When we think of good guys and bad guys, we think of people who are diametrically opposed to one another. Yet the best kind of story is usually one that features a hero and villain who share more in common than not. In fact, the more similar your hero and villain, the stronger your story, […]
January 2, 2011 by 64 Comments Writing Life10 Writing Resolutions You Can Fulfill Today
Sometimes even the most well-intentioned writing resolutions can end up being whimsical, erratic, and just plain unrealistic. But when you focus on goals that are slightly more achievable, you’re not only more likely to pull them off, but you’ll also feel much better about yourself come deadline time. Following are ten writing resolutions you can […]
October 6, 2010 by 19 Comments CharactersOne Way to Simultaneously Create Conflict and Suspense
Boil fiction down to the essentials and what you find at the core is the main character’s desire for something. What your characters want is what fuels them through page after page of conflict. You’ve undoubtedly heard the saw that without conflict, there is no story. But without frustrating the character’s ability to get whatever […]
August 8, 2010 by 42 Comments Characters5 Steps to Writing Minor Characters That Dazzle
In writing minor characters, authors must provide the color and conflict that fill the protagonist’s worlds. Because minor characters aren’t always confined to the necessities of a character arc or the demands of the plot, they often have the opportunity to be some of the most exciting personalities on the page. In my own stories, […]
July 18, 2010 by 39 Comments CharactersHow to Find Powerful Motives for Your Characters
You will often be judged by what you do. To a large extent, you are what you do. However, because others’ perceptions of your actions don’t penetrate to the reasons behind your actions, you will often be judged incorrectly, or even unjustly. It’s no different for your characters. In a book, as much as in life, a person’s […]
