I want to describe body language so that my characters come alive and convey emotions in a realistic and compelling way. How do I describe body language?

The 7 building blocks of body language are:

1. Facial expressions
2. Head movement and positioning
3. Hands and arms
4. Body movement and positio...

To write great character descriptions, you must study the masters. Looking to examples set by great authors can help inspire you and provide direction for your writing.

Deliberate Practice is also critical in developing your skills. Take the time to analyze the way authors depict and describe...

I want to write well-rounded characters with realistic character flaws and weaknesses. Consider 9 Examples of Character Flaws and Weaknesses in Fiction:

• The 7 Deadly Sins – Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth
• Addictions – an intense and obsessive focus on something — such as s
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I want to add conflict in my story to dial up tension and suspense and raise the stakes. How do I add conflict in fiction? Consider 7 Types of Conflict in Fiction:

• vs. Self – internal struggle between a characters's thoughts, beliefs, emotions, as in a moral choice
• vs. Fate – struggle b
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I want to describe facial expressions so that my characters come alive and convey emotions in a realistic and compelling way. How do I describe facial expressions? Consider 5 steps to describe facial expressions:

1. Zoom in on one facial feature first
2. Layer on additional features to con
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As a fiction writer, you know that creating believable characters is key to writing an enjoyable story. One of the best ways to make sure your characters are well-rounded and realistic is by putting together a character bio. These are the 10 Elements of a Character Bio for Fiction:

1. Summary
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The flash fiction story “The Monsters” was written in the “Character” method, one of the 3 ways to develop an idea into a story. That is: taking a character through a transformation.

Of course, there are spoilers, so if you haven’t read the story yet, do that first, using the link in the firs...

1567
Edinburgh

“I’ll gie ye a skelpit lug!”

His father followed through on his promise, landing a slap on Brod’s ear so hard it made the inside of the young boy’s head ring like a great bell.

Brod began keening, tears running down his soot-smudged cheeks.

“Haud yer wheesht, and stop y...

I want to write well rounded characters that go through changes — meaningful transformations. How do I write character arcs in a story? These are 12 aspects of writing character arcs:

1. Story Arc vs Character Arc
2. Idea to STORY: The Character Method
3. Lies and Truth
4. Bliss and Fears
5. Wants
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I want to write fiction with emotional impact, so that the reader feels the sweep of emotions from the beginning to the end of the whole story. What are emotional arcs, and how do I use them to plot a story and character transformation?

There are 6 Emotional Arcs:

1. Rise - like “Rocky”
2. Fall...

I want to make the characters in my story come alive. How do I write character descriptions in a story? Consider 3 layers of character description:

• SKIN - the “surface” level, the externals

• FLESH & BONES - “below surface”, things you could research about a character

• SOUL - the “

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It's not enough to have a  great idea, a solid plot, and memorable characters. The story comes alive one scene at a time. 

How do I write scenes?  Use these 5 Steps to Write Great Scenes:

1. Write a SUMMARY of the scene
2. Get clear about the PURPOSE of the scene within the story
3. Tune in to th
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