I love ambiguous characters. Ulterior motives; subtle, between-the-lines manipulations; information withheld for strategic purposes. I love characters who know more than they’re saying and who… Read More »Dashing a Reader’s Expectations
Confession: I instinctively want literary bad boys to be bad. If you go to the trouble of giving a character a horrible reputation, he should merit that… Read More »Reputation in Tatters, Heart Intact
This week we take a look at that lovable, handsome ne’er-do-well that every woman itches to reform. He lives life on the edge! So rough, so… Read More »A Rogue by Any Other Name
Kiss the Everygirl family goodbye! Failure to disclose food items to the US Customs and Border Control can rack up to $10,000 in fines and… Read More »Family Secrets out of Control
The desire for loving, supportive parents is basic. It’s biological. And when it’s unfulfilled, you have pure and captivating story-fodder. The arguing parents, the sick parents,… Read More »Parents Hitting Every Branch in the Cliche Tree
I am so guilty of the “dead mother” trope. So guilty. When you’re writing fantasy, it’s almost like a default condition for the main character,… Read More »Mother of all Tropes
Poor Special. Quirky side characters only find love with other quirky side characters. A triangle is out of the question. (Unless it’s really quirky, I… Read More »And Some People Just Don’t Measure Up
Okay, so our perfect MarySue doesn’t always end up with both her triangle love interests. Sometimes she does have to choose one candidate over the… Read More »Love Is Such a Trial When You’re Perfect
I read a book last week with a whole cast of perfect MarySues. I kid you not. Everyone was royalty, half-elf, full elf, an amazing… Read More »The Most Perfect-est Perfectness You Will Ever Perfect
I think one of my favorite cliches about the “Ruthless Character with a Heart of Gold” is to what lengths authors might go to show no,… Read More »When Fiction and Reality Collide