Another 2-Hour Writing Clinic, This Time on Scene Writing
Another learning opportunity – and one heck of an entertaining experience – awaits writers in the form of Lady Bird, a character-driven film currently in major release, starring 2-time Oscar nominated actress Saoirse Ronan and written/directed by the poster-child of character-driven movies, Greta Gerwig (best known as an actress, though she quietly has 10 film […]
The Three Dimensions of Character Development
Somewhere along the writing road you’ve surely read – and if you haven’t you will – a critic describe a protagonist in a story as one dimensional. Or worse, an agent to whom you’ve submitted your work. The implication here is that there are other dimensions to explore as we develop our characters. But what […]
A Deeper Look at Character
I know this guy. Everybody in our circle of friends knows him. They go back years (not me, I’m the newbie in the group, which makes me analogous to the reader of a story… I just sit back and watch the pages unfold). Everybody, in context to this group dynamic, seems to like him. But […]
Part 7: Characterization – How to Make Your Readers Love ‘em Instead of Leave ‘em
Today brings the 7th and concluding post in our series on “The Art and Craft of Characterization” Part 7: A Sum in Excess of the Parts One of the reasons writers get confused about these separate elements of storytelling is that, at the end of the day within a story that works – and let’s […]
Part 6: Characterization – How to Make Your Readers Love ‘em Instead of Leave ‘em
(Click HERE for an incredible reader review of this site, and of my 101 Tips ebook.) Today’s post is the 6th in a 7-part Series on “The Art and Craft of Characterization” Part 6: Crafting an All-important Character Arc Last time we introduced the notion of inner versus outer conflict, the inherent demons of personality and […]
Part 5: Characterization – How to Make Your Readers Love ‘em Instead of Leave ‘em
(Click HERE for an incredible reader review of this site, and of my 101 Tips ebook.) Today’s post is the 5th in a 7-part Series on “The Art and Craft of Characterization” Part 5: Inner vs. Outer Conflict – the Clash of the Demons In part 1 of this series on character, I suggested that the one […]
Part 4: Characterization – How to Make Your Readers Love ‘em Instead of Leave ‘em
Today’s post is the 4th in a 7-part Series on “The Art and Craft of Characterization” Part 4: Crafting Backstory Recently a football player at the University of Oregon made national news – and Youtube – by punching an opponent after a game. It was an immediate hit – pun intended – on the Boise […]
Part 3: Characterization – How to Make Your Readers Love ‘em Instead of Leave ‘em
Today’s post is the 3rd in a 7-part Series on “The Art and Craft of Characterization” Part 3: The Psychology of Character In my ebook, 101 Slightly Unpredictable Tips for Novelists and Screenwriters, I recommend that you watch Dr. Phil. Really. Or Oprah. Or read the latest pop psychology bestseller. Or better, take one of […]
Part 2: Characterization – How to Make Your Readers Love ‘em Instead of Leave ‘em
Today’s post is the 2nd in a 7-part Series on “The Art and Craft of Characterization” Part 2: The True Empowering Definition of “Character” There are three ways you, as a writer, can define character. One of them is dictionary-like and completely less than relevant to this discussion. One is simply a literary adjective. And […]
Characterization – How to Make Your Readers Love ‘em Instead of Leave ‘em
Today’s post kicks off a 7-part Series on “The Art and Craft of Characterization” Part 1: An Introduction I know what you’re thinking: been there, done that. Because there’s very little about writing fiction that’s more common, boringly predominant and – here’s the rub – blatantly obvious than the vast oeuvre of characterization. You’re heard […]