Every little kid has dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. Your characters are no different. As an exercise: Make a list of your characters and write down what they wanted to be when they were small. Also write down what they actually become and how that compares to their childhood… Continue reading Exercise: When I Grow Up
Tag: development
Defining Storytelling
There are surprising and unsurprising places to find elements of storytelling. Many different mediums have been used to share stories with others.
Worldbuilding: Weather and Seasons
Anyone who’s lived in Arizona for a couple of years can tell you that there’s minimal seasonal change. Although spring tends to be windier than most of the other seasons, it’s a dry climate and the majority of plants that grow natively in the desert are meant to survive in that dryness. It’s no surprise… Continue reading Worldbuilding: Weather and Seasons
Plotting Exercises
Of all three major story elements, plot can arguably be the trickiest to master. In simplified terms, plot is the progression of events in a story. That doesn’t mean chronological order however—alongside linear plots there are parallels, flashbacks, episodic, circular and so many more plots. Mastering plot however, doesn’t need to be difficult. There are… Continue reading Plotting Exercises
Exercise: The Rule of Threes
We’ve all heard the rule of threes. That is, bad things come in three. Accident, illness and even death show up in our lives and thanks to bias, people tend to notice when they occur in sets of three. So should your characters. As an exercise: Take some of the minor or side characters from… Continue reading Exercise: The Rule of Threes
The Written Vixen 