In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—"universal images that have existed since the remotest times." He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different … [Read more...] about The Ruler Archetype
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Does Your Story Need a Hit of Organic Conflict? Look to Your Setting.
Every writer’s mission is to pen a story that draws readers in, offering familiarity when it comes to certain genre expectations while also delivering something fresh so to be distinctive and memorable. This is how to cultivate a loyal--and, fingers crossed, rabidly obsessed--reading … [Read more...] about Does Your Story Need a Hit of Organic Conflict? Look to Your Setting.
Writing Insecure Characters
Angela Ackerman and I got our start telling anyone who was interested (and some who weren't) what we'd learned about the importance of showing a character's feelings. So I'll start with a quote from The Emotion Thesaurus about why it's so important for every author to get this right: All … [Read more...] about Writing Insecure Characters
The Negative Trait Thesaurus: Controlling
Sourced from The Negative Trait Thesaurus DEFINITION: Inclined to exercise a restraining or directing influence over othersSIMILAR FLAWS: Despotic, dictatorial, domineering, tyrannicalPOSSIBLE CAUSESGrowing up in an environment where one had no controlBeing raised by a caregiver whose … [Read more...] about The Negative Trait Thesaurus: Controlling
The Negative Trait Thesaurus: Rebellious
Sourced from The Negative Trait Thesaurus DEFINITION: Flouting the law or resisting authoritySIMILAR FLAWS: Defiant, disobedient, insubordinate, mutinousPOSSIBLE CAUSESHaving domineering parentsLiving in a strictly controlled culture or societyRepressionBeing denied creative … [Read more...] about The Negative Trait Thesaurus: Rebellious
The Positive Trait Thesaurus: Protective
Sourced from The Positive Trait Thesaurus DEFINITION: inclined to safeguard, shield, or carefully supervise the persons or items in one’s chargeCATEGORIES: achievement, identity, interactive, moral POSSIBLE CAUSES: Serving in a caregiver roleLove and respectBeing responsible for … [Read more...] about The Positive Trait Thesaurus: Protective
The Top Three World-Building Pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
By Julie Artz One of my favorite parts of being an obsessive reader is the feeling of picking up a book and instantly being immersed in the world. A few of my favorites include Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, any book by Taylor Jenkins Reid or Kristin Hannah, The Murderbot Diaries by Martha … [Read more...] about The Top Three World-Building Pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
Less Is More—When It Comes to Describing Setting
By C. S. Lakin If you’re writing fiction, it’s your job to create rich, descriptive settings in which your characters live and breathe. The challenge—as any seasoned fiction writer can tell you—is how to find the proper balance between over- and under-describing, between extensively showing the … [Read more...] about Less Is More—When It Comes to Describing Setting
Themes and Symbols Go Together Like Peas and Carrots
So...symbolism. We’re pretty familiar with this storytelling element, and I’m guessing most of us have experimented with the use of symbols in our writing. In a nutshell, you take an object, word, color, phrase, etc., and apply it in a story to give it a deeper meaning: Tolkien’s one ring (evil) … [Read more...] about Themes and Symbols Go Together Like Peas and Carrots
Use Conflict to Target a Character’s Soft Spots
Conflict is a key story ingredient, one we need a lot of, but this doesn't mean quantity is better than quality. Fiction isn’t a video game; waves of bad guys with guns won't keep readers tuned in for long. They expect to see a variety of conflict, including meaningful problems that deepen the … [Read more...] about Use Conflict to Target a Character’s Soft Spots
Use a Character’s Career to Support Your Story’s Theme
Successful stories are often ones whose elements are employed subtly. You may not be able to say exactly why they work, and as a reader, you probably don’t care; you just like the feeling of rightness that settles in as you read. Theme is one of those important elements that are quietly working … [Read more...] about Use a Character’s Career to Support Your Story’s Theme
3 Tricks to Reel Your Reader in With Flashbacks
We oftentimes hear the word flashback and we begin to think of all the don’ts associated with them. Don’t use them too early. Don’t let them go on too long. Don’t include too many. The list goes on and on. Flashbacks get a bad rap because they’re oftentimes misunderstood in terms of how to use them. … [Read more...] about 3 Tricks to Reel Your Reader in With Flashbacks