Category Archives: Characters

Allusions

Posted on May 11, 2023 by knlistman

The man awoke in an unrecognized ancient building. He attempts to leave, only to find doors lock and windows barred. Then, he discovers other people inside as bewildered as he is. They are all being held as prisoners. The only … Continue reading →

Posted in allusions, Characters, Drama and movies, Education trends, Fiction in education, Novels, Story structure | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Skip the Formula

Posted on April 6, 2023 by knlistman

At one point in time, 10 years ago to be more precise, I decided to write a romance. According to my critique group a romance is a genre that readers can’t get enough of and therefore an easy to market … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Novels, romance, Story structure, Writing trends | Leave a comment

What Rules?

Posted on March 9, 2023 by knlistman

It would seem easier to be a writer after gaining some reputation or a devoted group of followers. But, at that point the writer has to make the decision, “Should I keep producing what readers expect of me or allow … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Creativity, Literary devices, Novels, Style and voice, Writer's resource, Writing trends | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Did You Really Mean What You Said?

Posted on January 12, 2023 by knlistman

Dialogue in writing differs from real conversations. Fictional characters rarely ramble on for pages, circumventing what they really want to say with phrases that sound good but have hard to pinpoint meanings. Most of the uh’s, um’s and pauses in … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Literary devices, Style and voice, Writer's resource, Writing trends | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Villain’s Motive

Posted on October 27, 2022 by knlistman

There are multiple ways of uncovering how a person can become a villain. I can look at my own life and see what others did to harm me or what I have done to them by preventing them from accomplishing … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Literary devices, Story structure, Writing trends | Leave a comment

A Likable Villain?

Posted on October 20, 2022 by knlistman

Authors sometimes seek villains that their audience can identify with because they want the readers invested in the villain. This helps to propel a person to finish a book if they really don’t know what is going to happen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Creativity, Literary devices, Literature, Trends in books, Writing trends | Tagged | Leave a comment

Woman on a Tightrope

Posted on October 6, 2022 by knlistman

Recently the movie Not Okay hit a nerve by using “Unlikeable female protagonist” as one of the content warnings for its rating. What did the likability of the main character have to do with identifying the appropriate audience for this … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Drama and movies, Laughter and humor, Optimism and Pessimism, Self confidence, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who’s the Real Villain?

Posted on August 11, 2022 by knlistman

As a legend Robin Hood represents the kind of principled nonconformist on which many heroes are based. We love to read about people who confront government wrong-doing even in a criminal manner as he did. But, if a similar character … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Literature, Story structure, Trends in books, Writing trends | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Most Memorable Kind of Hero

Posted on August 4, 2022 by knlistman

Is this true that a memorable hero of incredible wisdom and strength can only show full worth when pitted against an incredibly powerful villain? The similarities between villains and heroes are often noted in fiction. So how does an author … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Creativity, Drama and movies, Literary devices, Writer's resource | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

When Do the Ghosts Show Up?

Posted on July 28, 2022 by knlistman

According to my friends I read depressing books, such as Cry the Beloved Country and Crime and Punishment, and actually enjoy them. What kind of books do I avoid reading because I find them depressing while others seem to relish … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Creativity, Literature, Psychology, Trends in books, Writer's resource | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment