When sidekicks and bit-players take over
What happens to a book plan when sidekicks and bit players take over from the main characters? My fantasy series […]
Character
Posts on writing characters
Worst Tropes of YA Heroines
The tricky part of writing a YA fantasy is dealing with the worst tropes of YA heroines. We’re talking all
Worst Protagonist for the Plot
In order to write a successful story, you need the worst protagonist for the plot. Hear me out: the main
Don’t mess up the ending
No matter how well you write your beginning and middle, don’t mess up the ending. The end of a story
Not the Chosen One?
What if the protagonist of your fantasy story is not the Chosen One? A well-worn trope of fantasy fiction is
Give Every Character Their Moment
Stories aren’t just about the protagonist; you have to give every character their moment in the spotlight. Including the side
Seven Traits of Sympathetic Characters
According to writing coach Joe Bunting, there are seven traits of sympathetic characters. While they apply to any character, these
Competence Tempered by Flaws
The key to an appealing, relatable protagonist: competence tempered by flaws. Without flaws, you get a Mary-Sue paragon of virtue.
Character Stories Driven by Angst
Why are readers so fascinated by character stories driven by angst? No matter the genre, from Romance to Crime to
A Myth About A Shark
There’s a myth about a shark in the movie Jaws; how the constant breakdowns of the mechanical shark forced Spielberg