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
By Dianna Sanchez Recently, I baked banana cookies. I was doing a series of posts on holiday recipes because my book, A Witch’s Kitchen,
Resisting the Kitchen Sink
By Dianna Sanchez I recently attended a reading by Daniel Jose Older and Zoraida Cordova at which they both talked about their first novels. Older
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
By Sarah Lynne Reul Animation has been called the illusion of life. It’s the optical illusion of persistence of vision that creates the effect of
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
What’s in a Character’s Name? Part 1
The etymology of names is something that has always interested me. When I was in high school, writing plays, I went to the local book
Meet the Tricksters
April Fool’s Day is the perfect occasion to meet some Tricksters. You know these characters. Tricksters take the plot in unexpected directions,
Creating Active Characters
Good character development is essential for a story to work. The more complex a character is, the more we want to spend time with the
