Tip #455: Character masks

People in real life wear masks to protect their real feelings and vulnerability.
Masks peeling away is a dramatic device

http://aerogrammestudio.com/2013/12/14/50-narrative-devices-for-non-fiction-storytellers/#more-5652 Slide 26

Tip #454: Passive characters

in language... subjects act, objects are acted upon

http://www.upworthy.com/being-a-sex-object-is-empowering-oh-wait-no-it-s-not-here-s-why-2

Do you want your protagonist to be the subject or the object of your story?

Are your female characters subjects or objects?

Tip #453: On research

On Research... Books are not there to show how intelligent {the author is}. Books are there to show your soul.

http://aerogrammestudio.com/2013/10/31/8-writing-tips-from-paulo-coelho/


This doesn't mean no research is ever necessary: it shows something about your soul if you write about a different culture or something else you know little about and choose not to research.

Note: Oops, this one got published a little early - enjoy!

Tip #452: On fear & criticism

no matter what you do with your life someone will criticize you. Cashier? Waiter? Truck driver? Someone isn't going to like something that you did. Some people were born to be d***s.

So fuhgeddaboutit. Write, be criticized, and keep writing. If you're going to be criticized, be criticized for telling your own stories/doing your own thing.

https://www.facebook.com/moseswrites/posts/10151831390322657

Tip #451: It doesn't have to be major, but

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY... Even if you’re writing a Die Hard rip-off, have something to say about Die Hard rip-offs.

http://aerogrammestudio.com/2013/03/13/joss-whedons-top-10-writing-tips/

Tip #450: Finding sparks of life

When a particular character isn't coming to life, I... write out what s/he would say for themselves in an interview.

'Why I did this...'
'why I'm ging to do that...'
'Why I'm right...'

...The reasons and excuses aren't so important, but the perspective is... an assertion of {the character's} own perspective...

self-justifications... don't get into my novels. They do influence... the scene where a character is confronted by the truth about themselves.

http://writingtips.com.au/WRITING%20TIPS%20BRITISH%20version/downloads/wtipscontinuousUK.pdf p 63-64

Tip #449: Stories that sell

The audience has always wanted to absorb stories, always wanted to braid them into their social, intellectual and emotional tapestries.

...It’s about asking, “What do I want to write? What do I love? What do I want to read?” It’s about creating stories and art that are products of wonder and madness

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/07/09/hell-with-what-sells/