The Toll Men

These 8 tips on using characters in your stories will help you make sure that readers are involved with your story people right from the start.

Tip 1: Make sure that the reader knows as early as possible who the viewpoint character is in any scene. Do this by tapping into thoughts or emotions that can only be known by the viewpoint character.

Tip 2: Decide on and mention names early in the story. Carefully chosen names help the reader get a rounded picture of your character. (It also helps to stimulate the writer’s imagination.)

Tip 3: Give an early “thumbnail sketch” of your character. While it is boring for the reader to suffer through a lengthy description of any character, don’t make the mistake of being too sparing with your description. Give the reader enough to form a picture of your character - ‘first impression’ in looks and personality.

Tip 4: Ask: “Whose story is it?” If one of your secondary characters appeals to you more, and is ‘taking over the story’, you might have chosen the wrong protagonist. Whose story do you most want to tell? Whose story is likely to engage the reader more?

Tip 5: Use character tags (hair colour or style, annoying habits, distinctive voice etc) to help readers keep characters straight - especially if you have a lot of characters in your novel.

Tip 6: Don’t reveal everything about your character in the beginning. Leave room for the character to grow; for the reader to become curious, and for you to get to know him/her.

Tip 7: Know each character’s motivation for action. If the reasons for your character’s actions and thoughts are not clear to you, the writer, then you will probably find your character doing or saying things that are unbelievable. Motivation is all important! Character motivation comes from two sources: from the inner nature of the person, and from external events that move that person towards making certain decisions. The character’s actions will be a result of both internal and external motivation. Make sure you give yourself time to really understand your character.

Tip 8: Characters who have inner conflict are more interesting than more static characters. This does not mean you can have them act out of character “because they’re conflicted”. Their inner conflict IS part of their character. They can be pulled two ways… but the reader should be able to understand the reasons for both impulses.

(c) Copyright Marg McAlister

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers’ tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

{to my fiancée, Charlotte Belialba}

If you met me in my youth
In the days I was wilder and freer
Could you have loved me still?

If you met me in my youth
When my heart was restless and untrue
Could you have persevered and stayed?

The mental picture of you which I’ve always painted
Soft-haired, flowers on your head
Starry smiles beneath idyllic eyes
Lovely lips, supple skin
Would you have loved me then
Like you love me now?

The scent of my Summer siestas
There on the magical swing
Beside the generous apple tree
In the backyard lawn
Of Cousin Mike and his family’s home

Moments spent yearning for my own ‘lao jia’
Could you have been dreaming and hoping
In the same moments for someone like me?
Could I have been the portrait of your love
Even if I had not arrived?

- 10:58 a.m., Monday, June 14, 2004;
Surrey, British Columbia
While listening to “When I See You Smile” by Bic Runga
(’Beautiful Collision’; 2002, Columbia)

©2004 elf ideas

About the Author: aLfie “eLf” vera mella was born in 1971 in Metro Manila, Philippines. He was a very inquisitive child who had shown fondness for reading and writing at an early age. He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, but the literatus in him never left his heart. A true artist, eLf was the vocalist of a New Wave band, named Half Life Half Death, which served as the musical vehicle for his poetry. Before he left his beloved country in 2003, he was working as an editor of and writer for scholastic books and magazines. eLf is currently living in British Columbia, Canada, serving as a caregiver for his maternal grandfather. He may have left a well-loved work but for a noble reason, and he never ceased from doing what he loves most since childhoodwriting. Virtually always home, he usually spends his solitary nights reading, researching, and writing about various subjects of his interestchiefly, Culture, History, Literature, Mythology, Music, and Sciencewith New Wave music always lingering in the background like a gentle breeze on a quiet sea.A writer at heart, eLf started inditing his thoughts around the age of six; and he intends to continue documenting his feelings and ideas until his twilight./http://www.elf-ideas.blogspot.com

Source: www.isnare.com

- Au Terminus ! ordonna Jean au chauffeur du taxi dans lequel il venait de sauter. L’htel
Terminus était situé au centre ville, en face de la gare l’angle de l’avenue de l’Indépendance.

Pour la suite, veuillez visiter le lien suivant:
http://www.gggems.com/aventure_gemmologique.htm

Auteur de plusieurs romans inspirés de nombreux voyages dans des pays producteurs de pierres précieuses et d’expériences insolites dans ce milieu.

About the Author

http://www.gggems.com/aventure_gemmologique.htm
Auteur de plusieurs romans inspirés de nombreux voyages dans des pays producteurs de pierres précieuses et d’expériences insolites dans ce milieu.