What is it about crime stories? Even the authors who write them can’t agree, with some declaring it’s the satisfaction of confronting evil and others declaring it’s the vicarious thrill of participating in it. Either way, crime novels are popular. No matter what bookstore you enter, you’ll find a crime section. With so many novels …
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 »
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 …
Creating a worthy antagonist is just as important to an unput-downable story as the heroic protagonist. I know it’s easy, even as a writer, to fall victim to the charms of your protagonist and focus most of your attention on him or her. But imagine Sherlock Holmes without Moriarty, Mowgli without Shere Khan. These antagonists …
Here’s How To Give Your Antagonist A Little Oomph Read More »
