For most writers, character backstories are pretty simple: kill off the protagonist’s parents so that they can have a tragic origin and aren’t held back by a family that cares about them. In many books, backstories fill a basic role as a history that makes the character seem both experienced with grief or suffering and…
This week the Story Fortress is taking a break for Christmas! We’ll be enjoying the holiday with our family and friends, but you can expect a new article bright and early next Friday morning. Thanks for sticking with us, and have a Merry Christmas! — Mara and Sophia
When I first read a story where the protagonist switched goals, I was irritated. The entire book had revolved around a certain goal. It had formed the central conflict of the entire story, the focal point of the protagonist’s development and internal conflict. And yet by the end the characters just… abandoned it. The story…
I think we can all acknowledge that no story is perfect. Even the very best fiction has some element that could be stronger, or at the very least a criticism that we can understand, even if we don’t agree with it. As writers, our own work is no different. No matter how many books on…
Writers of all types — whether fiction or nonfiction, poets or journalists — have struggled with the seemingly insurmountable challenges that come with writer’s block. Sometimes, we have no idea how to proceed with our story. Other times, we are discouraged because we spotted an unexpected plot hole. Perhaps most frustratingly, there are times when…
I used to struggle a lot with character deaths. I would have a wide cast of characters spread out before me, know it was unrealistic to have them all make it out of the story alive, and then force myself to kill one or two of them in the climax. But I always second-guessed myself….
The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that there aren’t enough sad moments in fiction, especially when a character has died and the rest of the cast is dealing with the grief. We might get a short glimpse of their funeral, or even a line or two of dialogue that shows the…
Unfortunately we’ve both been crazy busy this week and don’t have an article ready for today. Sophia and I have been working hard all week to get one polished and ready for you guys, so you can expect one next Friday for sure. In the meantime, keep reading and writing and let us know in…
It’s hard to share things that are close to your heart. It can be even harder to write them. It’s difficult to write scenes when your characters cry or share their deepest fears, because it’s the most vulnerable moment in your entire book. If your readers relate to their most passionate thoughts and secrets, your…
At this point, enough fantasy characters have traveled through magical portals to reach far-away worlds. That trope — a magic circle with teleportation properties — a has become cliched and predictable, with many readers asking for more creative devices to transport protagonists between two worlds. But coming up with a brand-new method of transportation can…