How to Create Incredible Characters Easily

Written by Caterina Christakos


Creating incredible characters can be easy if you know of a few simple rules:

1) Each character should have his own voice. If your character is from Brooklyn, give him brooklyn accent and mannerisms.

2) Before you write, decide on his or her background and outline it thoroughly. If she is supposed to be from a high profile Georgia family, know what her parents do for a living. Is she trying to live up to their standards or does she move to California in rebellion? Why?

3) Know your character's motivations. If he is a seriel killer, what about his upbringing or his mind created him intorepparttar pathological criminal that he is.

THE MYTHS OF WRITING: HAVE YOU BOUGHT INTO THESE?

Written by David B. Silva


THE MYTHS OF WRITING: HAVE YOU BOUGHT INTO THESE? David B. Silva

There is an image most people carry ofrepparttar artist (think Van Gough's self-portrait,repparttar 129227 one with his ear bandaged), working in solitude in a barren garret in a dark corner ofrepparttar 129228 city. Everyday is a struggle. He continually walks between moments of brilliance and moments of insanity. It's a romantic image, I suppose. Built aroundrepparttar 129229 belief that an artist must suffer for his art.

This applies not only torepparttar 129230 painter, mind you, but also torepparttar 129231 actor,repparttar 129232 dancer,repparttar 129233 photographer,repparttar 129234 writer. We all must suffer for our art.

But image and reality are often two different things. Writing, for example, does NOT have to be a torturous process of endurance and pain. In fact, it should be exactlyrepparttar 129235 opposite. Liberating. Joyous. Enlightening. Why else would you want to invest so much of yourself in it?

So let's take a closer look at a few common writing myths.

This first one actually applies in all areas of a person's life. Simply stated: Having a big ego is a bad thing. It's unbecoming. It's boastful. It puts you in a negative light.

The truth is … if you want to be a success at anything, you need an ego. It motivates you, keeps you moving, pushes you to do your best. It's not your enemy. It's your ally.

The key to making it work for you is to keep it directed inward. Pump yourself up silently. Let it fill you with pride and a sense of possibilities. That's whatrepparttar 129236 ego does best. Used wisely, it will move you toward your writing goals, not away from them.

Our next common writing myth is one you hear allrepparttar 129237 time: you have to write something original.

What is originality?

There's only one thing inrepparttar 129238 world that can make your work original. That's you. Because that's all you have to bring torepparttar 129239 table as a writer. Who you are. Your history. Your experiences. Your family. Your beliefs.

When a publisher says he wants something original, he's saying he wants something fresh, something that reflects yourepparttar 129240 writer. He wants your voice, your honesty. The world already has a Stephen King and a Mary Higgins Clark and a John Grisham. It doesn't need more of them.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use