This is Part 1 of the Mythic Guide to Heroes & Villains. Heroes and villains are nothing short of cornerstones within the literary world. Their incarnations have appeared in nearly every literary work, with very little and debatable exception. Throughout this series, you will be given a detailed insight into the worlds of heroes and … Read more
This article is by C.D. Waller. Writing strong characters is one of the biggest secrets to pulling readers into your story. Here are five myths that you should avoid when attempting to write compelling characters. Myth 1: Protagonists Must be “Good Guys” A lot of people think that the role of a protagonist is to … Read more
This article is by Erica Sunarjo. It’s a common mistake believing that writing is a simple, straightforward process. People usually imagine writers sitting in front of their laptops and writing what comes to their minds at the moment, as their inspiration takes over. The truth is writing a piece of work takes a lot of … Read more
Simply put, a change arc is the inner journey a character experiences from the beginning of the story to the end. It’s their transformation, or their lesson learned. It’s how far they’ve really come regardless the distance of their physical journey. And it’s super easy to mess up. So, here’s a cheat sheet to use … Read more
If you’ve been around people interested in the art of storytelling, chances are you’ve heard someone claim that characters need agency. If you’re anything like me you may have a vague impression that it’s about giving the character a reason of their own for doing things. That’s sort of correct. I’ll try and clear things … Read more
Dark Lord Darkington Darkingly frowned while stroking his chin. A thought came to him that was so devious, so devastating, that he had to share it with someone. A useless henchman stood patiently before his table. He would have to do. “I am going to destroy the world!” Dark Lord Darkington Darkingly shrieked. The henchman … Read more
The Knight in shining armor, chivalrous to the very end. The majestic charger of gilded plate barding, galloping forever onward like a divine wind. The wielder of powerful, enchanted arms as the bane of the unjust and unholy. Unwavering devotion to their cause as the defender of the weak, and the usurper of the vile. … Read more
This article is by S.H. Mastersmith. A character’s arc refers to the journey a character goes through, and the changes and self-discoveries they make along the way. The character starts the story with certain thoughts and morals (or lack thereof) and through a series of events, those thoughts and morals are changed, for better or … Read more
This article is by Alanna J. Jordan. As a fiction author, archetypes can be a powerful tool in your writing arsenal. Archetypal characters draw upon the human psyche, enabling you to write characters who are instantly recognizable. But as with any other tool, archetypes can be overused or badly bungled. Here is some advice on … Read more
This article is by Anne Marie Gazzolo. Have you ever considered having stories or songs within your tales? J. R. R. Tolkien does this masterfully within The Lord of the Rings. He demonstrates on several levels the power such things have to add life to a story. Stories Add Depth Your world has a history … Read more