Category Archives: Characters

Monday Advice from Editors and Agents: Know Mako Mori and Bechdel?

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Donna Maloy, Author

Do you know Mako Mori and Bechdel? No, they’re not hot new publishing houses, or editors, or authors. They are standards/tests meant to rate the gender inclusiveness of a book or film–and some agents are starting to mention them in wish … Continue reading →

Posted in #mswl, Agents, Character, Character arcs, Character-driven action, Characters, Craft of Writing, Differentiating Characters, Differentiating Characters, POV - Point of View, Story Elements, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Monday Advice from Agents and Editors: Show me the reason why

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Donna Maloy, Author

Have you ever watched a really awful horror movie and wanted to scream at the protagonist–the one who chooses to go down alone into a dark cellar full of moaning and whimpering instead of calling 911–“Why on earth do you … Continue reading →

Posted in Backstory, Character-driven action, Character-driven action, Characters, Foreshadowing, Interior life; interiority, Motivation, Swordfights, Writing, Young adults | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Monday Advice from Agents and Editors: Face the Consequences

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Donna Maloy, Author

If I haven’t said it before, one of my all-time favorite blogs to follow is Kathy Temean’s Writing and Illustrating. She covers the world of writers with in-depth author, agent and publisher interviews. Her interviews with artists actually feature step-by-step … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Slater, Avoiding coincidence, Character-driven action, Characters, Conflict, Contrived Plots, High Stakes, Mistakes and Consequences, Plotting, Resolutions, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

How to Build a Coming of Age Arc

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Donna Maloy, Author

Some of the most famous books ever written have been about finding oneself while on the journey to adulthood. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Giver by Lois Lowry A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Lord … Continue reading →

Posted in Character arcs, Coming of Age stories, Coming of Age stories, Genre elements, Genre recipes, Interior life; interiority, Plotting, Young adults | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Guest Post: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Setting

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Donna Maloy, Author

An English Instructor for Harrisburg Area Community College’s Virtual Learning program, Tamara Girardi holds a PhD in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Letters in Creative Writing from the University of St. Andrews. Her YA fantasy … Continue reading →

Posted in Interaction with Setting, Setting, Setting | Tagged , , | Leave a comment