#21 Characterization - Using Actions to Write Compelling Characters

How our characters react to situations reveals a lot about them. If exposed to a threat, do your characters fight or flee? Are they brave or cowardly? What physiological, physical, emotional, rational and irrational responses occur in the moment? All of this helps to build a vivid image of your character in the minds of readers. 

In this week’s episode, we unpack how reactions characterize. We look at reaction of your POV character when exposed to external stimuli and how other characters react to your POV character. Additionally, we analyse three levels of reactions in their appropriate order and study a wonderful example from popular literature. 

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• How reactions characterize
• The three stages of reaction
• Examples from literature

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

What we say and how we say it reveals a lot about our characters. The most memorable, engaging characters all have one thing in common – a unique voice that stands out from the crowd. Think of the most amazing lines from literature and popular culture. They helped to etch the character into our hearts and minds forever. 

In this episode we explore the use of dialogue as a tool to characterize indirectly. We look at how dialogue characterizes and how to use it effectively in your own writing. Then, we sift through literature to find dialogue gems that exemplify the technique. 

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• How dialogue characterizes
• How to use dialogue in our stories
• Examples from literature

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Life is filled with action. We are what we do after all. The characters we create are no different. What a character does – their habits, mannerisms, nervous ticks, the way they move tells us a lot about them. This is one of the techniques of indirect characterization. 

In this episode, we explore the first method of indirect characterization – action, and why it is so effective at revealing character. Then we look at how to write character using action, and as a bonus I share a great distinction between strong verbs and weak verbs to help this process along. 

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• Definition of Indirect Characterization
• Difference between Strong and Weak Verbs
• How to Write Character Using Action
• Examples from Literature

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

To be one of the best author’s in the game, you must arm yourself with the tools of the trade. An essential tool is the Direct Characterization Method. It is a fairly straightforward technique, but many struggle to pull it off the way they should. This makes for poor writing. By improving your abilities to use the technique, you can stand out amongst the myriad of mediocre authors. 

In this week’s episode we unpack all things Direct Method including a recap of the definition and a look at methods you can use to improve your own character creation. I share some brilliant examples from literature and why they work so well. 

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• Definition of Direct Characterization
• How to Use Direct Characterization in Your Writing
• Examples of the Direct Method From Liteturature

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Let’s Dance by David Bowie
© 1983 David Bowie
 ℗ 1983 Original Sound Recordings Made by David Bowie
 Under Licence to EMI America Records a Division Of Capitol Records, Inc.
https://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-Lets-Dance/release/1771473 

Ever heard the saying Story is about interesting things that happen to interesting characters? No? Well, I made it up, but it is no less true. In everyday life the stories we tell are about something that has happened to us or someone else, and our responses to those events. 

If you want to master storytelling, you must master the art of creating characters – enter characterization. In this episode, we define characterization in the literary sense and explore the two main methods of characterizing with examples from well-known books. 

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• A definition of characterization
• Two methods of characterizing
• Practical examples of characterization from literary text

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Nothing shows your authorial flex as much as pulling of a shocking, masterful plot twist that blows your readers’ minds. Hindsight is 20/20 and it is easy to see them coming from a mile away once they are revealed, but crafting the buggers is not that easy.

In this episode, we explore the top 5 best plot twist types and detail how you can go about writing them so you can spice up that plot and get to the blowing of minds part. 

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• An definition of Plot Twists
• Top 5 Plot Twist Types
• How To Write Plot Twists

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Let’s Twist Again by Chubby Checker | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh8eb_ACLl8
Writers: Kal Mann, Dave Appell. Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Licenced to UMG (on behalf of ABKCO Music and Records, Inc.); AMRA, LatinAutor, Spirit
℗ 2005 ABKCO Music & Records Inc. Released on: 1961-01-01

Plot gaps or plot holes can send your readers running for the hills faster than mad axeman on Halloween. As authors, we love our work. It is a sacred part of us that we share with the world, but it is true what they say: love makes us blind. 

In this episode, we explore my five worst plot gap tropes in the literature that have the power to tank your hard work. We explore what a plot gap is and how to avoid or correct it in your writing, so you produce the highest quality, consistent story possible.

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• The definition of a plot gap
• The top five worst plot gap tropes
• How to avoid and correct plot gaps

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Writing highly effective subplots have eluded many authors. If your story's feel flat and something is missing from your plot, it is most likely some great subplots. There are many reasons it improves your writing, and a few sure ways to write killer subplots. 

In this episode, we explore what a subplot is, what the six reasons it improves your writing are, and how you can write better subplots that will make your story shine that much brighter.  

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• An understanding of Subplot
• Six Reasons Subplot Improves Your Novel
• How to Write Subplots

 
For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Plotting a novel can get complicated, fast. Plot can be as simple as beginning, middle or end. Alternatively, you can use complicated plot structures that make your literature professor salivate. There a plenty of resources out there to help you improve the way you plot your novel, but rarely do aspiring authors get to ask questions about plot with which we really struggle.

This week’s episode is structured as a question and answer forum. I scoured the internet, social media and picked the brains of fellow aspiring authors for the questions they wished they could ask. Then I provide answers from my research and own writing practice. 

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• A deeper understanding of plot
• Common challenges author’s experience with plot
• How to overcome plot challenges

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Additional Resources:

• How to Write A Damn Good Novel I and II by James N. Frey
• Plot and Structure Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish by James Scott Bell 
• Outlining Your Novel by K.M. Weiland
• Structuring Your Novel: Essentials for Writing an Outstanding Story by K.M. Weiland
• The Anatomy Of Story: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller By John Truby

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

The Wheel of Time is one of the most famous and well-written epic fantasy adventures in history. It is my favourite series and is a treasure trove of knowledge. Barbara Baig, a master creative writing teacher and prodigious writer herself, advised that we should learn from the best and when it comes to fantasy few can top Robert Jordan. 

In this episode, we review the elements of plot and use the Wheel of Time Book 1: Eye of the World to analyse the lessons on plot.  

Key knowledge you will acquire in this episode:

• Definitions of Story and Plot
• The Elements of Plot
• How to Create An Exceptional Plot: Eye of the World Case Study

For more information on related content check out my website at www.TheRealGaryKhan.com 

Music Credits:

Is it fine if i kiss you? by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Tulpa
Tea for Two
https://soundcloud.com/chilltulpa/tulpa-tea-for-two