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
Taiyō scooted in his rickety chair to let the hulking troll woman squeeze by on her way to the golden bar top. Her round, gray face and bulbous nose reflected in the long mirror behind the bar. Taiyō leaned his chair back on two legs, black boots crossed in front of him, and studied the… Continue reading Caged Lightning: A Short Story
Over and over again, new writers are told, "Show, don't tell." It's great advice because all too often, new writers clog up the action of their story with summaries of places, events, and character relationships rather than properly immersing readers in the moment. I was given this advice as a fledgling writer, and I've written… Continue reading Tell, Don't Show: Properly Implementing Exposition
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"
