Before I get into whether secondary characters are important or not, what is a secondary character? A secondary character is any character in the story aside from the protagonist (main character) and the antagonist (villain or force in opposition to the protagonist). Just a side note here, an antagonist doesn’t have to be a character….
Category: writing fiction
6 Tips to What Makes a Good Story
Contributed by Aaron Shepard Good writers often break rules—but they know they’re doing it! Here are some good rules to know. Theme A theme is something important the story tries to tell us—something that might help us in our own lives. Not every story has a theme, but it’s best if it does. Don’t get…
Fiction Writing – 5 Top No-Nos
Fiction writers who are good at what they do, enjoy what they do. They like creating something from nothing . . . well from an idea. They enjoy the craft and the process. But, with that said, there are 5 top mistakes these writers make. 1. You make the beginning of your story all roses….
8 Top Fiction Writing Mistakes to Avoid
There’s a great article in The Writer, April 2012 issue (1). If you’re able to get your hands on a copy or find it online, it’s worth the read. Delving into this article, I did some additional research and came up with eight elements that are probably the most common fiction writing mistakes. 1. You…
Point of View and Children’s Storytelling
Point-of-view (POV) is the narrator’s view of what’s going on. The POV is who’s telling the story. This will determine what the reader ‘hears’ and ‘sees’ in regard to the story. And, it determines the ‘personal pronouns’ that will be used. There are three main POVs in young children’s storytelling: first person, second person, and…
Writing Fiction and Writing Nonfiction – Similarities and Differences
Writing fiction and writing nonfiction have some distinct similarities and differences. But, before we get into that, let’s find out the definitions of fiction and nonfiction: Fiction: According to Merriam-Webster.com, fiction is “something invented by the imagination or feigned, specifically an invented story; the action of feigning or of creating with the imagination.” Nonfiction: Merriam-Webster’s…
The Outlining Method of Writing (Are You an Outliner?)
Are you an outliner or a pantser? I don’t know if there has been a study of how many writers prefer each, but I know there are many in both camps. You know the saying, “different strokes for different folks.” But, before I go on, the definition of an outliner is a writer who creates…
The Book Summary – Five Must-Know Components
After your book query, the book summary or description is the most important marketing element. You can think of it as number 2 on the book marketing ladder. Once your book query gets the reader to actually read it, the summary is what will entice the editor or agent to ask for more. If you’re…
Plot and Your Story – Four Formats
Plot. As writers we’ve all heard of this literary term. But, what does it mean? Well, plot is what gives the story a reason to be. It’s the ‘why’ as to the reason the story exists. Plot is what the story is about. And, if the plot is good, it will entertain and engage the…
What Makes a Good Fiction Story? Plot Driven vs. Character Driven
Stories can be plot driven or character driven, so which is the best formula to use when writing a story? Knowing a little about both methods should help in making a decision. Plot Driven Story A story’s plot moves the story forward, from point A to point B. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in…