September 6, 2019

55. What if? Here’s how to develop great secondary characters – Daily Writing Advice # 55

Read my debut fantasy novella! https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

What if? This powerful question recently helped me take a character from bland to great – and you can use it in your own stories.

My favourite ‘what if’ questions:
1. What if your protagonist’s goal is the opposite of their current one?
2. What if the antagonist is more sympathetic than the protagonist?
3. What if you remove the most interesting character?
4. What if your character does something no one expects them to do?
5. What if your protagonist gives up?
6. What if your antagonist wins?
7. What if your main plot finishes at the midpoint (a la ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’) and the second half is all about the fallout and consequences?

Let me know your ‘what if’ questions!

My podcast on ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’: https://anchor.fm/novelanalyst/episodes/4—The-Moon-is-a-Harsh-Mistress-by-Robert-Heinlein—Writing-an-Amazing-Midpoint-e3ubug

jed.herne1@gmail.com

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