Dispatch From The Quest: Troy Klith

Over the course of the 24 weeks I am working with the writers in The Quest, each will write a weekly dispatch to share with the GITS community. There are several reasons for doing this, the main one educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding of the craft from the experiences of the Questers. I should also add they are a great group of people, so I expect you will enjoy getting to know them.

Today: Troy reflects on where he is as he heads into his first draft:

The first draft adventure is about to begin. Narrative Throughline is finished. Bags are packed. Supply lists checked.

For the most part, I think I’m ready for the journey. My biggest concern is character development. Fortunately, the Quest process is character-driven, which I’m thankful for, but I’ve learned this is my weakest area. I’m decent enough at putting my heroine in jeopardy and then throwing some obstacles her way, but I still worry if she’s likeable enough for a reader/audience to care. For some reason, I struggle to create a protagonist who opens in a state of disunity without also making her boring or bitchy or any other number of unappealing characteristics. But I’m working on it, and using the Quest process to get my protagonist where she needs to be. I’ll also lean on the other Questers to help me. For now, as Waka said, I’m taking the “I’ll fix it later” approach and moving forward.

Since this is our final dispatch, I’d like to send a huge, public “Thank you!” to all of the Questers and to Scott. Questers, thanks for your invaluable help over the last 14 weeks. And Scott, I can’t express how grateful I am to learn your process — it will not only serve as a guide for this current adventure, but will continue to chart the course for the many journeys to come. Onward.

Thanks, Troy, for your Dispatches!

Tomorrow: Another Dispatch From The Quest.

About Troy: Born Midwesterner with heart in San Francisco, but nothing beats NYC. Entrepreneur. Writer. Lover of the underdog. Grateful father of 3. @troyklith.