Almost done with Character! We’ve been looking at how to select details to best convey characterization. Last week we came up with some details for Amos Anderson, the main character of one of the stories we’ve been developing. Now let’s use those details as fodder for his introduction using the seven methods of character introduction that we outlined a few weeks ago. Continue reading
Category Archives: Character
Character Names, Details, and Introductions: In our own work
We’ve been looking at how to select character details and introduce characters. Today, we’re going to select some concrete details for the main character of one of the stories we’ve been working on Continue reading
Filed under Character, Own Work Friday
Characterizing Details: How Thomas Harris Does It
I read Red Dragon* again recently. Let’s look at the details Thomas Harris chose for his antagonist’s introduction, Continue reading
Filed under Character, Story Master Wednesday
A Particular Character Detail: Choosing Names
As Nancy Kress says, “Characters have to be called something. And since they do, you may as well . . . make your names contribute to world building, characterization, and plot development.” To that end, here’s what the craft masters have to say about choosing character names. Continue reading
Filed under Character, Monday Tool Day
Character Details: How to Choose
Whether you know everything about your characters before you start writing or nothing about them, you can’t include every single detail in your manuscript. (Well, you can, but you probably shouldn’t.)
As Nancy Kress says, you’ll want to “choose artfully.” You’ll want to home in on the particular details your readers are looking for. Which details are those, you ask? Read on . . .
Continue reading
Filed under Character, Monday Tool Day
Characterization: What is it?
We’ve been looking at character: introducing the character, forging the reader-character bond, creating contradictions . . . All good stuff. But let’s back up a bit. There’s a word that gets thrown around a lot about character, and, I’ll admit, sometimes I feel like maybe I don’t actually know what it means. Continue reading
Filed under Character, Monday Tool Day
Character Introductions: How the Masters Do It
In the last post, we listed seven techniques to use when introducing characters. Most of the masters use a combination of techniques. Here’s how. Continue reading
Filed under Character, Story Master Wednesday
Character Introductions: Characterizing from the get-go
A character’s first appearance in a story is a big opportunity to characterize. Here are several ways to fulfill its potential. Continue reading
Filed under Character, Monday Tool Day
Character Tags: In our own work
If you’ve got lots of characters in your story or just have characters who leave the page for a while–or, you know, just have characters–it’s nice to remind readers who these people are. Enter character tags. Continue reading
Filed under Character, Own Work Friday
Character Tags: How the Masters Use Them
We’re looking at character tags. Here’s how some of the master story tellers help us remember who their characters are. Continue reading
Filed under Character, Literary Devices, Story Master Wednesday
