Defining Characters Through Their Speech characters writing craft Oct 05, 2024

 

 

 

Creating memorable characters is at the heart of every great story. One of the most effective ways to bring your characters to life is through their speech. But it's not just about what your characters say—it's also about how they say it. Understanding the nuances and...

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How to Write the Love Interest Character characters writing craft Sep 28, 2024

 

 

 

Craft captivating love interests for your stories. This article covers:

  • The Importance of the Love Interest
  • Pitfalls - 3 pitfalls and strategies to overcome them
  • Types of Love Interest - 7 Types with examples from novels and film
  • How to Write the Love Interest - 10...
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Writing Process: "The Coin" characters writing craft writing process Sep 28, 2024

 

 

 

The short story "The Coin" was written as an example of the (very rare) story that has no named characters, not even a named Protagonist, not a human one, anyway. 

In almost all other stories, it is important to know how to write characters who stick in...

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How To Write Character Tags in Fiction characters writing craft Sep 22, 2024

 

 

I want to make my characters stand out with vivid, memorable cues for readers. Character "tags" are distinct elements that differentiate characters from one another, helping the reader identify them easily. How do I write character tags? Consider 9 types of...

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Mastering Character Development: The Power of Inner Worlds characters writing craft Sep 21, 2024

 

 

 

In fiction writing, creating characters that resonate with readers is crucial. One powerful way to achieve this is through your character's inner thoughts. These introspections add layers to the character, making them feel real and relatable. Let's explore why inner thoughts...

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We Need a Hero: Writing the Ultimate Hero Character characters writing craft Sep 14, 2024

 

 

 

Nothing captures readers' imaginations quite like a well-crafted hero. This article will cover:

  1. Who is the Hero (vs. "Main Character" and "Protagonist") - hint, they're not always the same character
  2. Why we need heroes - 3 reasons a well-crafted hero is great for your...
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Writing Process: "What Could Be Worse?" writing craft writing process Sep 14, 2024

 

 

 

The flash fiction story "What Could Be Worse?" was written in the "Character" method, one of the 3 ways to develop an idea into a story. That is: take a central character through a character arc or transformation, based on the idea, developing the story around this...

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Mastering Character Tropes and Counter-Tropes (by Genre) characters writing craft Sep 07, 2024

 

 

 

 Unlock the Secrets of Crafting Unforgettable Characters

In the world of storytelling, characters are the heartbeat of any narrative. For fiction writers and avid readers alike, understanding character tropes and their counter-tropes is essential. In this article, we'll...

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How To Develop Character Motivations characters writing craft Nov 25, 2023

 

 

I want to write characters with motivations that drive the story and the character arc. How do I develop  character motivations? Consider 9 types of character motivations:

  1. Physiological needs – basic survival instinct (hunger, thirst, sleep,...
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How To Write Layered Characters characters writing craft Oct 21, 2023

 

 

I want to write complex, layered characters that feel real and are interesting and memorable. How do I write layered characters? Consider 11 contrasts that create layered characters in fiction:

  1. External vs Internal – external actions,...
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Writing Process: "His Wounds Green" writing craft writing process Oct 14, 2023

 

 

The flash fiction story "His Wounds Green" was written in the "Pantser" method, one of the 3 ways to develop an idea into a story. That is: by the seat of my pants, using no outline, making it up as I went along. 

 

The story was inspired by this ...

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How To Write Character Quirks characters writing craft Oct 14, 2023

 

 

I want to write well-rounded characters with quirks that makes them interesting and memorable. How do I write character quirks? Consider 9 types of character quirks in fiction:

 

  1. Physical - appearance and body habits, physical traits, features, mannerisms
  2. ...
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