Monthly Archive: April, 2018

Why Characters Mix Up Words: Malapropism as Characterization

Ever misplace a word? For example, you’re trying to say, “impressionable” and you say, “impassionable.” Yeah. That’s not a word. But it is malapropism. And potentially embarrassing (and hilarious). That’s why characters mix up words like that – their authors are using malapropism as characterization. How Authors Use Malapropism as Characterization There are two major uses for malapropism in characterization:...

April Fools’ Day Prank Backfire? Practice Plotting.

Did your April Fools’ Day prank backfire? I hope not. But if it did (and you’ve sufficiently recovered from whatever embarrassment and anxiety that resulted), rewind that suffering for review and practice plotting. Plot Inspiration: Why did your April Fools’ prank Backfire? I don’t participate in April Fools’ Day pranks for two reasons: 1. that invites other people to prank...