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Category: Characterization, Plot, & Setting

September 13, 2015

Pulling 3D Characters out of Stereotypes

In “Show – Don’t Tell,” I mentioned that explicit characterization relies on the reader’s personal experiences to fill in the blanks: for example, saying that Grandmother Theresa was a sweet old lady doesn’t actually tell the reader much about the character. Instead, this statement is depending on the reader to associate Grandmother Theresa with any sweet old ladies that reader has met...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques Comment: 1
August 19, 2015

Acting Out: Character Motivation and Behavior

Having trouble figuring out your character’s motivation? Maybe, you should take an acting class. Yes, I’m serious. While it might seem more obvious to take a psych class or research human behavior, taking an acting class can be very helpful with writing when it comes to character motivation. That’s partly because of the way plays work. When performing a play,...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Creative Process/Theatre & Film Comments: 5
August 16, 2015

You Mean Real People Don’t Talk the Way I Learned to from Books?

As writers, we always want our dialogue to sound real. We don’t want it to be stiff or awkward (unless the character is) because we want our characters to sound like people, not robots. The problem with writing the way people talk is that people don’t talk in sentences, and they don’t use correct grammar (if you use correct grammar...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques Comments: 2
July 29, 2015

But I Love That Scene!

Sometimes you’re writing or editing, and you realize that a scene you’ve written isn’t driving the plot or helping with characterization. It’s not building the setting. It’s not even comic relief. In fact, it’s not doing much of anything except slowing the story down (One might even call it a tangent.). So take that bit out. What’s the problem? Well,...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/General Thoughts & Updates/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques Comment: 1