The Character Gap

The Character Gap
Author: Christian B. Miller
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2018
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0190264225

We like to think of ourselves and our friends and families as pretty good people. The more we put our characters to the test, however, the more we see that we are decidedly a mixed bag. Fortunately there are some promising strategies - both secular and religious - for developing better characters.

A Bad Character

A Bad Character
Author: Deepti Kapoor
Publisher: Vintage
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2015-01-20
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0385352751

The highly acclaimed story of a young woman in New Dehli, and the love that both shatters and forever changes her—offering an intimate and raw exploration of female transformation in contemporary India, and an unforgettable hymn to a dangerous, exhilarating city. “Searing.... Intoxicating.” —The New York Times Book Review Our narrator is “twenty and untouched” when her mother dies. Sent by her absentee father to live with a relative in a modest New Delhi apartment, she is ill-equipped to resist the allure of the rich and rebellious young man who approaches her one day at a cafe. He is a few years older, and from a different social class, but they both yearn to break free of tradition. As they drive around Delhi—eating, making love, falling apart—he introduces her to an India that she never knew existed, and will never be able to forget. Told in a voice at once gritty and lyrical, A Bad Character is an astounding book.

The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws

The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws
Author: Becca Puglisi
Publisher: JADD Publishing
Total Pages: 539
Release: 2013-10-21
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0989772527

Crafting likable, interesting characters is a balancing act, and finding that perfect mix of strengths and weaknesses can be difficult. Not only does a well-drawn protagonist need positive attributes to help him succeed, he must also have flaws that humanize him and give him something to overcome. The same is true of villains and the rest of the story’s supporting cast. So how can writers figure out which flaws best fit their characters? Which negative traits will create personality clashes and conflict while making success difficult? Nothing adds complexity like character flaws. Inside The Negative Trait Thesaurus you’ll find: * A vast collection of flaws to explore when building a character’s personality. Each entry includes possible causes, attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and related emotions * Real examples from literature, film, or television to show how each flaw can create life challenges and relational friction * Advice on building layered and memorable characters from the ground up * An in-depth look at backstory, emotional wounds, and how pain twists a character’s view of himself and his world, influencing behavior and decision making * A flaw-centric exploration of character arc, relationships, motivation, and basic needs * Tips on how to best show a character’s flaws to readers while avoiding common pitfalls * Downloadable tools to aid writers in character creation The Negative Trait Thesaurus sheds light on your character’s dark side. Written in list format and fully indexed, this brainstorming resource is perfect for creating deep, flawed characters readers will relate to.

The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes

The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes
Author: Becca Puglisi
Publisher: JADD Publishing
Total Pages: 518
Release: 2013-10-21
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0989772535

It’s a writer’s job to create compelling characters who can withstand life’s fallout without giving up. But building authentic, memorable heroes is no easy task. To forge realistic characters, we must hobble them with flaws that set them back while giving them positive attributes to help them achieve their goals. So how do writers choose the right blend of strengths for their characters—attributes that will render them admirable and worth rooting for—without making it too easy for them to succeed? Character creation can be hard, but it’s about to get a lot easier. Inside The Positive Trait Thesaurus, you’ll find: * A large selection of attributes to choose from when building a personality profile. Each entry lists possible causes for why a trait might emerge, along with associated attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions * Real character examples from literature, film, or television to show how an attribute drives actions and decisions, influences goals, and steers relationships * Advice on using positive traits to immediately hook readers while avoiding common personality pitfalls * Insight on human needs and morality, and how each determines the strengths that emerge in heroes and villains alike * Information on the key role positive attributes play within the character arc, and how they’re vital to overcoming fatal flaws and achieving success * Downloadable tools for organizing a character’s attributes and providing a deeper understanding of his past, his needs, and the emotional wounds he must overcome If you find character creation difficult or worry that your cast members all seem the same, The Positive Trait Thesaurus is brimming with ideas to help you develop one-of-a-kind, dynamic characters that readers will love. Extensively indexed, with entries written in a user-friendly list format, this brainstorming resource is perfect for any character creation project.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
Author: Patty Lovell
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2011-06-29
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1101653876

Be yourself like Molly Lou Melon no matter what a bully may do. Molly Lou Melon is short and clumsy, has buck teeth, and has a voice that sounds like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor. She doesn't mind. Her grandmother has always told her to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud, and she takes that advice to heart. But then Molly Lou has to start in a new school. A horrible bully picks on her on the very first day, but Molly Lou Melon knows just what to do about that.

Story Genius

Story Genius
Author: Lisa Cron
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2016-08-09
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1607748908

Following on the heels of Lisa Cron's breakout first book, Wired for Story, this writing guide reveals how to use cognitive storytelling strategies to build a scene-by-scene blueprint for a riveting story. It’s every novelist’s greatest fear: pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into writing hundreds of pages only to realize that their story has no sense of urgency, no internal logic, and so is a page one rewrite. The prevailing wisdom in the writing community is that there are just two ways around this problem: pantsing (winging it) and plotting (focusing on the external plot). Story coach Lisa Cron has spent her career discovering why these methods don’t work and coming up with a powerful alternative, based on the science behind what our brains are wired to crave in every story we read (and it’s not what you think). In Story Genius Cron takes you, step-by-step, through the creation of a novel from the first glimmer of an idea, to a complete multilayered blueprint—including fully realized scenes—that evolves into a first draft with the authority, richness, and command of a riveting sixth or seventh draft.

What If Everybody Did That?

What If Everybody Did That?
Author: Ellen Javernick
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2010
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9780761456865

"Text first published in 1990 by Children's Press, Inc."

The Savior's Champion

The Savior's Champion
Author: Jenna Moreci
Publisher:
Total Pages: 562
Release: 2018-04-24
Genre: Imaginary places
ISBN: 9780999735206

Hoping to save his family, one man enters his realm's most glorious tournament and finds himself in the middle of a political chess game, unthinkable bloodshed, and an unexpected romance with a woman he's not supposed to want.

GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict
Author: Debra Dixon
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Total Pages: 134
Release: 2013-07-15
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 1611943183

"This book belongs on every fiction writer's bookshelf. Anyone who has ever had a story to tell and is dying to get it down on paper will find guidance and inspiration in GMC. The presentation is clear, immediate, and relevant to all writers--from novices to seasoned professionals. Experienced author Debra Dixon has done a magnificent job of demystifying the toughest aspect of fiction writing: that of a giving a story shape, form and urgency." -- Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling and RITA® Award winning author of over 40 novels and novellas "One of the best in her craft." -- Toronto Star "Goal, Motivation & Conflict is one of my all time favorites." -- Jane Porter (Flirting With Forty), award winning and bestselling author with 10 million books in print, in twenty languages and 25 countries Goal, motivation, and conflict are the foundation of everything that happens in the story world. Using charts, examples, and movies, the author breaks these key elements down into understandable components and walks the reader through the process of laying this foundation in his or her own work. Learn what causes sagging middles and how to fix them, which goals are important, which aren't and why, how to get your characters to do what they need for your plot in a believable manner, and how to use conflict to create a good story. GMC can be used not only in plotting, but in character development, sharpening scenes, pitching ideas to an editor, and evaluating whether an idea will work. Be confident your ideas will work before you write 200 pages. Plan a road map to keep your story on track. Discover why your scenes aren't working and what to do about it. Create characters that editors and readers will care about.

The Shade of Cocoa

The Shade of Cocoa
Author: Marquita B.
Publisher:
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2020-08-15
Genre:
ISBN: 9781733018340

Bella is a happy and inquisitive five-year old girl who loves to play with her friends, go to school, and spend time with her family. Everyone tells her how beautiful she is, but she doesn't feel as beautiful as the faces she sees on TV and in the magazines. Join Bella as she navigates a very important life lesson and learns to love the skin she is in.This captivating story for young children provides a message of empowerment and acceptance that readers of all ages can understand and enjoy.