Jack Heffron’s The Writer’s Idea Book, p.229, a prompt involves showing an aspect of a character’s personality that readers haven’t seen before in the novel. For example, if a character has been kind, considerate, and does everything right, show the opposite in a crucial scene. Heffron talks about Tobias Wolff’s Mary, “In the Garden of […]
Characters’ Flaws and Fears
Jill, my protagonist in Norman in the Painting, has a fear of taking risks. She went to the university closest to her hometown although she was accepted in several that were in different states. She wasn’t afraid to leave her parents or to leave her few friends. The small town in the story is a […]
Writing Characters’ Habits
When writers write characters’ habits, they can show body language like rubbing a nose, flipping long hair, etc. Habits can include lucky objects that a character uses before a challenge like a rabbit’s foot or a special crystal, penny, or any number of choices. In my novel, Norman in the Painting, I wanted Jill, the […]
Character Names
How did you determine what to name your characters? Did the names just pop into your head? Did you change the names often? Did you look up their meanings? In my multidimensional novel, Norman in the Painting, I choose the first or second name that came to me. I decided to look up their meanings […]
Is Your Character Addicted to Being Right?
If any of your characters are addicted to being right, they would rather be right than happy. They have to have the last word in an argument and proving their point of view takes precedent over listening to others. Even after being shown they are wrong, they still search for ways to prove their point […]
What Kind of Apple Does Your Character Like?
What kind of apple does your character like? The preference might not seem important but it adds the sense of taste and personalizes your character. It’s a detail that can add some depth. Another point to consider is the popularity of different apple varieties over the last few decades. Red Delicious was the top choice […]
Introducing Jill Steele in Norman in the Painting: Character Blog hop 2014
It’s time for a character-centric blog hop. Here you will meet Jill Steele, the protagonist of my multidimensional novel, Norman in the Painting. First, I will introduce the writer who tagged me in this blog hop, Justine Manzano. I connected with her on LinkedIn and she patiently walked me through the steps. Bio: Justine Manzano […]