How to keep the "friend" in your fiction's set of frenemies

Posted on 04/09/2021 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

You know the qualities that make up a real-life frenemy. But it might not be as easy to create a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer's Digest

Why your protagonist should be an actor

Posted on 04/08/2021 at 09:14 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

If the first few (or more) pages of your novel are dedicated to your protagonist’s memories and thoughts, Kathryn Craft...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Plot / narrative, Writer Unboxed

Quick advice on character flaws and scene setup

Posted on 04/03/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We share quite a few posts and podcasts on our author newswire. But if those formats aren’t your favorite for...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer Unboxed

How to select and create a fantastical creature for your novel

Posted on 03/31/2021 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Writer’s Digest editor Moriah Richard has previously discussed how to incorporate an animal into your stories and develop it as...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Fantasy, Writer's Digest

How to show action affecting an unconscious POV character

Posted on 03/26/2021 at 02:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

If you’ve been following our newswire for any length of time, you’ve become aware of the perils of “head-hopping.” That’s...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Louise Harnby, Writing advice

A few ways to write a minor character who's a major hit

Posted on 03/25/2021 at 02:54 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Your minor characters could have a major impact on readers, if you play your cards right. Novelist Steve Goble has...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer's Digest

Sneak in details about your characters by choosing what they notice

Posted on 03/19/2021 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The details you notice in an unfamiliar setting (boy, those seem like distant memories, don’t they?) are likely to be...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer Unboxed, Writing advice

Put some thought into choosing character names

Posted on 03/15/2021 at 11:24 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Given how often we simply keep the names our pets come with, we can empathize with any author who struggles...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer's Digest

Give some thought to your protagonist's sidekick

Posted on 03/14/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Forgive us for bringing up one more character in your book to consider. Editor Diana M. Pho wants authors to...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Grammar Girl, Writing advice

Add an animal to your novel

Posted on 03/06/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Animals aren’t just for children’s books. Writer’s Digest editor Moriah Richard says that as long as the four-legged friend serves...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer's Digest