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 […]
Character
Posts on writing characters
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
Heroes of their own Stories
It’s easy to forget that your side characters are the heroes of their own stories; that they have their own
Characters Outside their Fictional World
If you take your characters outside their fictional world, do they still function as compelling, relatable characters? Drop them into
Restoring a Deleted Scene
Editing is a strange process, especially when you find yourself restoring a deleted scene.
How Many Orphaned Protagonists?
Ever thought how many orphaned protagonists there are in fiction? Why are there so many? Is it a staple, a