Every book places the main character in dilemma
Every fiction character needs a dilemma. There wouldn’t be much of a story behind the story if they didn’t. For example, Harry would be a bit famous his first year because of his scar, but if He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named never came back and tried to get rid of Harry, we would stop caring pretty quickly. Magic potions or not.
When writing a story, you have to push the limits of the dilemma and really place the character in a situation that forces them to make choices. One of the reasons I left my novel Coffee Stains in the drawer for so many years, is because (besides popping out babies) I couldn’t’ quite place my finger on how to push her into a harder dilemma. In the first draft I had her in a dead-end relationship, but there needed to be more! Lots of people can relate to a dead-end relationship, and I had so much fun writing Daniel, but it wasn’t enough for a full story.
I needed to push Ana harder. So I came up with something a little unusual.
What is Ana’s dilemma?
Ana is at the university using a dead girl’s scholarship.
It sounds rather, sinister, doesn’t it? But try to think about it for yourself. What would you do if: You found someone in the snow, you take them to the address on their driver’s license, then find out they died.
Sad, right? You almost walk away when the grandmother, the last living relative, asks if you would want to use the girl’s scholarship to go to school. You’ve always wanted to get your degree. This could be your chance!
Perhaps you’re realistic like me and start to think of all the things that could go wrong. But what if the temptation to turn your life around is too great? Because you’re in your twenties and still working a dead-end job as your childhood dreams get dimmer every year?
Or maybe you’re a bit more impulsive and take the offer right away. After all, no use in letting the scholarship go to waste, right?
Either way, all you have to do is transfer out of the classes the girl had signed up for and choose different ones. ANY class will do.
In a large, American there is little chance anyone would notice. At least at first. My university had over 40,000 students and I can tell you, NO ONE KNEW ME FROM ADAM. The linguistics classes were small, so a teacher would notice if someone came in half way through a class, but they would never question a student transferring in from the business school. Or vise versa. In fact, I’m betting people could show up to some of the business classes and not actually be enrolled. The business school at the University of Wisconsin was HUGE!
This question is at the heart of Coffee Stains.
The main character, Ana, decided to take the scholarship. We meet her when she is two semesters in and everything seems to be going well. Or as well as can be expected. She had somehow entangled herself with a professor. It started out with him helping her write better papers, but somehow their relationship has progressed beyond just professor and student.
And now, Marlon, a cute guy from high school is back in town and asking questions about the inconsistencies in Ana’s life. Before Ana knows it, someone from the university is also asking questions.
Want to find out what Ana ends up doing to solve all of this? Read Coffee Stains. Out now!