Are you familiar with the concept of character identification? Readers say they identify with a character. Agents send rejections based on the fact they couldn’t identify with the protagonist. There seems to be some magic ingredient that makes or breaks a character, but the reason for the attachment often varies. Read more…
Last week we discussed your character’s subjective image of himself, and now I want to talk about how and when to expose your character’s core self. We all have an ideal self-image we try to portray to the world, but in moments of high pressure, the truth will slip out. Read more…
In this week’s Character Under a Microscope post, I want to zoom in on a character’s image. Specifically, her self-imposed image. While everyone has a persona that society sees, it’s not always the truth. Let’s look at a person’s subjective image and five categories to consider when you are creating Read more…
In every story, there is a section before the climax when your protagonist sinks to her lowest and is an emotional wreck. It’s your job to get the character out of her depression and ready to face the big event in the climax. Today, I want to discuss how to Read more…
It’s time for another Character Under a Microscope post where we look at character development on a deep level. Today, I want to talk about your characters and compassion. You may have heard of the phrases “pet the dog” or “save the cat.” These terms refer to a moment early Read more…
I love to read across genres, and lately I’ve been asking myself what all these books have in common that grabs my interest. It’s not just that they are “good books” as there are several of those out there I don’t enjoy. I’d say they all have intriguing plots and Read more…
Today I want to talk about promises and payoffs in a story. I’ve talked around these concepts a few times, but I realized I haven’t actually dug into them by themselves. So, we’re going to discuss what promises and payoffs are, the main types, and how to use them effectively Read more…
It’s time for another post in my Character Under a Microscope series where I discuss the nitty gritty details of character development. Today, I want to focus in on something that everyone experiences—stress! In a good story, your characters are going to face trials, and that will undoubtedly lead to Read more…
Today I want to discuss everyone’s favorite character in any story—the villain! You can have the most amazing hero, but, if your villain isn’t just as amazing, your story will fall flat. A villain provides the needed conflict and tension to make sure the hero’s story is engaging. Villain vs Read more…
We are back again for another entry in the Character Under A Microscope series where we dig into the small details of character development. Today, I want to talk about character tags. These are distinguishing details about characters that make them memorable. We will first look at why character tags Read more…