When: Fri., January 9 January 16, 1 to 3 PM; arrive at 12:30 if you’d like enjoy lunch with the group before the meeting

Location: Lucha Cantina, in Edgebrook Center, 1641 North Alpine Road, Rockford   http://www.luchacantina.com/rockford/
Lunch Details: Mexican cuisine, plus sandwiches and burgers, chili and soups, salads, lunch-time specials, margaritas and more

Meeting Topic: Character Cornerstones
We’ve discussed character creation and development in group, but what lies beneath intriguing characters and adds character-related dimension to plot? How do you begin to complicate your characters or if you’ve already started developing them, have you asked yourself about what might be missing? Do your characters, within the story context, seem like real people? Are they fully faceted crystals or flat sequins–shiny on the top but without depth? From this week’s article by MJ Bush on WritinGeekery.com:  “Truly strong characters are complex enough to carry the story, pull in the reader, and give a sense that there’s more going on under the surface. It’s not about being tough. It’s about being well-written. Plot can springboard off of a strong character from various “soft spots” engineered specifically to propel it forward. Those soft spots are nestled in the cornerstones.”

As always, if you want to, bring a friend to novel group or any of our other events–the more writers the better.