Tactics.
Do you think about them while you write?
I certainly think about them while I read. I think about how your character's tactics differ from my own presumed tactics, were I given the same roadblocks and challenges. I think about how your main character's tactics differ from your antagonist's tactics, and what that tells me about who each of those characters are.
Way back when I was in college, studying theatre (yeah, I went to an "re" theatre-department-school), tactics were one of my favorite scene analysis tools.
Think about a scene between a parent and a toddler. The toddler wants ice cream. The mother doesn't want to give the toddler ice cream, lest he ruin his supper.
Kids are masters of tactics -- when faced with roadblocks, they don't give up, nor do they only think of one way to get around. They churn full-speed ahead until they get their way:
Toddler: Mom, may I have some ice cream?
Mom: No, honey, it'll spoil your dinner.
Toddler: No, Mom, I promise it won't.
Mom: Honey, ice cream always spoils dinners. You may not have any right now.
Toddler: What if I only had *some*, not a lot?
Mom: I said no, dear.
Toddler: But Mom, I picked up all my toys.
Mom: *sigh*
Toddler: Mom, I love you.
Mom: Ok, just one little scoop. But you'll have to eat all your vegetables later.
Toddler triumphant!
With each "no," the toddler changes his tactics to try to get to a "yes." First, just asking politely. Then promising a different result than the mother predicts. Then bargaining the original request down slightly. Then reminding the mother what a good kid he is. Then, a wildly effective tactic: profession of love!
An interesting scene with clear (and ineffective) tactics on the part of the parent is from Kramer vs. Kramer. It's one of my favorites.
Remember when you write: Your main character wants something. Your antagonist doesn't want your mc to achieve her objective. Think about how your mc can change her tactics in order to reach her goal. There may be a point where your character could choose a certain tactic, which would no doubt be effective, but may go outside her moral comfort zone. Whether or not she chooses that tactic tells the reader a great deal about your mc. How creative and resourceful she is with her tactics is one of the best show vs tell tools available to you.
Don't forget to think about tactics.
And for a brilliant, hilarious, kid-friendly master class on tactics, check out Mo Willems and his pigeon.
p.s. If you're in Madison, come hang out with me at Booked for Murder. Sean Chercover will be there. We're gonna get tacos afterwards. Come along!
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