Why Characters Need Choices in Fiction
Why Characters Need Choices in Fiction
Choices drive every single conflict in a novel. The protagonist wants something (the goal), something is preventing her from getting it (the conflict), and she must choose what to do…
Read more…Complex Characters and the Power of Contradiction
Complex Characters and the Power of Contradiction
You’ve likely seen countless posts and resources related to creating great characters, but almost all of them seem to be lacking in one aspect I’ve found to be perhaps the…
Read more…Character Motivation Entry: Escaping Invaders
Character Motivation Entry: Escaping Invaders
What does your character want? This is an important question to answer because it determines what your protagonist hopes to achieve by the story’s end. If the goal, or outer motivation, is…
Read more…Finding the Sweet Starting Spot for Your Story
Finding the Sweet Starting Spot for Your Story
I used to hate writing story openings as I could never find the right spot the first time around. Sometimes, I started too far into the current story, leaving readers…
Read more…Motivation Thesaurus: Stopping an Event from Happening
Motivation Thesaurus: Stopping an Event from Happening
What does your character want? This is an important question to answer because it determines what your protagonist hopes to achieve by the story’s end. If the goal, or outer motivation, is…
Read more…Emotional Wound: Losing a Loved One To A Random Act of Violence
Emotional Wound: Losing a Loved One To A Random Act of Violence
When you’re writing a character, it’s important to know why she is the way she is. Knowing her backstory is important to achieving this end, and one of the most…
Read more…Emotional Wound: Growing Up in a Dangerous Neighborhood
Emotional Wound: Growing Up in a Dangerous Neighborhood
When you’re writing a character, it’s important to know why she is the way she is. Knowing her backstory is important to achieving this end, and one of the most impactful pieces of…
Read more…Talent and Skill Thesaurus: Strong Breath Control
Talent and Skill Thesaurus: Strong Breath Control
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…
Read more…Character Skills & Talents: Gaining People’s Trust
Character Skills & Talents: Gaining People’s Trust
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…
Read more…Writing 101: Building a Balanced Character
Writing 101: Building a Balanced Character
Here’s the truth about compelling characters: they’re neither good nor bad, perfect nor fundamentally flawed. Instead, they’re all of these things. Each character has a set of good, admirable qualities…
Read more…How Morals and Basic Needs Influence a Character’s Strengths
How Morals and Basic Needs Influence a Character’s Strengths
Since writing The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Attributes, I’ve been thinking about how personality traits are formed. Flaws are important for a character to have—and, let’s be…
Read more…Character Talents and Skills: Fishing
Character Talents and Skills: Fishing
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…
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