The Inquisitive Inkpot
Exploring Tales and the Art of Telling
Tag: characters
Watching a Character Change
Watching people’s character change can be either delightful or utterly devastating. At its best, change can lead a person to a completely positive transformation, where their best qualities are ever more radiant and their inner demons are defeated. At its worst, change can turn… Continue Reading “Watching a Character Change”
Unforgivable Character Flaws
Character flaws. We can’t deny them. Nor can we fix them in other people. Sure, we can work on tackling our own character flaws and mitigating their expressions, but we will never eradicate them this side of eternity. While we shouldn’t cherish our character… Continue Reading “Unforgivable Character Flaws”
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”
Attractive Actors and Asinine Plots
Actors can get away with a lot in life. Attractive actors can get away with even more. We’ve all heard of celebrities who get let off the hook for traffic violations and other petty offenses, but they can get away with more than crime… Continue Reading “Attractive Actors and Asinine Plots”
The Romance that should (never) have been
Are you tired of romance? No, I don’t mean tired of your spouse or significant other. I mean tired of seeing romance in book after book, movie after movie, show after show, as if every writer thinks he or she invented the thing. No?… Continue Reading “The Romance that should (never) have been”
Transported: When Historical Fiction comes off the Page
Bringing a character to life is a challenge of its own, but bringing an entire era to life—that takes another kind of artistry. My most recent experience of historical fiction reminded me once again of why I love the genre: when done right, it… Continue Reading “Transported: When Historical Fiction comes off the Page”
How to Sell a Lead
Unlike most types of sales, this one involves no transaction. The agreement is unspoken, and is measured only by the customer’s insatiable desire for more. It’s the sale of a lead character. Last week we talked about the two different strategies to hooking readers,… Continue Reading “How to Sell a Lead”
Sales and Storytelling: the Hook
We’re all familiar with the cut-to-the-chase sales tactics that seem necessary in order for businesses to survive. But what can we learn from the business world if our mission isn’t to close a deal? Lots. It seems that two vastly different types of writers… Continue Reading “Sales and Storytelling: the Hook”
The Case of the Vanishing Character
Do you find it unsettling when people vanish from your life? “Depends on the person,” you say. Fair enough. But in general, when people who formerly played some semi-notable or even regular role in your life leave it, you usually have a sense of… Continue Reading “The Case of the Vanishing Character”
How Many Faces Can One Figure Have?
Have you ever seen multiple iterations of the same historical figure? I don’t mean simply multiple appearances of said person in a variety of different hist-fic books, shows, or movies. I mean different works both devoted to that person, whose portrayals clash in some… Continue Reading “How Many Faces Can One Figure Have?”
