Tips for writing compelling and realistic dialogue

Posted on 09/08/2020 at 11:18 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We’ve all been at a loss for words (some of us more often than others). How about your characters? Do...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Your viewpoint character should be more than a camera

Posted on 06/29/2020 at 03:44 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Bookworms whose favorite stories were made into movies often complain that the film leaves out too much from the source...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice

Zara Altair: Don't muzzle your characters

Posted on 06/05/2020 at 10:21 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

You may be hesitant to share your own opinion, as a writer, on topics that don’t directly relate to the...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Why a flawed character is perfect for your story

Posted on 05/26/2020 at 09:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Nobody’s perfect. (And if you think you are, well, post a few times on the internet and plenty of folks...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Joanna Penn

Make sure your main character isn't too passive

Posted on 05/05/2020 at 11:28 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Your protagonist’s job isn’t to sit back and watch the action happen — that’s your reader’s job. Editor Tiffany Yates...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative

Use the three Ms to build your character's foundation

Posted on 04/30/2020 at 04:19 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

C.S. Lakin has shared no shortage of character-development tips. Today’s tool will be perfect for those starting from scratch, either...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Characters, Jane Friedman

How and why to use incidental characters in your novel

Posted on 04/06/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

C.S. Lakin has one more type of character that she wants authors to make effective use of in their novels....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Characters

Add antagonists to your cast of supporting characters

Posted on 04/01/2020 at 03:51 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

C.S. Lakin has already discussed why and how to add secondary characters to your novel. The focus of her earlier...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Characters

How secondary characters can support your novel's plot

Posted on 03/23/2020 at 12:36 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Secondary characters don’t receive the bulk of the “screen time,” so to speak, but that doesn’t make them unnecessary or...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Characters

How to write an unlikeable character that readers root for

Posted on 03/17/2020 at 10:07 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The question of whether you can make an unlikeable character, well, likable seems at first to be a bit of...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Jane Friedman