Conversation with myself 6

what do you wanna talk about today samuel
my reluctance, my resistance to doing the work to become a novelist
how so
i just read the chapter on character from the book "Break into Fiction: 11 steps to building a powerful story." there were a lot of questions in that chapter. 20 questions but i don't feel like answering them cause i know my answers would be shit.
just answer the questions for fun
what fun is answering a bunch of questions and coming up with shit answers
it's fun if you are not expecting results from it. you're just doing it to have fun. not expecting riches from it
ok. i'll start doing it
so what is the first question?
1. the first question is what two or three adjectives best define this character?
ok so what is your answer.
that's the thing i don't have any ideas for a character in mind
so what two or three adjectives best define this character? just make something up man. remember, you're doing this for fun
two or three adjectives that best define this character is: Lonely killer and loving dad.
lonely killer and loving dad huh
yeah that's the best i could do.
nah i think it's okay. so what is the next question
2. the next question is: What does this character believe about his or her everyday world?
so what is your answer to the question
i haven't really thought about the character, so i don't know
come on man you're just doing this for fun. come up with shit answers but have fun. what does this character believe about his or her everyday world?
Larry Believes his everyday world is very dangerous. he's a trained killer and is worried he might be found out and the bad guys might start attacking him and his family
see that wasn't so hard was it.
yeah but i'm still not sure if my answers will lead to anything
your answers don't have to lead to anything, you're just having fun remember
what's so fun out of answering of bunch of questions and getting nothing out of it.
it's fun because you're just answering the questions to have a good time. you don't care about results. if you care too much about results you might give up. so what is the next question
3. the next question is: Is the character content with his or her everyday world at the opening of the story? why or why not?
so what is your answer
Larry is content about his everyday world because he gets paid a lot of money to be a hired killer and he's so good at his job he's never failed once to kill his target.
ok very good. that wasn't so hard was it. so what is the next question
4. The next question is: what would this character say is his or her strength?
so what is your answer.
larry would say his strength is being a great father and his proficiency with killing targets.
good good. continue to answer the questions for fun. what's the next question.
5. the next question is: what would this character say is his or her weakness?
your answer
Larry would say his weakness is wanting to bed as many beautiful women as possible
ok you've answered five questions now. that wasn't so hard was it
yeah but i don't think what i've come up with is of any use.
but you're just doing it for fun remember
i used to play chess for fun. that lead to nothing so i stopped playing chess. i'm doing this for fun but if i come to a point where i think answering all those question will lead to nothing i may quit
ok you can quit whenever you want if you stop having fun. but remember just having fun answering the questions. don't think about results
ok. but there are 15 more questions. i think i wanna  stop at five. maybe pick it up back later on
ok do whatever you want.

1/19/2019

so what is question number 6.
6. question number 6 is: what do other story character's see as this character's strength?
jerome sees Larry unconditional love for his daughter as his greatest strength
that's not too bad.
it feels bad to me. what i'm coming up will not lead to a bestselling novel
you shouldn't say that because you'll have what you say. instead say i will answer the questions and get my novel written.
you're right. i should speak faith.
so what is the next question?
7. questions number 7 is: what do other story characters see as this character's weakness?
jerome sees larry's nonstop chasing after beautiful women as his greatest weakness.
good stuff. you seem to be enjoying answering those questions.
i would enjoy it even more if there was a guarantee i would write a bestselling novel.
so what is the next question?
8. question number 8 is: if this character's occupation influences the story in a significant way,  what is his or her occupation and how does he or she feel about it?
so what is your answer
Larry occupation of being a trained killer is a big part of the story. when he's given a mission to kill someone he admires. he tries to back out of it then he becomes the target of hired killers and they're going after his daughter. that's when all hell breaks loose. larry vows to take down the organisation that trained him.
that was not bad. you're pretty good at this stuff
i'm just answering a bunch of questions. don't really know if it will lead to a bestselling novel.
ok just have fun doing it. what is the next question
9. question number 9 is: How are you going to create (show) reader sympathy for this character in the opening of your story?
so what is your answer?
i'm not sure about that question. larry is a killer. but deep down he's a good guy. he's in a store with his daughter and the store gets robbed. the robbers holding his daughter hostage and have a gun pointed at the clerk. he kills the robbers and head out of the store before the police arrives.
that's not showing reader sympathy. that's showing bloodlust
i don't know man. i don't know how to show reader sympathy.
what is the next question?
10. question number 10 is: what is lacking internally for this character, even if he or she is not aware of it?
so what is your answer
i don't know maybe larry's seeing women as objects for his sexual gratification.
that's not good enough. come up with something else
i don't know man. i did the best i could.