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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

The Swamp’s The Happenin’ Place

By 27 Comments

The swamp does seem to be where all the ACTION is today because Alligators is visiting three more great blogs. And that started me thinking about–of all things–writing stories.


I’m one of those writers who likes to start with characters, then figure out what their story should be. I’m a terrible plotter, so it takes me a while to start the story engine, and I guess that’s why I  have to rewrite the beginning after I’ve written “The End.” My beginnings are miserable in early drafts. They can put a couch to sleep, really.

When I do my final revisions, I jump between rewriting the first pages to rewriting further into the story, tweaking both until I get that engine firing on all cylinders from page one. What I’ve found is that a smoothly running plot is really all about bringing those characters to life on the page before I do anything else. To me the characters are where the real ACTION is.

I have a lot to say about this, but I’m going to start with one easy characterization technique, EXAGGERATION. I love this when I’m writing for kids, but I think it works for adult stories as well. Here’s what I mean.

“Max towered over all the kids in the fifth grade and outweighed them by a bazillion pounds. He outweighed Josh by two bazillion.” (The Aliens From Murrg, C. Lee McKenzie)
Sure Max might be big, but I wanted him to appear super big to the kids at school. The description is funny because it’s impossible. It gives an idea to the reader that maybe this Max scares those kids, especially Josh, so there’s a bit of plot hinted in this short characterization. I’m getting to the ACTION through the character.
“Girl, my fingernails could grow an inch just waiting for you.” (High Hearts, Rita Mae Brown)
I loved this because how often have I waited for someone who is never on time, all the while wishing I had a way to express my frustration, humorously. Brown does that. I can see the friends in this scene, one tapping her foot, the other having just strolled up late again.
Do you use EXAGGERATION? Are characters your first entry into the story or do you try to figure out the plot first? I’ll try to come up with another technique tomorrow and run it past you to get your take on what I do when crafting my stories. 
Now I hope you’ll say hi to LM PRESTON whose newest book Flutter Of Love has just come out, but she’s written several and here’s another of her action-packed stories.
DARBY KARCHUT, who series is getting a lot of buzz and awards.
and DONNA MCDINE, who I’ve know since before I published anything, is going to host today and her interview is one I really enjoyed doing because I feel I’ve known her since I began this trip through book land. Hope you’ll stop in and say hi to this award winning author who supports authors all the time. 

Comments

  5. Hi Lee .. I certainly use exaggeration in my conversations … especially when I'm animated … out come the hands, the widening eyes, the eye contact .. the slow talk making sure everyone gets my point … I don't do it in my posts …

    But I love your examples .. and Old Kitty's – how big?!

    Great to read … cheers Hilary

    Reply

  7. I always start with my characters, and I love reading books that are character-driven. The plot is usually something I have trouble with later on, because it feels tangible to my mind, but I sometimes let my characters lead me astray.

    I don't often use exaggeration as a technique, but some of my favourite book use it; including Gail Carriger's The Parasol Protectorate.

    Reply

  12. Great post! I love using exaggeration in my books. My CPs have less of a sense of humor and keep trying to correct me — like when you use "bazillion pounds" they'd say, But it couldn't really be a bazillion. Probably fifty pounds at most.
    But I'm so glad you get it! Yay Lee and ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD!

    Reply

  24. Exaggeration makes kids' books come alive, I think, and it makes kids laugh…at least the kid readers who live in my house. When my kids come across a line they find hilarious, they often read it aloud to me–and usually it involves exaggeration.

    Reply

  27. I hadn't thought of using exaggeration like that. I've have to try it.

    I struggle with developing the characters, not plot. Funny how we all have different things to work through.

    Reply

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