CHARACTERIZATION and EXPOSITION

How to make readers care about our character:
1.) put them into scenes
2.) introduce characters slowly
a.) writing physical descriptions – just enough to jumpstart readers imagination
b.) writing personality descriptions – show by what other characters are saying
thru action
thru reaction
thru interior monologue
thru dialogue (accents, slang etc.)

ie. “fish for clean clothes” = slob

Less Flashbacks, only essentials (But Desperate Housewives scripts are always using flashbacks... Is this a new thing?)

Let readers take an active role. Make them experience the story. In other words, use Scenes.

Exposition is the background, back story. It’s the info needed to follow and appreciate the plot. (So, Exposition is the Sequel/Narrative?)

How to make readers care about exposition?
1.) Put them into scenes (Show instead of Tell)
2.) Introduce expositions slowly, and only give as much info, history or characterization as necessary
3.) Make sure it is not disguising as dialogue


Shalla’s Questions: Best seller Carl Hiassen introduces characters in pages of exposition and flashbacks which apparently readers love. So, is he just an exception? So, all I need to do is write flashbacks and exposition like Carl Hiassen?

To be continued...

For now, my MR2 is passing it's Smog Test easily, effortlessly and quickly. As for the weather, it's cool and comfortable :) Yes! My MR2 passed the smog--woopee! Someday, I'm converting that car to run on water. I've seen cars converted to run on vegetable oil, but I'm holding off. My next car? a hybrid :)