Every story is about conflict. The struggle between two opposing forces is what drives every story. Often that means that there is some form of antagonist or villain. As the antagonist, it’s easy to forget how to properly build a character, but weak antagonists can hinder your story just as much as a weak protagonist.… Continue reading Creating the Antagonist
Tag: characterization
Exercise: Creating Heroes
Pre-pandemic when thinking of heroes it wasn’t unusual to think of doctors, nurses, first responders and military personnel as heroes. If anything, Covid made us aware of the fact that there are more heroes around us than we can ever count. Heroes very genuinely can be found in every facet of life. That brings up… Continue reading Exercise: Creating Heroes
Exercise: Quiet Moments
Dialogue is a powerful tool, but it’s very rare that anyone—even characters—will come out and say exactly what they think or feel at any given moment. Instead, body language and action can help convey these things. As an exercise: Take a moment and write a slice-of-life flash fiction, showing how your characters interact with each… Continue reading Exercise: Quiet Moments
The Emotion Wheel
Of the three cornerstones of storytelling, characters have to put up with a lot. Not only do they have to respond and react to the movements of plot, but they do so within the constrains of their setting. Their motives are constantly questioned and everyone almost always wants to know what their goal is. It’s… Continue reading The Emotion Wheel
Exercise: Inserts
Characters are often the first thing a reader falls in love with. Building a detailed and dynamic character can be difficult. Thankfully, there’s plenty of ways to practice. As an exercise: Pick someone you know in real-life. Describe them as the main character in a story. Think about how they act, walk, talk and any… Continue reading Exercise: Inserts
The Written Vixen 