Tag: character development

Children as Props

father reading bedtime story for his daughter while lying down on the bed

What happens when lead characters have children? Obviously children can be compelling lead characters in literature and film. Just look at some of the most popular, longstanding works we know: The Chronicles of Narnia Harry Potter Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Charlotte’s Web Anne… Continue Reading “Children as Props”

The Secret Character Arc

Every good story needs a character arc. Plot arc and character arc—those are the two essential ingredients in any story. Without those two, you have something less than quality storytelling. What I’ve noticed, though, is that not all characters see their own arc. Now… Continue Reading “The Secret Character Arc”

Good guys, bad guys: what’s the real difference?

Do you ever stop and think about what exactly it is that makes one character a hero and another a villain? It’s easy to chock it up to a good vs. evil conrast, but it seems that the more complex and realistic the characters… Continue Reading “Good guys, bad guys: what’s the real difference?”

Saints and Prudes: what do they show us?

You probably don’t sit down to watch a show with the intent of analyzing and breaking down its elements. Most people don’t. And to be honest, I didn’t plan to when I first started The Last Kingdom, but by the time I finished season… Continue Reading “Saints and Prudes: what do they show us?”

Wait… What did I just see?

Do you ever finish watching a series and then just need some time to mentally process everything? Four weeks after finishing Season 3 of “The Last Kingdom,” I am still formulating my opinions on the series as a whole. I will say that as… Continue Reading “Wait… What did I just see?”

Verbal Flab: when can a novel afford to lose weight?

I tend to think of a novel as a cut of meat. A lean novel is one whose words center on the story— the muscle, if you will, composed of characters and their actions. The details that do not directly impact the muscle (if… Continue Reading “Verbal Flab: when can a novel afford to lose weight?”