Compelling Characters, Part II Let’s talk about the motivations for your character. Think about Kurt Vonnegut’s brilliant advice that every character in your scene should want something, even if it’s only a glass of water. If you have someone in your scene and they don’t want something … you might want to write them out […]
Compelling characters In general, it’s wise to describe your character when they first enter your story. (There are exceptions, of course, and all rules here can be broken. ) You want your reader to be able to picture your character as early as possible. Just like grounding the reader with your setting, showing some detail […]
I was just a kid when my uncle’s wife went missing one winter. When I got my license, he asks me will I work for him. In his house, there’s two of everything. “His & hearse,” he says. Except there’s only one shovel. “Broke mine,” he tells me. “Ground gets hard ’round these parts.” He […]
Personal example for this week’s tip. When your characters speak, use the attribution “said.” A kind agent who asked to read my manuscript told me I had a character who “uttered” when she should have “said.” The agent was right. “Said” becomes invisible in your story, but “uttered” or anything else calls attention to itself. […]
Act I We were in love. Hadn’t admitted it yet, but there it is. I arrived late—that is, fashionable—for her party. Toured her apartment. Her highlight: Chekhov’s gun on the mantle. Framed certificate of authenticity just below. Act II Twice, we made eye contact across the crowded apartment. Smiled. Grinned, even. In the kitchen, I […]
Writing Rules for you to break. Here’s something I’ve been doing over the past year, and the results have been fantastic. I took a break from working on a novel and cobbled together some short stories. My goal was to finish at least one per month. Attainable and measurable. At the same time, I tried […]
The blustery attorney rolls his eyes. “My client is incapable of perpetrating such a crime. He’s only pleading guilty to save the victim’s family from going through a trial. I’d like you to recognize that in the sentencing, Your Honor.” The judge leans in. “His fingerprints are on the murder weapon.” “Circumstantial,” says the blowhard. […]
How’s that for an alliterative title? Continuing with my favorite writing rules. This should have been #1, but I forgot about it last week. This tip is courtesy of Elmore Leonard, the brilliant and prolific crime writer (yeah, yeah, formerly western writer too — 3:10 to Yuma, anyone?) and his 10 Rules of Writing. Barely […]
JD Frain 