A mash-up of links and leads for your amusement: It’s never easy to single out one Rocky Mountain Writer podcast guest (because they’re all so great), but I want to take a moment to point out two things about the recent episode with Kelley J. P. Lindberg. (Who is also our blog editor.) First, check…
Tag: backstory
Character Building with the Enneagram
A few weeks ago, I attended a workshop on the Enneagram, a method for analyzing personalities. Although the Enneagram is intended to help you understand yourself and the people around you, it also makes a great character-building tool for writers. Here are a few steps to get started using it. 1. Determine your character’s primary…
Bits and Pieces Make a Whole Character
The following conversation actually took place: Coworker: “How can I submit only the first chapter of my manuscript to a contest? The good stuff doesn’t start until chapter three—maybe four.” Me: “Your story doesn’t begin where you think it begins.” CW: “Sure as the day you were born, it starts in chapter one.” Me: “As…
Character Clues on the Christmas Tree
ORNAMENTS AND CHARACTERS Dismantling my Christmas tree is like a trip down memory lane. First I’ll tell you of some of my memories, then I will show you how it can help when you’re creating your fictional characters. PINE CONES. I love these, and use them on the tree and in my wreaths. I collected…
Backstory Feeds Frontstory
Whack me upside the head – go ahead. I was putting together a presentation recently for a workshop about writing mysteries and I wanted to make the point that the variety of ideas for mysteries—setting, characters, plots and themes—is endless. I thought it might be insightful and instructive (maybe even interesting) to look at recent…