Nathan Bransford on characterization. He proves he’s more than just a pretty face. He’s more than a nice fellow with a positive attitude. He’s also brilliant. Every character has to want something, he tells us. When I am bored with a book, this is almost always the reason–the characters don’t want anything or if they [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Characterization'
Nathan Bransford ~ Character Arcs
March 17th, 2009 · No Comments
Tags: Characterization
Naming Characters
March 5th, 2009 · No Comments
Here’s a wonderful blog post on naming your characters. In her list of things to avoid in character names, she give us: 3. Overly exotic names. Okay, I am talking about names that are usually reserved for strippers, I mean exotic dancers, professional sex workers and soap opera stars: Remington Steele, Shy Love, Johnny Wad, [...]
Tags: Characterization
Characters ~ What Makes Them Great?
November 21st, 2008 · 3 Comments
A gal in my crit group threw this out for discussion: What makes a good character? What captivates you in a character? What makes a character memorable? I wish I knew. Wouldn’t that be the golden ticket? To know what makes for captivating, memorable characters? So here’s a list I have had in my head [...]
Tags: Characterization
Plot or Characters ~ What Drives Your Story?
October 31st, 2008 · No Comments
Which Came First, the Characters or the Plot? Without plot, a piece of writing is not a story—it is a static description. Plot is what gives the story locomotion. And stories must move or they are not stories at all. Stories have beginnings, middles, and ends, and they have characters that stretch and grow. So [...]
Tags: Characterization · Craft · Plot