“You don’t really understand an antagonist until you understand
why he’s a protagonist in his own version of the world.”
― John Rogers
When writing a novel, writing characters who are interesting and who captivate readers can be a real challenge. If you don’t have engaging characters, your story will struggle and you’ll have a difficult time landing an agent and a publisher. That’s why we want to help. In this Twitter roundup, we’ve put together some excellent advice from agents, editors, and writers on how to write great characters and bring your novel to life.
1.
"Make sure you aren't so dazzled by the climax and the conclusion of [your] plot that you abandon the conclusion of your character's long internal struggle." – Elizabeth Lyon #writingtips #writers
— P.S. Literary Agency (@PSLiterary) October 28, 2020
2.
Each individual character in a novel must have their own voice, mannerisms, faults, hopes and dreams. Yes, I said faults. Without them they will be caricatures, as opposed to three-dimensional. #amwriting #writerslife #writingcommunity 🙂
— Annie Acorn (@Annie_Acorn) January 15, 2021
3.
Allowing your audience to see a character they’ve previously disliked as vulnerable makes them more sympathetic and starts to explain some of their more questionable behaviours.#writingtips #writingadvice #amwriting #writerslife #writingcommunityhttps://t.co/YBJXMkaoDf
— Siren Stories (@Siren_Stories) October 29, 2020
ATTEND A WRITERS CONFERENCE IN 2021
Here are some conferences I’m speaking at or helping coordinate in 2021.
All of them have attending agents meeting with attendee writers:
- February 12-13, 2021: Minnesota Writing Workshop (St. Paul, MN) NOW ONLINE
- March 13, 2021: Atlanta Writing Workshop (Atlanta, GA) NOW ONLINE
- April 9-10, 2021: Michigan Writing Workshop (Detroit suburbs) NOW ONLINE
- May 14-15, 2021: San Diego Writing Workshop (San Diego, CA) NOW ONLINE
- June 12, 2021: Florida Writing Workshop (Tampa, FL) NOW ONLINE
Click here for an updated list of events and dates.
4.
I don't know who needs to hear this, but characters don't need to lose their glasses to grow into their arcs. #WritingCommunity #writingtips
— Natasja Eby (@NatasjaEby) October 23, 2020
5.
Character development is key to an engrossing story: https://t.co/6C6meN814R #writingtips #nanowrimo #infographic #nownovel pic.twitter.com/ybReGI7QoF
— Now Novel (@nownovel) November 4, 2020
6.
We all have fears – and so should your characters. Give them personal demons to overcome. #writingtips #editing #copywriting #writingcommunity pic.twitter.com/EeS7zif7EH
— Grammar & Flow (@grammarandflow) October 27, 2020
7.
A #character is defined by the kinds of challenges he cannot walk away from. And by those he has walked away from that cause him remorse.
ARTHUR MILLER#amwriting #drama #writingtips pic.twitter.com/caJfGVGqV0— Jon Winokur (@AdviceToWriters) April 24, 2020
8.
“One of the most important questions you can ask at the beginning of your novel is whether the main character will undergo fundamental change or not. If not, then the story is about the character growing stronger.” #writing #writingtips #character #arc https://t.co/pTeUb4Bg7A pic.twitter.com/hsuRnDCzbR
— WritersGift (@WritersGift) March 20, 2019
9.
A narrator rarely lets a reader understand a character as well as a character can directly through his/her actions and behavior.#writingtips #character #fiction #writerslife
— Kris Spisak (@KrisSpisak) January 18, 2018
10.
Don't tell me your #character has purple hair. Tell me she spends more time on her purple hair than on returning emails. #WritingCommunity #writingtips pic.twitter.com/2jgpfSuRbK
— Catherine Spader (@Wulfhedinn) May 15, 2020
11.
#WritingTip 051: A #character's posture and gait can inform a lot about their personality. Use descriptions of these to reinforce certain traits to the audience.#writingtips #writingcommunity #characterdesign #amwriting
— Gary Greywood (@GaryGreywood) January 9, 2020
12.
#Character Journaling: Write about something you wish you could say to someone, but can't. Now interview supporting characters from your #wip & ask them what they REALLY think of the protagonist. What is it they wish they could tell her, but can't? #WritingCommnunity #writingtips pic.twitter.com/DwPyIjFj4F
— Lana Krumwiede (@LanaKrumwiede) April 25, 2019
13.
“In a well-structured story, [the crisis] inexorably brings the character face to face with their worst fear: the obstacle that is going to force them to face up to their underlying flaw.” – John Yorke. #writingtips #screenwriting #character
— Kiingo Storytelling (@KiingoCreative) October 22, 2018
14.
"If you're struggling with #writing a #character, write 20 things that the reader will never know about your character. These will naturally bleed into your writing and provide a richness even though you don't share the detail."~Barbara Poelle #amwriting #writingtips #writerslife pic.twitter.com/GvBbQstuot
— Troy (T. E.) Wilderson | Writer & Editor (@MizGolightly) July 31, 2018
15.
When an unconscious desire drives the story, it allows the writer to create a far more complex character. #writingtips #amwriting #character
— Robert McKee (@McKeeStory) September 24, 2018
16.
To be a protagonist they must have an antagonist who is blocking them from getting what they want. For each of your protagonists, you follow the conflict with the antagonist until the climax when the conflict is resolved.#writingtips #writingadvicehttps://t.co/BIwul8cLya
— JJ Barnes 🦋 (@JudieannRose) October 17, 2020
