Go Ahead — Write This Story: No change

Some definitions of fiction say the main character must grow or change. This is not true. In Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis, the personality of George F. Babbitt never changes. George and Lennie do not change in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Bart Simpson and James Bond never change, either. Their motivation remains the same. Only their situation changes, and that can be enough for a good story.

If you need some changing story situations, here are a few ideas:

• This is a story about an escape plan that would have been perfect, but Herbert was the same outside of confinement as he was in it.

• This is a high fantasy story about a wise sorceress who solves a series of increasingly difficult confrontations with evil, but her skills do not increase as the danger increases.

• This is a steampunk story about a loyal minion — or rather, told from the minion’s point of view as other characters go about their thrilling, life-altering adventures.

— Sue Burke