They say character equals story. In order to identify your character’s wound (see yesterday’s post) you need to get in touch with that character personally. That is, instead of thinking about this character as someone you the writer gets to boss around, consider him/her as autonomous.Writing Tip for Today: Here are some ways you might […]
Tag Archives: developing characters
Writer as Director II
A reader’s comment got me thinking about yesterday’s post. Micro-managing your reader is a bit like the controlling, insane Director of a play I once acted in. But as the reader implies, directing in itself (whether for theater, media or prose) is also essential. Since I was a thespian in my younger years, I thought […]
Characters at Cross-purposes
Good fiction features characters who are at cross-purposes with others. Kind of you-say-potato, I-say-pot-ah-to, only meaner. Characters who live and let live aren’t very interesting.Writing Tip for Today: It can be useful to state how either hero/heroine or protagonist/antagonist are at odds with one another. Fill in the following statement. “My protagonist wants ____, but […]
Beyond Looking: Creating Original Character Emotions
Are your characters constantly staring, gazing, and looking? Now and then they throw in a glare, glance or glower? While we tend to read eyes as a way to gauge emotion, writers can and should strive to be original in their descriptions and actions.Writing Tip for Today: For any character, getting beyond “looking” can be […]
Developing Characters: Will the real protagonist please stand up?
We’ve been discussing writing characters who are strong, who strive toward their goal and who are in some way larger-than-life. And as we considered supporting cast members who upstage the hero/heroine, I must say a last word about this main character thing: Sometimes, the person whom you think is the main character is really a […]
Supporting Characters
Main characters must be strong, likable and memorable, to name a few qualities. But what about supporting characters? In my classes, two common problems I see are supporting characters who try to take over and too many characters.Writing Tip for Today: In the first problem, the supporting character(s) are so strong and memorable themselves, either […]
Crafting the Novel: New Class
Tonight I welcome a new class of novel writers at Lane Community College. This class, like many, is a mixture of repeaters and newbies. On the first night, it’s important to make sure all are on board with what a novel is and what it should accomplish. I look forward to working with these student […]
Characters That Sound Like You
In fiction, the characters you create are one important half of what it takes to keep readers reading. A reader wants to be interested in your POV or narrator character. You may have heard the terms “likeable,” “sympathetic,” or “compelling” used to describe a good main character. These characteristics help the reader “root for” or […]