be jumping, running, or twirling every single moment? Do we need a ferryboat plowing through the waters, like in this picture? No. Elizabeth Lyon writes in her book Manuscript Makeover, "One of your most basic jobs is to keep driving your story forward, through action and change, to its conclusion."
In other words, we want to keep driving our story forward by having our characters act and change.
Try this in a story you're working on. Ask yourself: Are my characters sitting around not doing much? Are they being passive while everyone around them is acting?
Elizabeth Lyon says, "Movement raises questions. What will happen next?"
What will happen next in your story? What will your main character do? Find a place where you are stuck in your story, and have your character perform some action.
What does your main character want? Pick an action that helps your character achieve his or her goal. The action may be large or small, but it will help move your story forward.
If all else fails, let your character pilot that ferryboat through a storm!
