Creating Archetypal Characters and Suspenseful Plots with the Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey can be a powerful plotting framework for genre fiction. For more than a year, I’ve been teaching workshops on it, and in July, at the Harriette Austin Writers Conference, I expanded the workshop, folded in material about … Continue reading

Autumn 2009 Mini-Tour Into Western North Carolina

Early 10 September, I set out from Raleigh in a rental car — didn’t want to put my poor, old Honda through the rigors of the Eastern Continental Divide again — and arrived in Boone, NC in good time for … Continue reading

Five Flights, Four Days: the Harriette Austin Writers Conference, 17-19 July 2009

During the Friday morning rush hour, the Metro was packed. Sardine cans. On my first attempt to climb into a car, the work-bound barbarians repelled boarders. The next train was just as stuffed, but I was darned if I was … Continue reading

Guest Blog on Archetypes and Stereotypes

Murder By Four hosts my guest blog today, “Characterizations: Archetypes and Stereotypes.” I discuss how cardboard characters might sneak into the plots of novels and movies and what savvy writers do to prevent archetypal characters from descending into stereotypes. Drop … Continue reading