Curses allow for a lot of creative flexibility in how they are implemented and what they force upon the characters and the world. It’s a classic tool for writers to initiate the plot and start the story, either an outcome or the cause of the inciting incident. Sometimes it can be more of a metaphysical … Continue reading How to write a Character with a Curse
Tag: Plot
How to Write Absentee Antagonists
One of the core things I’ve learned is that creating well written characters is hard. There’s a lot that goes into each of them regarding their backgrounds, personalities, relationships, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Naturally writers think of the protagonist first and how to fully develop them which makes sense. We want the reader to feel … Continue reading How to Write Absentee Antagonists
The Importance of Story Length and Series Structure
After reading the Harley Merlin series, I noticed that I had the same feeling that a lot of other people had as well. The series really didn’t have to be as long as it was. It was something I started to think about for my own book series after some thought. My book series is … Continue reading The Importance of Story Length and Series Structure
Story Musing: Pacing
The flow of a story is just as vital as the content of the story itself. Something that a lot of stories suffer from is not understanding the ratio of time to experience vs content explored. It’s something that not only afflicts shows and movies but also books as well. Books that take forever to … Continue reading Story Musing: Pacing
Story Musings: The Importance of a Strong Supporting Cast of Characters
Character Development can take many forms and often rely on far more than just the main characters of the story. The world and, more importantly, the characters that inhabit that world affect not only the main characters’ development but the reader’s engagement to the story. Sometimes the protagonist can be an interesting and endearing character … Continue reading Story Musings: The Importance of a Strong Supporting Cast of Characters
Storymusing – The use of Tension in Writing
This is a bit of an abstract concept though it sounds super simple in its description. It’s no surprise that tension is a critical component for any compelling narrative. Without a tangible sense of suspense throughout a story, the drama feels hollow as nothing feels like a big deal within the narrative. But sometimes it … Continue reading Storymusing – The use of Tension in Writing
Why Character Deaths aren’t necessarily a good thing.
The death of a character is an emotional roller coaster for most. Some people will say it adds spice and excitement to a story however it can also do the opposite. Depending on the character, it can be intensely depressing or it can bring about a somber peace. With the exception of stories involving resurrection, … Continue reading Why Character Deaths aren’t necessarily a good thing.
Book Review : Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
For a long time I studied different methods of writing, storytelling and character development before I published my first book. A lot of what I learned came from lectures and advice Brandon Sanderson has posted on YouTube. I highly recommend that anyone learning to write look up these videos as they are eye opening for … Continue reading Book Review : Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Character Design : How do you write a deity?
While reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaimen, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the adventures of Thor, Loki and Odin. We live in a time where characters are expected to be deep and often complicated with various emotions. My first criticism of any story I read is whether or not the characters are … Continue reading Character Design : How do you write a deity?
The Antagonist : Person vs Person
Recently I've been thinking a lot about the dynamic of the story's antagonist and what that really means. Most books I've read have typically had a forgettable protagonist, just someone for the protagonist to defeat in a battle of good vs evil. But a memorable story tends to have an opposing force that serves to … Continue reading The Antagonist : Person vs Person
Raph's Cozy Musings 