James Scott Bell

Yeah.

Have you read James Scott Bell's Writing from the Middle?

No, I have not.

Yeah.

Characters carry theme.

James Scott Bell.

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I think you have to figure that part out because that's, to me, what's interesting is, is this person gonna figure it out before, A, they are killed in some horrible way, or B, lose the love of their life without even realizing it? 'Cause that's kind of our stakes, right? I'm gonna get really nerdy on writing right now.

James Scott Bell talks about these different types of death.

There's obviously physical death, which is really more of an issue in horror, um, and then there's, like, psychological death of, death of hope, which is really more what's happening in a romance usually.

But I don't think, even though there's differences there, I don't think they're that different.

Another element in a lovable protagonist is that she should have the ability to change.

James Scott Bell says, We respond to the character who changes, who endures the crucible of the story only to emerge a different person at the end.

That's James Scott Bell.

Often, she has learned a hard lesson about herself and the world.

Often she has matured.

Don't try to write your way through the hard scenes as quickly as possible just to get back to what you're good at.

Do take James Scott Bell's advice in his book, How to Make a Living as a Writer, where he suggests that you systematically study the craft of writing with special concentration on your weak areas.

Do consciously approach your weak areas instead of just trying to wing it when the time comes.

And do create a battle plan for attacking your weaknesses by sitting down with paper and pen and deliberately figuring out how to strengthen these areas in your next story.