned by Roxianne Moore. Permission to republish Discovering the Story Within in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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