Where Normal Need Not Apply
We’re working our way through the list of how to create strong characters. So far, we’ve ensured they had goals and analyzed how their self-image differs from reality. And related to that contrast we talked about last time… Do They Merely Represent an Idea? Characters are often most cardboard-like when […]
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We’re going to continue talking about how to implement the list to make sure we’re creating strong characters. Last time, we made sure that our characters had goals. Next up… Are They Three-Dimensional? There are plenty of ideas out there about how to make your characters seem real, but I’m […]
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Last time, we looked at a simple list for What Makes a Female Character Strong based on The Female Character Flowchart. But if that list is so simple, why does it seem so difficult to create a strong character? Why do so many fail and fall into stereotypes? Maybe because […]
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There’s a graphic making the Twitter rounds called The Female Character Flowchart. It walks through the different female stereotypes—from The Trophy and Damsel In Distress to The Shrew and Ugly Duckling—and it’s interesting reading. The chart’s goal is to avoid those stereotypes to create a “Strong Female Character”. Some writers […]
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Most of my past year has been spent editing and revising, but for the past two days, I’ve been able to write fresh stuff for a shiny new project. Oh, drafting, how I love thee. Really, is there anything more freeing than starting with a newborn idea and exploring? Every […]
After disclosing in my last post that my Muse is a perv, he’s been rather quiet. So apparently he’s also shy. Or the strong and silent type. But that means I have no inspiration for today’s blog post. That’s okay—I’ll fake it. Yes, yes, I know, I railed on faking […]
This post was inspired by a funky sort of cosmic pile-up in which I had several experiences over the past couple days all involving Muses visiting people in the shower. Yes, writers are insane—more on that later. First, Christine Bell and I were discussing on Twitter how we get ideas […]
In my last post, we had a lively discussion in the comments that prompted me to think about things authors do to trick readers. Some of these are good and some of them I call “cheap author tricks”. What makes the difference? Whether or not the trick is faked. We […]
Recently, two best-selling authors have insisted that they don’t write romance novels. In fact, they both acted like romance novels were beneath them. No, they’re writing more important stories about life and death and war and taxes. Well, maybe not the taxes part. Why all the hating on romance novels? […]
Last time, Kristen Lamb guest blogged for me about how Twitter can be a writer’s BFF. And maybe some of you weren’t convinced. (Really, Jami, we know you’re just trying to justify your time on that thing. Of course a social media expert would say social media is important. Duh.) […]
