character creation

S43E9 – Characters: Inanimate Objects

The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever, but the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the ring of power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur, to his death. And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, the ring ensnared a new bearer. – Galadriel, The Lord of the Rings

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S43E1 – Characters: The Sidekick

There is something inherently hopeful in unlikely friendships, I think. It speaks to our ability to surprise and connect – and how, in all the ways that matter, we are not really that different. – Emily Spurr

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S41E9 – Writing Emotions: Confusion

Costello: And you don’t know the fellows’ names?
Abbott: Well I should.
Costello: Well then who’s on first?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow’s name.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The first baseman.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing…
Abbott: Who is on first! – Abbott and Costello

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S32E6 – How Tropes and Clichés Play Into Reader Psychology

Plenty of masterpieces are just one cliché after another, Mozart for example, but that’s quite natural, because if you think about it, two clichés that have met one another can beget the most original and profound effect. – Thomas Ades

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S7E2 – How Do I Describe Characters Without Boring the Reader?

Good description is a learned skill, one of those primary reasons you cannot succeed unless you read a lot and write a lot. It’s not just a question of how-to, you see; it’s also a question of how much to. Reading will help you answer how much, and only reams of writing will help you with the how. You can learn only by doing. – Stephen King

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S22E7 – Fog and Flame: Character Development

I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose. – Stephen King

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S20E4 – Myth Four: Characters Control the Author

I craft everything in the beginning. I know where the characters are going before I start writing the book. – Ann Patchett

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S18E3 – Time for a Casting Change

My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play in it, for good or evil, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many. – J.R.R. Tolkien

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