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Characterization – Fiction
Author Jenna Blum described the process of creating a character: “It feels like having a string dangle out of thin air and you pull on the string, and the next thing you know, a sweater knits itself out of nowhere and you have a character who is made out of whole cloth.”
Characterization is one of the five elements of fiction, along with plot, setting, theme, and writing style. A character is a participant in the story, and is usually a person, but may be any persona, identity, or entity whose existence originates from a fictional work or performance.
Characters may be of several types:
Point-of-view character: the character by whom the story is viewed. The point-of-view character may or may not also be the main character in the story.
- Protagonist: the main character of a story
- Antagonist: the character who stands in opposition to the protagonist
- Minor character: a character that interacts with the protagonist. They help the story move along.
- Foil character: a (usually minor) character who has traits opposed to those of the main character
Jobs for Fantasy Characters
Having a difficult time deciding what your characters should do for a living? In this post, we look at 24 jobs for fantasy characters.
Slang and Jargon Souces
A list of jargon and slang sources. Jargon is special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand. It is the specialized language of a specific group, trade, or profession, often using terms that are difficult for outsiders to understand.
Fiction vs Nonfiction
The fiction vs nonfiction comparison presented in the following article should help understand the basic differences between these types of literary works.
Knowing and Finding Your Voice
By Shirley Kawa-Jump
Finding your true writing voice is a lot like falling in love — you know it when it happens. Until then, you bumble along, trying this style and that, wondering if this is it or if a better voice is out there just waiting for you. You question and doubt, reaching nearly the point of despair before finally, your true voice comes to you and you know exactly who you are as a writer.
Working with a Critique Group
By Shirley Kawa-Jump
Not all of us are objective about our work. In fact, if you asked even top authors if they are the best voice of reason over what works and doesn’t work in a given story, they’d probably say no. Why? We are too close to our writing to see the flaws. And to be quite honest, a piece of writing is a lot like a child–even if your kid is ugly in the eyes of other people, you see the beautiful creation of your genes. You don’t see the missing plot lines, the stilted dialogue, the flowering descriptions. You see art.
What is Characterization?
author unknown
There are many ways to show character: exposition; description; action; gestures and mannerisms; setting, tastes, interests; dialogue; thoughts; and narrative voice.
The Sticky Story
Emily Jean Carroll
The Sticky Story by Emily Jean Carroll What is a sticky story? A sticky story is the kind you want to write. I can think of three kinds. You want your readers–beginning with the editor or publisher you send the story to–to turn page after page of your…
Painting With A Character’s Brush
By Janell Looney
Every aspect of our own personal history colors the way we experience the world around us. The same must be true for the story world as experienced by our characters. Effective use of point of view (POV) means far more than staying in one character’s head, describing events through her eyes. Her personality, her history, her view of the world, must affect every aspect of the way she narrates those events.
Dynamic Characters
By: Nancy Kress
Characters, they are the life of your story. Literally. As a long time reader it has always been my opinion that the greatest books are the ones with full, believable characters. You know what I mean? They make finishing a book bittersweet, you are happy to know the end and yet,
Crafting Romantic Suspense
By Nora Roberts
Construction is tone of the key words in creating romantic suspense. In a romance novel, the love story is built step by step on the emotions, needs, doubts and personalities of the protagonists. In a suspense, the mystery, intrigue, secret or tension is built state by state with facts, innuendo, atmosphere and action.
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