Category: Characterization

The Importance of Strong Characters

In storytelling, creating strong and multi-dimensional characters is essential to captivating readers and immersing them in the narrative. Developing compelling protagonists that resonate with the audience can make or break a story. Readers will remember characters before they remember plots. The characters are how the reader relates to the story. Creating complex, well-rounded characters will have your readers coming back for more.

Brainstorming Character Conflicts

I write Christian romantic suspense, so inside that genre, I need to have a faith arc, a romantic arc, and a suspense arc. Each of those arcs require internal and external conflicts, motivations, and different characterizations.

When I’m setting up and getting ready to plot a book, the first thing (other than my characters) that I need to know are what those conflicts and motivations are, and how they’re going to be resolved/utilized.