Just for fun, though, think of the advantages of using dragons.
Your character needs to be in a different location. Don't worry about climbing into a car or taking a train. Call a dragon.
Your main character is in danger with no way out. After cursing at yourself for writing yourself into a corner, remember your friendly dragon. Let him appear and scare the skin off of whatever is imperiling your character.
It's a cold night and your character is freezing. Hello, dragon! A bit of fire, if you please. Problem solved.
Your character has a deep secret, which you alluded to many times, but never actually figured out what it is. Solution? He has a pet dragon.
The dialogue drags. Talk about the dragon.
You discover your main character is, in fact, rather hum-drum. No one with a dragon is hum-drum.
Your main character needs a sidekick. How cool would a dragon sidekick be?
Your plot needs more conflict. The dragon can turn nasty.
Best of all?
Your main character is stuck in a deep hole. Oh, dragon??
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Elspeth Antonelli is an author and playwright. Her twelve murder mystery games and two plays are available through host-party.com. She has also contributed articles to the European writers' magazine "Elias". Her blog, "It's A Mystery," explores the writing process with a touch of humor. She is on Twitter as @elspethwrites.
Who knew dragons could be so useful? I'm putting one in every WIP I have!
ReplyDeleteA great post...
This is entertaining, Elspeth! Although I have no doubt it represents the patterns many authors resort to when their plot goes stale. I know one who depends on late-entering characters to save the day. Another will kill a major character to see how that shakes things up. So now I'm thinking if you add a dragon into the mix, and use all three techniques in rotation in subsequent books, no one may ever figure out the pattern!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun. I need a dragon to help get me out of a hole.
ReplyDeleteYou have your story almost written. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
I'm a dragon fan anyway - love the Dragonriders of Pern series. I hear there's talk of a movie again, this straight from the lips of her eldest son on Facebook. I've always wanted to have an art show illustrating the books. But, I digress...
ReplyDeleteM.J.; Never underestimate the usefulness of a dragon.
ReplyDeleteKathryn; I'm glad you found my post amusing. We all have our techniques to keep our plots moving along!
Maryann; Luckily, they have wings.
Morgan; I do, actually.
Dani; You did digress. Well done!
Aha! So that's how my character escaped from the locked room.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Need some romance? Add a vampire.
ReplyDelete:-)
Not that I have anything against those who like vampires.
ReplyDeleteTerry; Now you know.
ReplyDeleteScooter; Oh dear. I think the dragon may have eaten the vampire.
Hope he brought his Tums.
ReplyDeleteNice post. Very amusing. I for one would love to have a pet dragon.
ReplyDeleteBut, my last two main chracters were dragons. And they still got into trouble ... with other dragons!
This could work for me, because my keester is often a-draggin'.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks. Something to keep in mind when I'm stuck in a hole!
ReplyDelete