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Blog: Mel's Muse

Showing posts categorised as 'Character'

Creative Writing Workshop: Characteristic Conflict

In the last Creative Writing Workshop, we looked at the way in which we can go about Creating Credible Characters. Now I’m going to show you how you can bring creativity to the way you construct conflict. This is crucial when it comes to writing fiction and memoir (not to...

Posted at 18:43pm on 3rd August 2019

Creative Writing Workshop: Creating Credible Characters

When we looked at the issue of Crafting Character in the last Creative Writing Workshop, I said that Characters – whether in fiction or true-life stories – need:

Credibility – to be true to life Creativity – in the way they respond to conflict Complexity – the depth which makes them three dimensional

So...

Posted at 12:22pm on 27th July 2019

Creative Writing Workshop: Crafting Character

Today we're going to look at Crafting Character, and its importance in terms of plot and theme. This was the topic of the previous post in this series - the way in which The Riverbed of Theme runs through the narrative of a story, be it fictional or memoir. It...

Posted at 12:18pm on 26th July 2019

Creative Writing Workshop Introduction – Are You On The Right Track?

Right, let’s see. Are you on the right track? Is it that you want to write a book but don’t know where to start? Or that you’ve already written your book, but don’t know how to get it published?

From past experience, over many decades, I think I have some idea...

Posted at 14:42pm on 30th March 2019

How To Be A Writer Of Christian Fiction Books

Are you an established writer or aspiring author who is also a Christian? Is there a novel you want to write (or have written) for which you are unable to find a publisher? Do you enjoy reading mainstream fiction but find that Christian fiction books leave you cold? How does...

Posted at 23:50pm on 24th June 2011

Understanding The Drama Triangle In Personal Relationships & Fictional Characters

The theory of transactional analysis is a subject of never-ending fascination - both to those who find themselves participating in the Drama Triangle, and to aspiring authors involved in writing and publishing a book! Last week I met up with the friend of a friend and, during the course of...

Posted at 19:54pm on 25th August 2010

2 Comments

Develop Plot Ideas: A Combination Of Negative Personality Traits

My posts, in the last few days, have covered the way in which an aspiring author can use a combination of plot ideas to develop characterisation. For the purposes of demonstrating this aspect of creative writing, I’ve used a classical story taken from the Bible: the tale of Samson and Delilah. Since the entire...

Posted at 19:28pm on 21st June 2010

Developing Plot Ideas To Show Characterisation

I suggested, last week, that creative writing - that is writing a novel – requires an understanding of human nature. So where is an author to turn for such material? How can your book have that ring of authenticity whilst maintaining a page turning quality?

Any well-known, classical, story may be used as the...

Posted at 18:58pm on 16th June 2010

2 Comments

Creative Writing Plot Ideas: Dealing With Manipulative People

Whether you’re looking for new creative writing plot ideas, characters for your novel, or how to deal with negative personality traits in real life, there’s plenty of material to be found in this old story about Samson and Delilah. Tom Jones song must, surely, have made her one of the best known bad girls...

Posted at 02:11am on 12th June 2010

Creating Character Led Conflict In Your Novel

Last month I began what turned out to be a series about Transactional Analysis. It was what I call a combi-article: one designed to help real people with real needs, but also to inform the creative writing of authors of fiction. Titled Conflict Resolution: Relationship Psychology – And Creating Fictional Characters, my intention was...

Posted at 23:09pm on 8th February 2010

The Drama Triangle & The Games People Play

I looked, a couple of days ago, at Transactional Analysis – the Drama Triangle in particular:

First as a means of conflict resolution for those experiencing problems with their personal relationships. And second – for writers and aspiring authors – as an innovative way of creating fictional characters. THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

The theory of transactional analysis...

Posted at 22:30pm on 11th January 2010

1 Comment

Conflict Resolution: Relationship Psychology - And Creating Fictional Characters

What I’m about to tell you will revolutionise the way you perceive your personal relationships. It will also give you immense insight when it comes to creative writing and publishing a book and, in particular, when you’re creating fictional characters. So, whether you are attempting to make sense of your own relationships, or looking for...

Posted at 01:28am on 7th January 2010

1 Comment

How To Write Description In A Novel: Characters

Revised: 15th September, 2010

Writing and publishing a book requires an understanding of how to write description. Describing characters is a necessary part of creative writing, as is describing location. But I had to smile when I read a review in The Daily Telegraph, of the American TV drama, The Tudors. It appears that in...

Posted at 04:16am on 3rd September 2009

1 Comment

Modern Morality: What Is Its Place In Contemporary Fiction?

See, also, my post titled: Does Glamorising Abusive Sexual Relationships Adversely Influence Society? written in response to a recent BBC discussion about the merits (or otherwise) of a book like 50 Shades of Grey.

What do you learn about life, characterisation, plot or theme from what you read, or watch on...

Posted at 02:24am on 26th February 2009

2 Comments

Descriptive Writing Styles: Conveying A Sense Of Place, Person, Personality And Mood

When you sit down to write, do you find that the bit you like best is when you can indulge your love of description? Is that the part of your prose that you feel most proud of? Does it give you a thrill when you read it back to yourself? If so, you...

Posted at 19:35pm on 2nd February 2009

Reviewing Techniques When Resolving Conflict

This is the first Post on my shiny new laptop. As I wrote, yesterday on my Twitter wall (I think that’s the correct jargon) setting up a new computer is a nightmare of mistakes, misunderstandings and misapprehension. Hence the lack of time to add anything to my blog for a few days.

So I thought, today,...

Posted at 06:22am on 16th January 2009

2 Comments

Fiction - Main Characters And How To Choose Them

Revised and Updated: August, 2010

Last week, in Ten Tips Before You Begin, I wrote about the necessity for you, as an aspiring author, to identify your readers before you begin to write your book. That advice holds true whatever the genre in which you are writing. Today, we’re going to concentrate on writing a...

Posted at 23:51pm on 10th November 2008

Creative Writing - Creativity In Conflict

DEALING WITH CONFLICT – DO YOU KNOW HOW?

Ever felt that you fall out with your partner / colleague / mother about the same thing, over and over? Not sure why this happens? Even less sure what to do about it?

This Post will, I hope, be of interest to anyone reading it, not simply to...

Posted at 06:53am on 6th September 2008

The How-to Of Creative Writing - Credible Characters

A couple of days ago in the How-to of Creative Writing, I said that Characters – whether in fiction or true-life stories – need:

Credibility – to be true to life Creativity – in the way they respond to conflict Complexity – depth which makes them three dimensional

Today we’re going to look at the first of...

Posted at 02:41am on 2nd September 2008

The How-to Of Creative Writing - Characterisation

DO YOU ANALYSE WHAT YOU READ AND WATCH?

Last week we looked at the way in which Theme determines the subject or focal point of a story. Have you found, since then, that you’re beginning to be a little more analytical about what you read and watch?

Before I started writing professionally, I never considered...

Posted at 06:19am on 31st August 2008