Three Types of Fear
Fictional characters don’t only have wants and needs, often their actions are driven by three types of fear. It’s classic […]
Character
Posts on writing characters
More than a Hero’s Journey
Use whatever plot structure you want; story is more than a hero’s journey.
Hubris defeats the Master Strategist
No matter the antagonist’s intelligence, drive or competence, hubris defeats the master strategist. In the second book of my series,
A Monster of his own Making
The last of my series villains is a monster of his own making. No amount of wealth or titles can
The Savage Antagonist
My series villains includes one seemingly simple brute: the savage antagonist. A man of rage and violence, born out of
Hero-Saviour-Monster-Villain
At the center of my series is an antagonist who is all things to all men: Hero-Saviour-Monster-Villain. My challenge? To
From Bit-player to Leading Light
When one vignette comes to life, a hack actor goes from bit-player to leading light. And a short story spawns
The Fool Who Longs for Home
In a re-interpretation of the hero’s journey, the true hero is the fool who longs for home. It’s about the
Likable, sympathetic or just compelling?
What’s the priority for a protagonist in fiction: likable, sympathetic or just compelling? It seems counter-intuitive, but not every protagonist
Plot, Character and Second Sight
Why take the easy route when you can smash together plot, character and Second Sight? My fantasy series centers on