Writing dialogue isn’t as easy. Our characters can’t speak the same way we talk…else there, um, would be–well, I guess, it’d just be hard to kinda like, you know, follow. Character conversations are direct and to the point. They convey...
Run a Google search for “character profiles” and you’ll pull-up lot’s of character worksheets and questionnaires. Some of them are really basic, asking your character’s favorite color or if he ever had a pet. Others delve into character background –...
I just found this book and I want to know where it’s been hiding. It’s a brainstorm of ideas for creating unique, interesting characters. And, as you know, I always say, “Readers may open the book for the plot, but they stay for the...
There’s a formula that a strong plot plus a strong character arc equals a great novel. Readers love character development because it adds weight to the story. Sure, the adventure is fun or the mystery is thrilling, but add a layer of personal growth for your sleuth...
I just finished a manuscript in which a mystery is solved by an amateur sleuth who hates technology. It’s an interesting premise. Surprisingly though, the sleuth’s aversion to laptops, cell phones, iPods and treadmills had no impact on the story. It had...
Boat safety instructor Kate Parks recovers from an injury that ended her career with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, repairs her relationship with her estranged sister, and investigates a series of murders in her little beach town.