Characterization, Research, Setting

By Melinda Evaul, on April 30th, 2010
Many of my posts this year focused on character development. In this lesson, I want to touch on research.
Get to “know” your characters through research…
In a character driven novel, the writer must learn what makes the character act a certain way. By the time I start a novel, I know my character as I might [...]
Characterization, Language usage, Point of View, Showing vs. Telling

By Lynn Dean, on April 16th, 2010
“Showing vs. Telling”
We’ve written much about this concept of using vivid action, description, and dialogue to show what’s happening in a story rather than simply telling readers about what happens.
It would be fitting, perhaps, to “show” you an example.
Below is the first paragraph of a scene in my work in progress (wip), More Precious Than [...]
Characterization, Showing vs. Telling

By Melinda Evaul, on March 26th, 2010
We all have unique facial expressions and gestures. In a novel, these make each character different. Joe may frown when he’s thinking. Mary may pull her eyebrows together. Tracy might purse her lips and tap a finger against them. You might cross your arms and tap your foot.
We’ve discussed showing vs. telling in several lessons. [...]
Characterization, Language usage, Personal Motivation

By Teri Dawn Smith, on March 19th, 2010
A Creativity Tool
At any point when you create your story, you will come to places where you need to do some brainstorming. It could be at the beginning when an idea first begins to germinate. You’ll need to choose your characters, their profession, the goals, conflicts, and more.
Or maybe it’ll be in the middle [...]
Characterization, Dialogue, Language usage

By Melinda Evaul, on February 19th, 2010
Today we’ll focus on your character’s speech and mannerisms. In past lessons, we’ve discussed external and internal goals, core values and conflicts, physical details, and personality traits. Another layer in a character’s personality is speech. Each layer adds depth and makes your reader feel as if they know this person. Readers sometimes see themselves in [...]