Baking a 7 layer cake is like writing a story. You have so many tempting and tasty choices to make, and each new layer builds
Tag: characterization
Describing Characters
I recently started revising my YA science fiction novel. I have very vivid pictures of each character in my head. When my critique partner read
Want to Know Your Characters? Try a Character Sketch.
One of the hardest aspects of writing a novel, a good novel, is creating characters that are relatable. Whether you’re writing a 300 word picture
The Plotter, Pantsed
Recently, I baked banana cookies. I was doing a series of posts on holiday recipes because my book, A Witch’s Kitchen, was #10 or 14
Resisting the Kitchen Sink
I recently attended a reading by Daniel Jose Older and Zoraida Cordova at which they both talked about their first novels. Older revealed that actually Shadowshaper
Rick Riordan is a Demigod!
Look at a picture of Rick Riordan. You can see his quirky sense of humor in those eyes. Although he might feel like he lives
Charlie Brown Inspires a Character Study
While watching The Peanuts Movie the other day, I was reminded of how much I empathize with Charlie Brown. This kid has inner conversation going
Mapping Character
By Almitra Clay I’ve been on a personal journey for the past few months, doing something that I’ve needed to do for a long time:
Show Me!
I’m often asked to present my workshop on the differences between “showing” in your writing vs. “telling” in your writing. I thought I’d share some
Animation, Illustration and Writing – Part 1: Iterations
Animation has been called the illusion of life. It’s the optical illusion of persistence of vision that creates the effect of a moving image on
Do You Share Any of These Offbeat Ways Authors Pick Character Names?
Today my “show biz insider-y” YA romance Map to the Stars releases (shameless sales plug: it’s only $1.99 right now for your e-reader!) and in honor of it being an unapologetically light and fun beach read, I thought I’d pick an equally frothy topic to explore today: cool and/or silly ways authors name characters.
What’s in a Character’s Name? Part 2
What’s in a Character’s Name? Part 1 focused on the etymology and origins of names. In Part 2, let’s consider 5 things to think about
