If you’re looking for a way to flesh out your characters, check out this site: Character Flaws: The Seven Chief Features of Ego. What I find fascinating is how each flaw is exhibited in people, and why. For example, The Martyr Complex. Someone with this flaw is convinced that s/he’s persecuted, and believes that s/he’s… Read More Character Development: Character Flaws
I’m reading McKee’s Story along with one of my writing partners, and we’re both finding gems. Sure, screenwriters are the intended audience, but story structure is story structure. My favorite lines so far: “But fact, no matter how minutely observed, is truth with a small “t.” Big “T” Truth is located behind, beyond, inside, below… Read More A Day in the Life of a Writer: Wisdom from McKee
I’ll be writing about how I’m using GMC, which I got from GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra Dixon (Clean link) I’ve begun working on my novel again, and recently had a breakthrough because of an app I found online that utilizes Dixon’s GMC. I dumped what I… Read More A Day in the Life of a Writer: Back to GMC
I just discovered this on Facebook, and I think that may be the only place you can use this technique. If you’re stumped about what to name your characters, try this meme-y thing: Did you know your CELL PHONE has a name? Try this: 1st step: From your mobile number, take the last 3 numbers.… Read More Naming characters
I don’t see much online on the subject of using metaphors in character development, so I’m sharing my process. I’ve got this homeless character in the opening scene of my novel and she did something that surprised me. I thought she was just a crazy old lady, but she pulled a .357 on a Beemer… Read More A Day in the Life of a Writer: Metaphors and Character Development
I just finished reading The Help, by Kathryn Stockett—and it occurred to me that part of why I’ve been stuck on my story is that I haven’t gone inside myself and excavated. I have been writing a story I don’t passionately care about. I love my characters, I just don’t care about what they’re doing… Read More Excavation
If you need inspiration for your hero, take a look at this guy: when everyone else was mocking Charlie Sheen, he took a stand. Add to that that he’s down-to-earth, he thinks strong women are sexy, he looks past physical beauty to the person within, and he’s freaking hilarious–oh, yeah, baby. My hero’s got a… Read More Hero material
My heroine, Diana, is a painter. She got in trouble as a teen for painting on abandoned buildings (and once she did a county building in protest against them closing the county library)–and that is the extent of my knowledge of graffiti. I know that it’s usually illegal, that there are fines and or jail… Read More A Day in the Life of a Writer: Research
Here’s what happened when I released my stubborn hold on who I thought my characters were. I asked my heroine why she didn’t want to run the family gun shop. (Yes, I talked to her. I was a little cautious about it because the notion’s kinda kooky, and I really didn’t want my kids to… Read More Using GMC: Diana
I’ve been poking around the web, looking to connect with other writers. Here are some of the sites I’ve visited and liked: (the links will be organized; right now you don’t know what you’ll be taken to, but trust me (please)–this is like tiramisu. Every bite is delicious.) HighSpot Inc.’s Directory of book trade people… Read More Links for Writers