Sometimes there are relationships in novels that just feel flat, and try as you might you just can’t get them to come alive. The characters themselves might be interesting, but when they get together somehow things just don’t feel like they pop. I’m here to help. Much like with individual characters, the key to spicing […]
Writing Advice
Shy characters don’t have to be passive
Every protagonist in a novel should start in one place and end up in another irrevocably changed. Character arcs are crucial building blocks of novels. One very common arc involves a character who starts off shy or timid and has to become brave or find their voice. But here’s the problem that I often see […]
Even minor characters need to want something
One of the core tenets of writing advice is that everything flows from a protagonist’s motivation. It’s what inspires journeys to Mordor, jaunts through strange chocolate factories, and maniacal voyages to exact revenge on a white whale. Characters need to want something. What’s often neglected: this applies to minor characters too! Every single character, all […]
A year of living uncomfortably
One of the double-edged swords of my personality is that I try really hard to find common ground with people. On the one hand, seeking common ground forges connections; it recognizes shared experiences and our ultimate shared humanity. It makes me an agreeable person on the whole. But sometimes the ground isn’t common. It’s a […]
The climax should resolve your character’s desires
When you think about writing a good climax in a novel, particularly if you’re writing genre fiction you often think about it in terms of excitement and thrills. It’s when the most exciting moment happens, it’s the apex of tension. But there’s another key way I’d think about it that will help you unlock the […]
Listen to your characters, but don’t let them run away
Nearly everyone who has written a novel has had the experience of writing an unruly character who suddenly takes the story in a different direction than you anticipated. Even the best outline can quickly go up in smoke. This is a good sign! It means you’re listening to the internal logic of the character and […]
