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I just named some characters, Jane and John Smith. What does that say about these characters? Do you think boring? No, no, think alias. Think clueless that such an alias might be too transparently an alias. What would make them so clueless? Ah, you’re getting interested in my characters just from their names? One hopes [...]
Character Revision: 8 Ways to Jumpstart a Make Over You have a first draft, but you realize that your character needs work. How do you retrofit a character when you revise? I don’t think of a personality transplant. Instead, I try to add to and enrich a character. Here are 8 suggestions on how to [...]
You need tips on “how to write a novel” or “how to revise a novel.” Start here with ideas on how to strengthen your characters. Then read the companion series, Novel Diagnosis and 30 Days to a Stronger NOVEL. 15 Days to Stronger Characters (This was 30 days, but it’s been condensed to 15.) Characterization [...]
Character Names Help Characterize A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but do you really WANT to smell a swamp lily? Doesn’t the name itself just put you off? Or consider that in early drafts Margaret Mitchell is supposed to have named her famous heroine Pansy, instead of Scarlett O’Hara. Do you [...]
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