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Characterization, Dialogue, Language usage

Writing Lesson 24 – Unique Character Voices

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 [...]

Characterization, Goal, Motivation and Conflict

Writing Lesson 19 – Conflict of Values

Creating Unforgettable Characters, Part 4

In my last post we explored Internal and External Goals. Each of us has things we value. It makes us ‘tick.’ We don’t always recognize, though, what our values or goals are. We roll on in life doing what we believe is right and never stop to ask why we act the way we [...]

Characterization, Plotting

Writing Lesson 16 – Picking Ripe Characters

Stories Start on the Brink of Change

When you’re thinking about the characters for your story, choose ripe characters. Concoct a man who is on the brink of a choice. Or a woman who must make a moral decision, say between saving her job or exposing a lie. A ripe character stands on the precipice of [...]

Characterization, Goal, Motivation and Conflict

Writing Lesson 13 – Digging for Goals

Creating Unforgettable Characters, Part 3

Dig up a goal to motivate your characters into action. They will have depth and your story will come alive. Delve into each character’s personality and ask about the hidden fears, secrets, and the values. Find out what makes them tick.

Interview the characters you’ve created. Ask about their external goals first. [...]

Characterization, Goal, Motivation and Conflict, Plotting, Showing vs. Telling

Writing Lesson 12 – Creating Inner Conflict

Creating Emotion in Writing

Almost every writing class or craft book will tell you the same thing: fiction must create a compelling emotional experience. The problem is these teachers also let you know that if your character cries, the reader probably won’t.

So how do you build this emotion? Simply writing highly emotional phrases such as her [...]