Do you fall in love with characters first, or the plot? Characterization has always been my favorite part of reading and writing. A great plot is dulled if I don’t care about the characters undergoing the plot’s hardships. But what makes a phenomenal character like Hermione Granger or Atticus Finch? What does a writer pour… Continue reading Literary String Theory Part 1: Multidimensional Characters
If there is not conflict in your novel, you don’t have a plot. You have nothing for the characters to solve and nothing for the reader to look forward to or dread. Similarly, if your character has no internal conflict, he or she cannot change and thus will have a weak character arc. Now, not… Continue reading Literary String Theory Part 2: Characters Collide
Ensuring that your readers understand the actions and feelings of your characters is the only way to endear them to readers’ hearts for the long haul. Empathy for characters also keeps readers more invested in the plot. It’s pretty easy to have readers empathize with your protagonist(s), especially if you’re working in third person limited.… Continue reading Literary String Theory Part 3: Empathy Trumps Entropy
While zoning out on YouTube one day, I came across a video essay on Disney's Wreck-It Ralph that got me hot under the collar. The creator claimed that Wreck-It Ralph is, in fact, a dark, classist story that teaches children that you cannot overcome the situation into which you are born. He claimed that Ralph… Continue reading Cynics and Heroes: Examining Character Arc in "Wreck-It Ralph"
