“Show, don’t tell!” It’s arguably the oldest saying in the literary world. If you’re a writer, especially a fiction author, you probably hear this advice all the time. But what exactly does it mean? Showing vs. telling was something I struggled with my sophomore year of college. It wasn’t because I was a bad writer,…
Two of the main reasons we tell stories are to teach lessons and to discuss the human experience. These factors drive the plot of stories across all cultures, and can often be boiled down to a few major themes. Understanding how to use themes in your manuscript will help you bring your writing and message…
If you’ve ever sat through a high school literature class, you know about archetypes. Maybe your 9th grade English teacher asked you what archetypal character Jim Stark was in Rebel Without a Cause. Maybe your 11th grade English teacher asked you what archetype Gatsby fit into. Regardless of what character, book, or movie it was…
I’ve written about the basics of developing characters before, but this post is a more in-depth resource for character development. In this ultimate character questionnaire, I’ve compiled a list of questions, traits, and more to help you develop rich characters for your next novel, short story, or script. While not every question/prompt will be applicable to…
One of the main reasons I’m drawn to a book is because of the characters. Story and plot are important, but without developed characters to drive that story forward, a great plot is useless. Creating a complete character might seem easy, but there are various components that go into the character development process. Today, I’m sharing…
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