One of the very first articles Sophia and I posted on the blog was about how to write arrogant characters in such a way that your readers don’t want to close your book forever. There’s a way to do them right, so that your readers can understand their flaws, even if they don’t relate to…
It has often been pointed out that old fairy tales are not the most nuanced. The evil characters are just that — pure villainy. Our protagonist is the ideal of perfection. There are no antiheroes, broken protagonists, or even characters with any serious faults. While the conventional wisdom of modern storytelling is to allow your…
Side characters can seem like more trouble than they’re worth. After all, we’ve talked over and over again on the blog about how a well-rounded, truly relatable protagonist will draw in just about anyone. There’s something magnetic about characters with goals, desires, and fears that makes readers unable to put your book down. It’s those…
In the beginning of the month, I wrote an article on what not to do when writing a love triangle. I went through many of the common pitfalls and difficulties that come up when writers include a love triangle in their story carelessly. But it’s completely possible to avoid those traps and write a love…
Love triangles have been written in all kinds of stories. They’re immensely popular not only in the young adult and romance genres, but also across fiction in general. And while there is definitely a time and a place for love triangles, too many authors include them when they aren’t necessary, assume they’re quick and low-effort…
Last year, we went through how to establish a theme for your book during the initial stages of outlining it. We walked through exactly how important themes are and how they are fundamental to every story. But a lot of people aren’t just starting a new book. Many writers are half way through or even…
We’ve talked a lot about tone on the blog lately. Whether you’re trying to manage a darker, more serious story without being overly violent, or if you want to balance a lighter story with higher stakes, managing your story’s tone is a multifaceted topic that requires a combination of several tools to do well. Although…
Last summer, I wrote about how the majority of stories to fall into two general categories — cast-focused and protagonist-focused. In a more in-depth article, we explored the strengths and weaknesses of both kinds and how they change your story. Mixing the two types happens occasionally, but it has to be done intentionally or it…
Certain stories bring with them an almost tangible brightness. It’s hard to describe, but something about them just seems unbeatably optimistic, even if the characters themselves face challenges, heartache, and even grief. These stories are heartwarming and often glorify adventure, romance, or friendship, using these elements to brighten the story. Despite the darker themes and…
Migration has almost everything you’d look for in a family-centered comedy: well-developed but humorous characters, hilarious gags, and its stunning visuals are truly unique, balancing the unique dynamic of classic 2D animation with three-dimensional depth. It highlights family themes, sibling relationships, and a call to adventure all within a refreshingly simple premise and plot. For…