Category Archives: characterization

Before the Hero’s Journey

This fantastic blog post provides insight into a journey of great interest to writers of middle grade and young adult fiction–the path to individuation, and even better, that path as it relates to women and girls.

The post refers to many classic and recent books for writers for further investigation. I’m bookmarking this one, and you might like to as well. Click on the link below to check it out.

Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Maiden Arc

Some Recent Posts on One Way to Wonder

Other Places to Find Me

My Art Portfolio

Especially for Poets

My Local Trips

Notes From a Virtual Easel

My Authors Guild Site

My Latest on Instagram

Happy Sunday from our daughter and her duck (a long long time ago,) #duck New show up today in Grand Junction. From an acrylic painting I did years ago of a wall of tools. I just loved the design. Zazzle makes these cool hangings. I love their prints. #artprints

My Latest on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/redrockpoet/

    Find More Articles for Writers on This Blog

    2012 2013 advice agent agents author authors blogs books challenge character children's books contest creativity fiction help hints ideas information inspiration literary literary agents NaNoWriMo NaPoWriMo novel novels november picture book picture books plot poem poem a day poetry professional promotion publication publicity publishing resources revision social media structure submissions writers writing

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    Advice about Naming Characters

    Think of your favorite story people. Their names are as familiar as those of your best friends. In real life most of us don’t bother to adjust our names to our personalities, so sometimes they don’t quite fit.

    As writers, though, we can take advantage of subconscious biases to help readers love or hate story people.

    Here’s an interesting article from the Pikes Peak Writers newsletter about character names. I love this organization and have attended many of their excellent conventions. The one this year is virtual and signup will begin soon.

    Click on the link below for the article What’s in a Name?

    What’s in a Name?

    or visit one of my other recent posts for writers.

    I’ve been finding great articles for quite a while. Looking for something special? Try the tag cloud.

    2012 2013 advice agent agents author authors blogs books challenge character children's books contest creativity fiction help hints ideas information inspiration literary literary agents NaNoWriMo NaPoWriMo novel novels november picture book picture books plot poem poem a day poetry professional promotion publication publicity publishing resources revision social media structure submissions writers writing

    I’m a painter and photographer too. Visit my art blog “Thinking in Pictures.”

    https://wordpress.com/posts/lindajarmstrong.wordpress.com

    Here’s what’s going on over at my Instagram account.

    Happy Sunday from our daughter and her duck (a long long time ago,) #duck New show up today in Grand Junction. From an acrylic painting I did years ago of a wall of tools. I just loved the design. Zazzle makes these cool hangings. I love their prints. #artprints https://www.zazzle.com/mystery_in_blue_violet_poster-228494279116330300 #art #print "Decisions" Contemporary acrylic painting on canvas at #fineartamerica https://fineartamerica.com/featured/east-river-l-armstrong.html?product=metal-print #metal print #digitalart #cityscape #newyorkcity #Fineartamaerica #decorideas #modifiedphotography Set a timer. Get up and move. Refreshes your mind and you may even live longer. (She says as she sits here for hours... )#RedRoseThorns #OurVoiceIsOurPower #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #add #workfromanywhere #work Depression isn't sadness. It's no feelings at all and it's the worst feeling in the world. You don't have to suffer. Help is available and you can use your insurance. I just posted Coda, part of my Saddlehorn Variations Series, on the Saatchi site, https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Coda/8064/10326047/view

    and here’s my account at Flickr. There are abstract photos and also some cool pics my Dad took when he was in Alaska in World War II.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/redrockpoet/

    See ya around the Web.

    Keep up with my latest hot finds.

      NaNoWriMo Tip #3: Create a Character Outline – GalleyCat

      Galley Cat will be offering great tips for writing your novel every day this month. Check out the day’s post and the archive.

      NaNoWriMo Tip #3: Create a Character Outline – GalleyCat.

      From The Write Practice Blog, Advice on Creating Good Bad Guys

      The most important character in your story is the villain. If you find that your story is lacking something, you probably don’t have to look any further than the opposition. If your hero doesn’t have much to overcome, he can’t be much of a hero. The greater the evil he faces, the greater your protagonist will be. Even in stories of man against nature, it can’t just be any storm, it has to be the Perfect Storm. See what I mean? Click below for some great ways to make your opposition more effective–and more original.

      50 Shades of Villain: How to Characterize Without Cliché.

      Find Out Why Picture Book Manuscripts are Shorter Than They Used to Be

      If you have checked market guidelines lately, you know picture book manuscripts are shorter than ever. Read the post below to find out why.

      re: What’s Up with the Super Short Picture Book Texts? | DearEditor.com.

      There Can Be Only One…Main Character, That Is

      About main characters. Screenwriters know about story structure. It is a good idea to listen to them about this. Of course, there are always exceptions, but if you think your book has more than one main character, this post is worth reading.

      Let’s Schmooze – Doug Eboch on Screenwriting: There Can Be Only One…Main Character, That Is.

      Sidekicks: Why Stories Need Them

      If you think about your favorite stories. you will probably notice that the hero or heroine has friends. Where would Don Quixote have been without Sancho Panza, or Dorothy without her three adorable companions? Here’s a great article about sidekicks .

      How to Kick Your Story Up a Notch With a Sidekick.

      Writing Dialogue

      Here, on Kristen Lamb’s amazing blog for writers, is part three in a series on improving your dialogue skills. Check it out!

      Les Edgerton & Two Tips to Take Your Dialogue to a WHOLE New Level–Part 3 | Kristen Lamb’s Blog.