A common criticism that comes up in writing workshops is that a particular character isn’t “sympathetic.” I once had a student who seemed pleased with this response. “You’re not supposed to like him,” she said. Her character was the stereotypical bad husband; Tucker cheated on his wife, Gina, and to make matters worse, had initiated…
Tag Archive: Fiction
Thinking Like a Real Writer
Many people define a “real writer” as one who’s published. I’ve always had trouble with this definition because, as far as I’m concerned, one has to become a real writer before publishing’s even on the radar. A real writer thrives, not from raw talent alone, or a list of publishing credits, but from an inner-directed…
Hallmarks Of An Effective Flashback
In narrative, we catch characters in the middle of things but each story has its own history. A flashback moves back in time, catching us up on the significant events that happened before the story’s opening. It can fill in essential backstory, influence the way we view the present, or illuminate a character’s desires and…
Measuring Success
Recently an aspiring novelist told me she would never feel successful unless she published a bestseller. I replied that book sales have little, if anything, to do with literary achievement. After all, if making the bestseller list is the chief barometer of a writer’s success then Jackie Collins and Victoria Gotti are outrageously successful. I…
Losing the Plot
Recently I stumbled across an article offering advice about how to go from initial idea to story. This author’s prescription for creating compelling fiction? First, outline. Know your beginning, middle, and end. Create character sketches with a list of physical features and personality traits. Next, map out the story’s events. Think of your story as…