—by Karen Dionne Backstory refers to the characters’ history and other story elements that underlie the situation at the start of the book. Backstory helps to establish the setting and makes the reader care about what happens to the characters. But as authors, we need to be careful: Backstory by definition takes the story backward. Whether […]
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The holidays are upon us, and these winter celebrations with their many traditions each have a rich and varied vocabulary. From Krampus to kinara, latke to plum pudding, frankincense to yule—there’s a whole host of fantastic holiday words to explore. So broaden your lexicon and enter the holiday spirit with these fifty awesome holiday words!
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By: Peter Selgin | January 31, 2012 It’s not enough to love our story ideas. We need to weigh their suitability as subjects for fiction, and then figure out how to go about making use of them. This means steering clear of cliché and its sappy cousin—melodrama. Here are 10 tips to help you do just that. (Note:
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1. Decide which genre your character will be in. Is it fantasy, action, comedy, etc.? 2. Answer the following questions: What is this character’s purpose in the story? Why is this character needed in the story? 3. Decide what purpose your character serves. Are you creating a main character or a supporter? The object of affection or a despised
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