Not every character can be a Heathcliff, or even a Lockwood, in fact statistically most of the characters in your novel are going to be minor characters. Whether its conversations shared with co-workers and family members or altercations with taxi drivers and shop-keepers, your main and secondary characters will spend a lot of time with …
Since the start of fiction, we’ve seen ourselves in animals, Gods and monsters and used them to populate fantastical worlds in which we’re happy to get lost. Sometimes, the best way to explore an idea is to do so using non-human characters, and sometimes it’s just enjoyable to invent and enjoy beings that never were. …
Are You Writing Believable Non-Human Characters? Read More »
Every character, location and event in a story needs to be introduced and explained to an audience. Every relevant detail has to be explained, and that explanation is the element of a story which enchants a reader more than any other. It is the essence of storytelling. The way you explain the details of your …
Are You Killing Your Book With Too Much Detail And Explanation? Read More »
Characters are the heart of a story, the engine that drives them and the feature which sticks longest in the reader’s mind. As with any powerful device, it’s important to control your use of characters. One absorbing character is iconic, three is brilliant, five could leave room for nothing else. So how many characters should …
