Writing Characters
How a Strong Character Arc Can Make Readers Love Your Protagonist
Novel readers love it when a protagonist dramatically transforms from Page One to The End. Jerry B. Jenkins shares the fundamentals of developing a strong character arc.
How to Fall in Love with the Writing Process: 6 Questions to Hone Your Creative Workflow
Plots and characters will come and go, but for successful writers, passion for the writing process burns on. Use these 6 questions from Bob Mayer to transform your creative method from craft into art.
What Binge-Watching 'Stranger Things' Taught Me About Storytelling
As fans eagerly await Season 3 of Netflix hit series Stranger Things, Scott Hildreth offers three storytelling lessons and editing goals writers can glean from the show.
Grand Finale: Two Strategies for Writing Great Story Endings
Powerful, unexpected story endings will leave readers hungry for your next novel. Consider the following techniques to help your story resonate long past the last page.
No More Mr. Nice Guys: How to Write Flawed Characters & Antiheroes
Flawed characters and antiheroes make for fascinating protagonists—but their behavior can risk alienating readers. Follow this blueprint for flawed-yet-relatable heroes who can still provoke empathy.
Stan Lee's 1947 Guide to Writing and Selling Comics
In 1947, when comics legend Stan Lee was in his mid-20s and was just rising to notoriety, he contributed an article to Writer's Digest called "There's Money in Comics!" Read the article here.
100 Writing & Publishing Tips from the 2018 Writer's Digest Annual Conference
In case you didn't make it to the 2018 Writer's Digest Annual Conference, or you didn't manage to catch a session you were dying to attend, we've selected 100 of the greatest writing and publishing tips from the speakers who graced us with their knowledge and experiences.
Learn from The Incredibles: How to Write Super Characters
The Incredibles 2, the sequel to Pixar's iconic superhero film, offers writers the oportunity to enhance our understanding of effective character development. Here are a few lessons from the movie that you can apply in your fiction.
Script Classics: Everything I Needed to Know About Character Development I Learned From a Fish
Author, playwright and screenwriter Wendy Whitbeck delves into the unique underwater characters of the box-office hit Finding Nemo to explore how combining this particular mix of characters melded to create a totally memorable movie with strong character development.
Writers on Writing: Revitalizing the Batman Franchise with Batman Begins
David Goyer, who co-wrote Batman Begins with director Christopher Nolan, reflects on the creative choices he and Nolan made in bringing the darkest of the DC Comics’ characters to life.
4 Lessons Writers Can Learn from 'The Good Place'
The success of NBC's The Good Place relies on its flawed but lovable characters, charming humor and, especially, its game-changing twists. Here are some hands-on lessons you can learn from the show’s terrific writing.
How to Use Acting Techniques When Writing a Character's Emotional Journey
You may have the most intriguing story ever printed on a page, but ultimately we will care about the story because we care about the players in it and their journeys. In order to do that, you the writer must first create that emotional journey for each character.
5 Tips for Writing About an Established Relationship
Whether the relationship is healthy, codependent or even antagonistic, established relationships have a few unique things in common.
Creating Emotional Frustration in Your Characters
Frustration is often the most important emotion for fictional characters. Their reaction to failure drives the plot. Using examples and exercises, learn ways to create frustrated characters that will draw your reader into a realistic setting.