Category: Characters (Writing)

Building an Authentic Character Voice

Building an Authentic Character Voice

Characters are possibly the most important part of a book; the characters are who your reader will connect with. If your readers connect with your characters, they’ll willingly follow them through your story. But you have to make sure they connect, and character voice is a big part of accomplishing that. Your character’s voice involves all of their background and quirks, all of the personal behaviors and ways they speak that your readers will relate to. So let’s get into how to build a strong character voice.

Cultural Background

It’s important to consider Continue reading “Building an Authentic Character Voice”

Preptober Prompts Day 9 – 2020

Preptober Prompts Day 9 – 2020

Ooh, this is a fun one.

How do different characters view your core setting differently? Are any of those views accurate?

Saria views it as a magical fairyland. After all, she’s ten and she just found out she’s a princess. There is magic, and the people of The Hylands tend to be pretty cool, so she’s not entirely wrong, but of course nothing is quite as rosy as a fairytale.

Leafman doesn’t give a whole lot of thought to the setting itself, actually (although he misses things like electricity), because he’s too busy thinking about how miserable all the people are. (They’re not.) But, though he’d never admit it, he does find the capital rather charming and inspiring, with all sorts of pleasant, colorful characters in it.

Sarabrina finds The Hylands fascinating. She’s read so many books and imagined Continue reading “Preptober Prompts Day 9 – 2020”

Preptober Prompts Day 4-5 – 2020

Preptober Prompts Day 4-5 – 2020

Today we get to dive into my personal favorite topic: Worldbuilding. Today’s prompt is

How has your character’s home changed within their lifetime?

This is an especially interesting question for The Half-Elves, because Elk hasn’t been home Continue reading “Preptober Prompts Day 4-5 – 2020”

Preptober Prompts Day 3 – 2020

Preptober Prompts Day 3 – 2020

Today’s prompt is a flash fiction prompt from R.A. Oke.

What would push your protagonist to become an antagonist? Write that scenario.

This would be too easy to answer for Leafman, so I’m going to go with Elk for this one.


“With King Julen back again, we’ve decided we’re sending Leafman and Saria back to Earth.” Continue reading “Preptober Prompts Day 3 – 2020”

Preptober Prompts Day 1 – 2020

Preptober Prompts Day 1 – 2020

Happy October! Brisk weather, changing leaves, pumpkin and apple everything, extra excuse to wear flannel (and boots!)… And, of course, Preptober Prompts! If you’re unfamiliar with how this works, check out this year’s announcement post.

Because of how this month is laid out, I decided to do “Reader’s Choice” prompts for these first three days of October instead of at the end, and I asked for prompts from members of one of my writing groups. I didn’t get a whole lot of submissions, so these first two happen to be from this year’s Flash Fiction co-host, Maple! She’s an awesome blogger and author, and she has something up her own sleeve for Preptober that I’m super curious about, so go give her a follow! (Plus, you don’t want to miss her flash fiction prompts later this month. ;) )

But without further ado… this year’s first prompt!

What change does your main character need to make to become a healthier them?

I’m working on Continue reading “Preptober Prompts Day 1 – 2020”