Understanding the 3 Stereotypes of Female Characters
This week, we’re focusing on how we as writers can create strong female characters that others will look up to, instead of harmful stereotypes.
Show or Tell: Writing Dialogue Tags and Beats
Speech tags and action tags or beats are essential when writing dialogue. These tiny but mighty words are the difference between reader confusion and enjoyment.
Dive into Writing Dialogue
Dialogue is a favorite for writers AND readers. Dialogue makes your character present and real in a scene. Let’s talk tips and techniques for great dialogue.
Creating Character Voice
Your readers should sense the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between the character voices in the stories you write. Try these exercises today!
Your Voice or Theirs?
Voice, whether your natural writing voice or the voice of a character, comes from an emotional place. Jan Fields gives us exercises to develop these voices.
Discovering Your Author Voice
Voice is something publishers want, but it’s an elusive thing to understand. Today, we discover ways to develop our own voice and the voices of our characters.
Building Solid Relationships for Stronger Writing
Relationships play a key role in most fiction stories. Thinking about relationships of all kinds will make for stronger writing that will engage readers.
How to Make Readers Fall in Love with Your Book
Two things will make readers fall in love with your book: premise and character. Jan Fields shows how to have them head over heels for both in your story.
3 Resolutions to Make You a Better Writer
There are problems every new writer faces. Let’s look at some of the most common issues and turn them into 3 resolutions to make us all better writers.
Writing New Adult: Bridging the Gap Between YA and Adult Romance
New Adult romance bridges the gap between Young Adult and adult romance. Lynne Smith gives tips on writing New Adult. Come see if this genre is a fit for you!
How 3 Words from Aristotle Can Help Your Story
Aristotle’s RHETORIC gives 3 elements for persuasive communication—Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. These 3 words are also what every book for young readers needs.
Writing a Book: Voice vs. Dialogue
Voice is a vital element of dialogue. Dialogue is essential to express a character’s voice. How do these intertwined writer tools work together? Let’s find out!
The Purpose of Dialogue in Writing a Book
Dialogue brings so much to a story’s character, pacing, and plot. You might even say it’s essential for writing a book. Let’s talk about why.
Writing Romance Tropes That Sizzle
Writing romance tropes that sizzle is a surefire way to grab an audience whether you’re specifically for the romance genre or any other genre. Get tips now!
Six Romance Tropes You Can’t Ignore
Romance is such a popular genre, so it’s essential to understand trending romance tropes. Check out the first three Six Romance Tropes You Can’t Ignore Part 1.
Looking Through Your Characters’ Eyes
Your challenge is to get your characters to reflect your style of writing, the genre, and the setting plus emerge as unique and interesting personalities.
Collecting Real Life Quirks for Character Creation
Real people can be the perfect inspiration for character creation. Which quirks can you use and which ones should you lose? Let’s find out!
Bringing a Cast of Characters to Life
Your cast of characters fills certain roles in the plot to bring forth an engaging story. Time to talk about your protagonist, antagonist, sidekicks, and more!
12 Writing Tips for Building Convincing Characters
Use any of these 12 writing tips and develop convincing characters readers will care about. No more two-dimensional characters in your stories!
Sneaky Writing Tip: Character-Building Characters
Characters populate our stories but what does it mean to write a character-building story? How do you help build character without preaching at your audience?
Block Out Writer’s Block: Write Your Book to The End
One of the biggest challenges to writing your book to the end is writer’s block. Jan Fields offers tips for getting past writer’s block and finishing your book.
Writing a Satisfying End for the Character’s Journey | IFW
Your ending needs something, but you can’t quite figure it out. Join Victoria Sherrow for tips on writing a satisfying ending to your character’s journey.
Using Complex Characters to Finish Your Book | IFW
Are your characters keeping you from finishing your book? Develop your characters, retool them if needed, and finish your book with these tips from Jan Fields.
Where Do You Get Your Inspiration for Writing ? | IFW
Writers are often asked where they get their inspiration. The key to getting inspiration for writing is less about finding it and more about recognizing it.
Series Books: The Trouble with Character Transformation
How do you handle character transformation in series books where readers fall in love with characters and expect to meet those same people, sometimes exactly the same people, book after book?
Planning a Book Series: The Premise
All series books have a basic premise, something that links the books through time. Today we talk about how a good premise is interesting but also has repeatability.
Planning a Book Series: Characters Who Can Go the Distance
When planning a book series, it’s important to create characters that can sustain a story and still be likable throughout many books. Let’s talk about characters that can go the distance.
Writing Great Middle Grade Dialogue
Because dialogue is an essential element of any book, it’s worthwhile to take a specific look at writing great middle grade dialogue.
236: 3 Ways to Find Character Voice
236: Finding Your Childlike Voice
March 12, 2021
Creating Science Fiction Characters: Don’t Let the Genre Upstage Them
Our goal in creating science fiction characters is to write characters that are deeper and more engaging than the fantastical world around them.
235: Quality Kid Dialogue
235: Authentic Kid Voices
March 5, 2021
234: Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Jamie Tan
234: Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Jamie Tan
February 26, 2021
Mystery For Young Children
Young readers love the interactive nature of solving a puzzle at the heart of a mystery. Study these mentor texts for tips on writing mysteries for kids.
218: Real Speech for Real People
218: Real Speech for Real People
September 18, 2020
Plotting Against Your Characters
“What’s the worst thing I can do to this character?” It seems like a terrible question to ask, but it might be the one that takes your story to the next level.
203: Interview with Wanda Brunstetter
203: Interview with Wanda Brunstetter
June 5, 2020
Characters Inspired by Real Life – Institute for Writers
153: Characters Inspired by Real Life
June 14, 2019
147: Interview with Editor Emma D. Dryden
147: An Interview with Emma D. Dryden
May 3, 2019
Pre-Made Inspirations for Your Characters | IFW
142: Pre-Made Inspirations for Your Characters
March 29, 2019
Ingredients for the Perfect Character
141: Ingredients for the Perfect Character
March 22, 2019
Character Arc and Conflict: You Can’t Have One Without the Other
For your main character to have a satisfying character arc, there has to be conflict. Without it, how does your character grow and change? Get these tips today!
A Letter from Editor Eileen Robinson – Institute for Writers
140: A Letter from Editor Eileen Robinson
March 15, 2019
Creating Characters Inspired by Real Kids | IFW
139: Creating Characters Inspired by Real Kids
March 8, 2019
People Aren’t Perfect – Your Characters Shouldn’t Be Either
While characters are often created from similar molds or archetypes, it is their imperfections that draw us in. Tips for crafting engagingly flawed characters.
138: Interview with Leslie Connor
138: Interview with Leslie Connor
March 1, 2019
184: Finding Your Childlike Voice
184: Finding Your Childlike Voice
January 24, 2020
182: Interview with Kate DiCamillo
182: Interview with Kate DiCamillo January 10, 2020
Picture Books: 3 Sides to Great Picture Book Characters
Picture books are a character-driven art form. A large part of their success lies in truly memorable picture book characters. So what makes us love your character?
126: Characters, Setting, and Theme, Oh My!
126: Basic Story Elements
November 23, 2018
Character Development: The Road to Greatness
What makes a character great and what do writers need to do to write great characters? Take a look at three sides of character development. Jump in now!
101: Listener Q & A
101: Listener Q & A
May 25, 2018
Writing a Character Who Has Cancer
When you write a character with cancer (or other disease), things can get touchy. Here’s how to ensure your character isn’t solely defined by their illness.
Character Development with Eileen Robinson
099: Character Development with Eileen Robinson
May 11, 2018
Three Keys to Believable Three-Dimensional Characters | IFW
When you sit down to write a new story, think about your characters. Giving characters heart, soul, and real faults—yes, faults—is vital to creating memorable characters.
094: Basic Story Elements
094: Basic Story Elements
March 30, 2018
067: Get Engaged (No Ring Required!)
067: Get Engaged (No Ring Required!)
September 8, 2017
Five Common Character Motivations – Institute for Writers
049: Five Common Character Motivations
April 28, 2017
040: Tell Adults to Butt Out
040: Tell Adults to Butt Out
February 24, 2017
Five Common Character Motivations of Value to Writers
What motivates young characters to do what they do in our stories? Author Jan Fields shares the top five character motivations for children’s stories.
030: Interview Your Characters
030: Interview Your Characters
December 16, 2016
Five Tips for a Great Main Character – Institute for Writers
020: Five Tips for a Great Main Character
October 7, 2016
Write It Right: Creating Characters for Young Children
009: Creating Characters for Young Children
July 22, 2016
Creating Characters for Children’s Magazines | IFW
003: Creating Characters for Children’s Magazines
June 11, 2016
Creating Characters for Young Children
When writing for kids, your main character must be someone a child can relate to and care about. Check out these tips for writing believable characters.
Stuck, Stuck, Stuck
Are you stuck and you wish you had someone to help you out? Look at your characters. Ask them what they want and then drive that plot ahead!
Number One, Engage!
Are you leaving your readers enough freedom to examine, experience, and learn? Or are you dictating a lesson? Here’s why you need to engage your reader.
8 Tips to Help You Get to Know Your Character | IFW
053: 8 Tips to Help You Get to Know Your Character
May 26, 2017
