I don’t think there’s anyone who would argue against the adage that “character is king.” An irresistible plot is, of course, essential too, but a ….
Category: Characters
A writer’s attention usually falls on their hero or perhaps their villain. But too often, side characters get slapped on as an afterthought instead of being thought through and used as pillars and foundations, obstacles, and conflict generators. Here are three ways to improve your side characters.
The ability to describe is the key to great storytelling, but when it comes to depicting characters, our first impulse is often to go straight ….
Whether you’re on your first draft or tenth, there’s always something new to learn about your characters. Just like us, relatable characters have hopes, fears, goals, pet peeves, and more—the challenge is making all those pieces fit together.
While the literary community might frown upon or call them unoriginal, I have reason to believe they should be encouraged. After all, what’s the golden rule of writing? Write what you know! What could you possibly know better than yourself?
It’s a great time to give our character writing skills the attention it deserves; people of all walks of life and identities crave representation in the stories they consume. And just as important is knowing what it takes to make your characters believable and memorable to readers.
Don’t judge anything that wants to live on the page. Start writing whatever comes to mind first, and don’t worry about where you start and where you finish.
As an ocean science educator, I am going to teach you how to use the guidelines that nature has already provided to create your very own fantastical creature. The first rule to remember is that organisms adapt and develop characteristics based on their environment.