The Two Types of Conflict Every Novel Needs

by Lewis / October 9, 2018 / Character Development, Story Structure

Have you ever read a story that’s going nowhere?

You read page after page, chapter after chapter, but get no payoff for your investment. Characters talk and travel, maybe fight a few battles, but it all feels flat. Boring. Routine.

You’re never engaged by the story. Ultimately, a quarter of the way through the book—or maybe even less—you set it down, pausing to unload laundry or make dinner, and you never return to it. What was once a story with potential ended up lacking the one thing every good story needs—conflict.

The Character Creation Workbook is Here!

by Lewis / October 5, 2018 / Character Development, News

Welcome to my first ebook launch!

As you may have noticed, this is an extra post for the week. That’s because I recently finished and launched my first ebook, The Character Creation Workbook, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce it to you!

This free ebook will help you as you begin sorting out the basics of the character creation process. It’s designed to give you some essential foundation before adding more complex skills in later chapters—something hard to do in individual blog posts. Overall, it’s a fantastic resource, one I wish I had when I first began learning about character development.

The 5 Signs of a Compelling Protagonist

by Lewis / October 2, 2018 / Character Development

When you think of a story, its protagonist is likely the first thing you remember…

From Odysseus or Frodo, to Elizabeth Bennet or the Doctor, protagonists define the stories they come from. Let me ask you—what would Star Wars be without Luke Skywalker, or Iron Man without Tony Stark? A compelling protagonist is not only the focal point of their story, but often the driving force behind its success. They’re more than just a pretty face.

Unfortunately, writers thrive on creating characters, and tend to love their characters just as much—which raises a problem for any diligent author. How do you know which of your characters deserves the mantle of “protagonist”?

Casablanca (1942): The Movie Structure Archives

by Lewis / September 28, 2018 / Movie Structure Archives

Genre: Drama/Romance
Writer: Julius and Philip Epstein
Director: Michael Curtiz

Crafting Characteristic Moments that Work

by Lewis / September 25, 2018 / Character Development

Introductions are powerful—especially in fiction.

These characteristic moments matter a lot, but unfortunately, many writers make common character introduction mistakes that deflate otherwise great novels. Not only do these mistakes chase away potential readers, but they have reverberating effects throughout the entire story.

Fortunately, when done well, characteristic moments define characters, kick off their arcs, and set up the transformation they’ll undergo—all in their very first scene! However, it’s not just the introduction that the characteristic moment concerns itself with—it’s also the ending. So, how do you make your character’s opening moments shine?