The Ultimate Guide to Motivating Your Protagonist

by Lewis / March 26, 2019 / Character Development

Massive storms, alien invasions, and killer pigeons all have one thing in common…

These potentially deadly events have all been used as protagonist motivation. In fact, raising the stakes through extreme measures is a staple of many genres, and is a common way for writers to motivate an otherwise unenthusiastic protagonist.

Someone’s going to die, get captured, get hurt, et cetera… The protagonist is the hero, so of course they won’t let that happen. It all makes so much sense! But does it really?

11 Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Dialog

by Lewis / March 19, 2019 / Character Development

What sets your writing apart from the competition?

It’s undeniable that a myriad of factors determine the quality of your novel, from how compelling your characters are to how well you resolve your conflict. However, a key element missing from many people’s list is the quality of your dialog.

After all, language is what sets us apart from other animals. It’s how we share abstract ideas and it’s how we write novels filled with fantastical made up worlds! Our ability to speak is fundamental to our interactions with others, and the characters in your novel should be no different. Unfortunately, many otherwise stellar stories are dragged down by cumbersome, stilted, and outright frustrating dialog.

The Truth: How to Complete Your Protagonist’s Character Arc

by Lewis / March 12, 2019 / Character Development

“The truth will set you free.”

Any biblical connotations aside, this quote is something I strive to always keep in mind when writing characters for my novels. After all, a character’s arc hinges on them learning an important lesson, discovering something greater about themselves and their world in the process. It quite literally sets them free.

Still, in the whirlwind of writing plot twists, drama, and conflicts, it’s easy to forget the simple, yet powerful influence of this lesson—known as your character’s “truth.”

How to Break the Shackles of “Plot Versus Character”

by Lewis / March 5, 2019 / Character Development, Story Structure

There are two sides to every novel: plot and character.

There’s no doubt that these two elements are fundamental components of every story. However, many people only feel equipped to handle one or the other. Writers often think of themselves as either plot-driven or character-driven, but rarely both.

When I first began my own writing journey, I was all in on writing characters. I could spend days doing nothing but tinkering with my cast’s personalities, playing with names, or making up complex histories for each of them. Yet, none of that hard work translated to a good story, because there was a key component missing.

Fanfiction: Why Every Novelist Should Write It

by Lewis / February 26, 2019 / Other

“Where does inspiration come from?”

If you asked ten writers this exact question, you’d get at least a dozen answers. Everyone finds inspiration in different ways—by listening to conversations, through dreams, from artwork or music, or through personal experiences. Few would say these methods are illegitimate, because most people understand that inspiration is a personal thing. We all have our own quirks and preferences.

Why then are other’s stories excluded from this vast pool of inspiration? Can you not draw inspiration from other novels, movies, or series? Why is fanfiction off limits?