Forging the Reader-Character Bond. It's easier than you might think, and the results are well worth the effort. Especially if you can dig deep and come up with ways to demonstrate sympathy, jeopardy, etc. that are tailor-made for your specific character, in his specific story world. That extra specificity might be a little harder and take … Continue reading Forging the Reader-Character Bond: In our own work
The Reader-Character Bond: How the masters do it
This week, we're learning how to forge the reader-character bond. Here's how the masters do it: For these examples, I'm rereading only the opening scenes and otherwise drawing from memory. Let's Get the classic example out of the way first: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J. K. Rowling (MG)Main Character: Harry PotterFirst two chapters, … Continue reading The Reader-Character Bond: How the masters do it
The Reader-Character Identification Bond: 9 Ways to Create It
9 ways to forge a reader-character bond
Creating Three-Dimensional Characters: In Our Own Work
It's Three-Dimensional Characters week. Let's see if we can flesh out our characters with backstory and description, internal depth, defining choices and actions, and a future to anticipate or dread. When we last left off, we were working on a human rights attorney story and a diamond bullets story. Many of the past Friday posts have … Continue reading Creating Three-Dimensional Characters: In Our Own Work
Three-Dimensional Characters: How Stephen King Does It
Stephen King. All I can say is, no matter which of the three methods for creating three-dimensional characters you prefer, Stephen King is ALL ABOUT the three dimensions of character. Especially in The Shining. To make this exercise more manageable, I've merged Frey/Egri's dimensions (physiological, sociological, psychological) and Brooks's dimensions (Surface Appearance, Backstory, and Meaningful Choices) … Continue reading Three-Dimensional Characters: How Stephen King Does It
Three-Dimensional Characters: 3 Ways to Create One
We know them when we see them. We all want to create them. But what exactly distinguishes a three-dimensional character from that other kind? What exactly does "three-dimensional" mean and how do we render it on a two-dimensional page? Three-Dimensional Characters: What are they? Honestly, I had a hard time finding (as in, "I didn't … Continue reading Three-Dimensional Characters: 3 Ways to Create One
Structure of Plot: In our own stories
It's Outer Journey week. Today we're going to see if we can flesh out the major plot points in the one-liner's we're working on. 1. Our human-rights-attorney story: Set in the mid 1950's, against the backdrop of the first US Supreme Court case to affirm gay rights, a human rights lawyer joins a wealthy Los Angeles … Continue reading Structure of Plot: In our own stories
Structure of Plot: How Lisa Unger does it
We’re doing the Outer Journey this week, and today we’re looking at the Outer Journey of Ian Paine, the main character in Lisa Unger’s Crazy Love You. (We did Ian’s inner journey last week.) Spoiler Alert And a note: Half the story is told in flashbacks. While flashbacks support the front story and inform the journey, … Continue reading Structure of Plot: How Lisa Unger does it
Structure of Plot: The Outer Journey
Last updated 2.5.20 The outer journey is also known as plot, structure, narrative structure, and 'what happens.' PLOT: WHAT IS IT? "The what happens is your plot," says James Scott Bell. "Plot structure consists of the specific events in a [story] and their position relative to one another," says Michael Hauge. "Structure," says Larry Brooks, … Continue reading Structure of Plot: The Outer Journey
Versatile Blogger Award Nomination
Well, People, I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award (Thank you, Thomas M. Watt!). According to The Rules, and in good ol' chain letter fashion, I am to nominate some bloggers I regularly follow for the award and list seven things about myself. So here we go... BLOGS I FOLLOW I check in regularly … Continue reading Versatile Blogger Award Nomination
Writes With Tools 