building characters Category
Dazzling Dialogue––Part II
Posted on January 10, 2018 Leave a Comment
Dialogue is a compression and extension of action. There are certain elements that are essentials to creating dazzling dialogue. Every character has a “want” in the scene. They’re saying something because they want something, or there is something they want to avoid. Click to Tweet #dazzlingdialogue #amwriting
Writing Your Story from the Middle––Part V
Posted on November 22, 2017 Leave a Comment
How do you create a “mirror moment for our lead character? Ask your character a series of questions, and their answers will help you create their “mirror moment.” Click to Tweet #amwriting #writefromthemiddle
Writing Romance 101––Part IV
Posted on October 4, 2017 1 Comment
We’re discussing crafting the Heroine––the key to any romance. To get your reader involved in the novel, convince her that your heroine is not only someone she would like to know, but someone she would like to be. Click to Tweet #amwriting #writingromance101 #craftingtheheroine
Writing Romance 101––Part III
Posted on September 27, 2017 1 Comment
Crafting the Heroine. The heroine is the key to any romance. Yes, we women also want a great guy for her to end up with, and we’ll talk about crafting him, too, at a later date. The romantic heroine is the reader’s alter ego. She controls everything the reader feels. Click to Tweet #amwriting #writingromance101 […]
Keeping the Middle Moving––Part III
Posted on July 5, 2017 Leave a Comment
A successful objective met in a scene for the character should still lead to more trouble. Let the character stew about a negative outcome from the last scene. What are the emotions? Click to Tweet #keepmiddlemoving #amwriting
Story-fixing Your Novel––Part VII
Posted on February 22, 2017 Leave a Comment
Let’s take a look at the main character. What applies to him/her will apply to all the characters that need to be “fleshed out.” We’re talking about “Dimensionality” –– or adding proportions and scope to your main character. Readers want to read about conflicted characters doing difficult or extraordinary things. Click to Tweet #amwriting #storyfixing
Story-fixing Your Novel––Part VI
Posted on February 15, 2017 Leave a Comment
When creating a story, we’re encouraged to create a “backstory” for each of the main characters. This is what’s happened to the character before the story begins, and affects how that character behaves. But don’t confuse character “history” to “backstory.” Use only what backstory is necessary to the story now. Click to Tweet #amwriting #storyfixing
Story-fixing Your Novel––Part IV
Posted on January 18, 2017 Leave a Comment
This time we’re talking about setbacks. How can hindrances, hold-ups, delays, impediments, and obstructions to your protagonist can actually help move your story along? Click to Tweet #amwriting #story-fixing
Plunging the Depths of Deep POV –– Part I
Posted on August 3, 2016 Leave a Comment
What IS “Deep POV?” Its seems that’s all publishers want to see these days. In the next series of blog posts, we’ll look at it, how to write in it, and how to polish your POV to make your manuscript extraordinary. #amwriting #DeepPOV
Creating Extraordinary Characters––Wrap-Up
Posted on July 27, 2016 Leave a Comment
It’s been a L-O-N-G series, but I wanted to especially focus in on different tools you can use to identify your characters’ personality types, by looking at least a couple different tools. I won’t get into the four types of Personality Plus; you can look those up yourself. They were created by Florence […]
Donna L.H. Smith 