Characters – Who Are They Really? Melissa Pearl

Author Melissa PearlI am in the throes of planning my next novel and having so much fun with it. I love the planning stage. Who am I kidding? I love every stage!! But there is something very cool about starting with a blank slate and filling in all the spaces.

I have been working on character profiling this week and as I delve deeper into who these characters really are, my story is getting shaped and formed into something much stronger than my original idea. Scenes are being added and changed as I discover what these characters are like beneath the surface.

Robert McKee, author of STORY: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting says the best characters are the ones who are contradictory in nature. I agree. It is so much more interesting writing about a person who comes across as a golden boy, but when push comes to shove, turns out to be a total weakling… or a woman who is all prickles and snark, but in reality is just a scared little kid, afraid to face the failings of her past. Continue reading “Characters – Who Are They Really? Melissa Pearl”

Week 21 Flash Fiction Challenge Poll

The time has arrived for IU readers to begin voting in this week’s Flash Fiction Competition. On behalf of the IU staff, I want to thank all the entrants for doing such a great job with the writing prompt and the merciless constraints of the exercise.

This week, there are 9 entries from which to choose. You may review the entries here. Please spread the word and encourage your friends to vote by using the share buttons at the bottom of the post!

The poll will be open until 5:00 PM (Pacific Daylight Time) Thursday

Select your favorite entry for the week 20 Flash Fiction Challenge: Gone Fishin'

  • Ed Drury (33%, 11 Votes)
  • Dick Waters (30%, 10 Votes)
  • Brian Beam (15%, 5 Votes)
  • Brianna Lee McKenzie (12%, 4 Votes)
  • RG Bud Phelps (3%, 1 Votes)
  • Donna Morang (3%, 1 Votes)
  • Rich Meyer (3%, 1 Votes)
  • Richard Sutton (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Ey Wade (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 33

Loading ... Loading ...