Writing Excuses27 Mai 2018

13.21: Q&A on Character Depth and Motivation

Your Hosts: Brandon, Valynne, Dan, and Howard

Our listeners submitted some great questions!

* How do you fairly and even-handedly write a deeply compelling character you deeply dislike?
* What's the best way to discuss a character's underlying motivations without expressly stating them in narrative or dialog?
* How well should characters understand their own motivations?
* How do you make non-violent characters interesting?
* Can there be too much depth to a character?
* How do you balance character depth across multiple attributes?
* How do you make a character motivation seem deep when most people's motivations are actually pretty shallow?
* Do you create standard dossiers for your characters?
* Does your story have to have a villain?
* How do you know whether or not a character's voice is working?
* Do you track words or phrases that are unique to a particular character's voice?

Liner Notes: Brandon mentioned Howard's "Tyrannopotomus Rex" doodle as part of the writing prompt. Here it is, should you need visual reference.

Credits: This episode was recorded by Dan Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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