If writing the Positive Trait & Negative Trait Thesaurus books have taught me anything, it is that compelling characters are neither good nor bad, perfect or fundamentally flawed. Instead, they are all of these things. Each has a set of good, admirable qualities, even while displaying … [Read more...] about Personality Traits: Building a Balanced Character
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Writing Patterns Into Fiction: Scene and Sequel
Hi everyone! We are diving right into the thick of writing technique with a guest post by author Raven Oak, who is joining us to talk about the successful pattern of Scene and Sequel. This is a must read, especially for those who do not know about this technique. Trust me, your writing will thank … [Read more...] about Writing Patterns Into Fiction: Scene and Sequel
10 Reasons Why Your Hero Needs Flaws
When we see the word Hero or Heroine, we think heroic, which is ironic because our protagonists are usually anything but at the start of a story. Instead they are often jaded, lost, or incomplete in some way, toting along a collection of flaws and false beliefs about the world and themselves. But … [Read more...] about 10 Reasons Why Your Hero Needs Flaws
How Morals and Basic Needs Influence a Character’s Strengths
You ever have one of those mornings where you're just feeling...bleh? Life wasn't exactly ticking along like clockwork and I was struggling with self-doubt. Then I clicked open my inbox and read the most wonderful message from a reader praising our Trait Thesaurus books. The most interesting thing … [Read more...] about How Morals and Basic Needs Influence a Character’s Strengths
Lessons From James Scott Bell: Characters That Jump Off The Page
A week (ish) ago, I had the pleasure of attending a workshop with bestselling author and writing coach, James Scott Bell. It was a fantastic day of learning how to look deep inside our characters to understand what made them tick, and how structure can lay the framework for a compelling internal … [Read more...] about Lessons From James Scott Bell: Characters That Jump Off The Page
What Killed It For Me #4: Clichéd Characters
It's hard to come up with characters who are believable yet don't sound like every other character out there. It's especially easy to fall into this trap with certain archetypes, like witty sidekicks or wise old mentors. Unfortunately, a recent book that I started had a whole cast of clichés: the … [Read more...] about What Killed It For Me #4: Clichéd Characters
Talents and Skills Thesaurus: Archery
Choosing a talent or skill that fits with your character's personality, lifestyle, and values can go a long way to helping them break free of the common stereotypes seen so often in fiction. This thesaurus will help you find the perfect quality or two that will show readers your character's … [Read more...] about Talents and Skills Thesaurus: Archery
Recommended Writing Books
Great Writing Guides Are Gold. Some of Our Favorites... Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story (K.M. Weiland) (Affiliate link) This is a blueprint of the 3-act structure and all the important milestones to hit like the inciting incident, catalyst, the … [Read more...] about Recommended Writing Books
Writers Helping Writers Descriptive Thesaurus Collection
Writing is hard, and sometimes we need a leg up to create compelling characters who draw readers in. Below are three resources that can help you brainstorm fresh emotional expressions, plot out unique attributes and flaws, and gain a deeper understanding of your character's motives, fears and … [Read more...] about Writers Helping Writers Descriptive Thesaurus Collection
The Cure For CARDBOARD VILLAIN SYNDROME
Today I'm sharing an excerpt from The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws. Flaws play a HUGE role in each character's arc, so understanding how to build them into the personality of our novel's cast is key to forming compelling characters. However when writers don't go deep … [Read more...] about The Cure For CARDBOARD VILLAIN SYNDROME
The Four Types of Character Flaws
As writers, we know our characters should have positive and negative attributes because in real life, each individual is a mix of both. Flaws are especially important as in the character's weaker moments, they dictate their thoughts, actions and behaviors, leading to poor decisions and mistakes. … [Read more...] about The Four Types of Character Flaws
Finding Your Character’s Weakness
So happy to welcome Jordan McCollum to the blog today, talking about something close to my heart--character strengths and weaknesses. Authors love their characters--this is fact. If they didn't, then they wouldn't spend the next year or two (or ten!) writing their life story. But as much as we … [Read more...] about Finding Your Character’s Weakness