Story Fuel: Propelling Your Plot with Conflict, Stakes, and Tension

Story Fuel: Propelling Your Plot with Conflict, Stakes, and Tension

In this class, you will learn how to propel your plot using conflict, stakes, and tension. These are the engine, gear shift, and gas pedal/clutch of your story. They work together to drive your story and your characters forward. We’ll use these key factors to craft your story into a page-turner that readers can’t put down.

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Creating Characters Build-A-Bear Style

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Welcome and Introduction

  • Welcome and Workshop Introduction
  • HI! I'm Dawn!
  • What is Build-A-Bear?

Workshop Video

  • Workshop Video

Finding Inspiration for Your Characters

  • Sources of Character Inspiration

Getting Started

  • Where to Begin
  • Should Characters Be Likable?
  • What Is Your Character's Why?
  • Building a Backstory
  • What Moment Does Your Character Hide Their Eyes From?
  • Character Wounds
  • Character Baggage
  • Carrying the Weight

Character Goals

  • Character Goals
  • External Goals
  • Internal Goals

Stuffing

  • Finding Fluff
  • Reactions and Emotions
  • Creating Character Voices
  • Quirks and Flaws
  • Creating Character Appearance
  • Special Skills
  • Keeping Your Character Consistent

Secondary Characters

  • Creating a Supporting Cast

Sending Your Character Out Into the World

  • Creating a Plot
  • And They All Lived Happily Ever After (Or Not)

Bear Traps

  • What to Avoid

Thank You!

  • Thank You!

Resources

  • Creating Characters Questions
  • Posts, Websites, and Book Recommendations

More Workshops!

  • Building a Plot with What You've Got!
  • Ten Steps on the Story Structure Stairway
  • Deep POV: Refining Your Character's Lens
  • Story Fuel: Propelling Your Plot with Conflict, Stakes, and Tension