Components of a Story
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The Author’s Guide to Direct vs. Indirect Characterization
What's the difference between direct and indirect characterization? And is one better than the other? Here are the answers you've been looking for.
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Building the Big Bad: Don't Forget the External Conflict in Your Novel
Conflict. It’s the lifeblood of any story. Without it, all you’ve got is a bunch of people wandering around aimlessly. Conflict is the source of tension, excitement, suspense, and drama. It drives your plot, gives your characters motivation, and sometimes allows you to hold up a mirror to the world.
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Coming Up with Character Names and Why They Matter
While they can seem random, cliché, or epic, a surprising amount of thinking should go into what you name your characters. In this article, we break down why names are important, what you need to consider when picking one, and how to name your fictional characters.
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What's the Point of a Foil Character in Literature?
Maybe you've heard of foil characters before, but what exactly do these types of characters do? How can you make a good one? Don't worry, we cover everything you need to know about foil characters in this article.
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The Totally Learnable Art of Writing Funny Characters
Funny characters are more than wit or absurdity. These fictional beings are hilarious because they're deeply human. Here's everything you need to know about writing funny characters your readers will remember forever.
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What is Falling Action? The Secret to a Satisfying Story
It can be tempting to phone in your falling action, but this element is essential for telling a story that leaves an impact. Learn what falling action is and how to master it.
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Easy-Breezy Guide to All the Types of Characters in Fiction
Here's everything you wanted to know about all the types of characters in fiction. Learn how to define and write tertiary characters, protagonists, foils, and everything in between.
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Character/Man vs. Nature: Exploring the Wildest Story Conflict
What happens when your character's greatest antagonist is nature itself? Some pretty thrilling storytelling, usually. Here's everything you need to know to write a nail-biting character vs. nature conflict.
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What is an Anti-hero? Simple Guide, Complicated Character
The anti-hero is an undeniably compelling character archetype. It's also wildly complex and easy to confuse with other types of characters. Don't worry. You're about to get all the clarification you need to become a bonafide anti-hero expert.
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What Is a Round Character and How Do You Write One?
So your critique partner says your characters need to be more "rounded," but what does that even mean? Welcome to your complete guide to round characters. Learn what they are, why they matter, and how to write them.
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What Is a Flat Character? And Is It a Bad Thing?
Flat characters play an important role in storytelling. The trick is knowing when to use them and how to write them well. Learn the secrets to writing memorable flat characters and how to round them out when it's necessary.
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What Is a Static Character and Why Are They So Stubborn?
Static characters give your story stability and shine a spotlight on your dynamic characters. But what defines them, exactly? And how do you write them well? Let's talk.
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85+ Character Mannerisms and Why They Make Your Story Better
Character mannerisms reveal a lot about your fictional players, from their background to their emotional state. Get tons of examples of character mannerisms and learn how to use this tool to write a better novel.
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The Book Themes We Love Most and How to Write Your Own
Themes add an important element to our stories, giving them meaning and adding extra depth. We'll cover some common book themes and how to write stories with them in mind.
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Three-Act Structure Worksheet to Level Up Your Story Design
Our three-act structure worksheet makes it easier than ever to plot a novel with this classic story framework.
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What the Heck is a One-Dimensional Character?
Being told your character is "one-dimensional" can feel like a slap to the face. But what does that even mean? And is there a place for one-dimensional characters in books? We discuss all that and more in this article.
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How Do You Write a Conflict in a Story? Let's Fight About It
Conflict is central to every story you write, but actually writing that conflict is tough. No need to fight for information, we've got all you need to write conflict!
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How to Write a Character Sketch That Works For You
A character sketch is a great tool to flesh out a character and keep your story engaging. In this article, we cover how to write a character sketch to make better characters.
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Premium Deep Dive: Writing Relationships
In this Dabble Premium Deep Dive, we're looking at character relationships: what's involved with them, how to write them, and what people love about them. Plus, get a FREE downloadable resource to help craft your own relationships.
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What is Magical Realism? Find the Fantastical in the Familiar
Magical realism is an enthralling genre that somehow manages to illuminate truth by deviating from reality. If you've been curious about this fantastical literary style, here's everything you need to know.
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Rising Action Examples (Plus Tips for Writing Your Own)
Rising action takes up a massive chunk of your novel. About 50-70% of it, in fact. No wonder so many writers freeze up when it's time to tackle it. If you're one of them, this article can help.
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Foreshadowing: The Writer’s Guide to Building Anticipation
Ready to build some suspense and keep your readers frantically flipping pages? Then you'll want to check out this guide to foreshadowing.
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How to Write a Good Hook Readers Can’t Resist
A hook can be a great way to start a story, but it requires skill and a bit of finesse to pull off properly. That's why we've put together this guide to writing good hooks!
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8 Traits a Negative Character Arc Absolutely Must Have
Want to create a disturbingly compelling negative character arc? The secret is to make your character's downfall feel plausible—even inevitable. Here's how.
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Crafting the Lie Your Character Believes in 5 Tidy Little Steps
The Lie Your Character Believes is the key to their character arc, the central conflict, and even the theme of your story. But, like... what does that mean exactly? And how do you come up with a Lie compelling enough to drive a whole novel? Here's everything you need to know.