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Talira Greycrest Profile
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Troll in Chains

Registered: 01-2018
Location: Waterfall City, Dinotopia
Posts: 22
Assistance required


I'm often told that my stories are boring and my characters are too basic. Can anyone give me some tips on how I can develop more interesting and complex stories as well as building bigger and better characters?

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Breathe deep, seek peace
2/12/2018, 9:05 am Link to this post Email Talira Greycrest   PM Talira Greycrest Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Re: Assistance required


1) Read in your genre. Read lots. Watch what the author does, how the adventures are structured and how the author handles his or her characters. Watch for the overall story arc, as well.

2) Watch and observe

Even if you're writing fantasy, your characters will mostly be people, or based on people - since that's who we as readers relate to.

Watch people. Listen to how they talk (both in real life and TV). Observe how they move, what they look at, how they react. The more familiar you are with people, the easier it gets to write them convincingly.

3) Write lots.

Some people prefer starting out with short stories. Those usually have only one or two characters to handle and the story arc itself is short and simple.

Novels are obviously bigger, demand more character growth and much more material than a short story. The evolution from short story to novel, however, isn't truly linear. It is also a bit of a different mindset.

So write lots, and many parts of writing will get easier with practice.

 emoticon emoticon emoticon

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- Firlefanz

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2/12/2018, 10:57 am Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
Joxcenia Profile
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Squire
Runboard staff member

Registered: 11-2005
Location: Whoosher House
Posts: 710
Re: Assistance required


You can also check out the websites of the authors you love best, and see if they have any writing tips posted there.




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2/13/2018, 5:04 am Link to this post Email Joxcenia   PM Joxcenia Blog
 
PaulKater Profile
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Journeyman

Registered: 05-2019
Posts: 80
Re: Assistance required


An idea would be to write short biographies for your most important characters. Give them a background, a life of their own, and refer to those things in the story.

I don't know if your commenters told you 'what' makes your stories boring. It always helps to put readers on a side track and make them think that's the main track, to slap them back on the road after a while.

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My English books and stuff: https://www.paulkater.com
5/19/2019, 12:07 pm Link to this post Email PaulKater   PM PaulKater Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Re: Assistance required


By now, Talira is no longer a member of this board.

She got on my last nerve by demanding assistance and posting inane stuff instead of actually interacting with people here.

Thanks for trying to help her anyway. emoticon emoticon

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- Firlefanz

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5/20/2019, 5:22 am Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 
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Journeyman

Registered: 05-2019
Posts: 80
Re: Assistance required


Right-o.
Perhaps there is a way to lock this topic then?

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My English books and stuff: https://www.paulkater.com
5/20/2019, 4:01 pm Link to this post Email PaulKater   PM PaulKater Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
Re: Assistance required


*facepalm*

Yes, there is. Good idea. emoticon

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- Firlefanz

Mystical Adventures
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5/21/2019, 5:37 pm Link to this post Email Firlefanz   PM Firlefanz Blog
 




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