For more than 10 years, this successful series has helped writers improve their work — one element at a time. Featuring quality instruction from award-winning authors, each book focuses on a key facet of fiction writing, making it easy for writers to find the specific guidance they're looking for.

Vivid and memorable characters aren't born: they have to be made This book is a set of tools: literary crowbars, chisels, mallets, pliers and tongs. Use them to pry, chip, yank and sift good characters out of the place where they live in your imagination. Award-winning author Orson Scott Card explains in depth the techniques of inventing, developing and presenting characters, plus handling viewpoint in novels and short stories. With specific examples, he spells out your narrative options-the choices you'll make in creating fictional people so “real” that readers will feel they know them like members of their own families. You'll learn how to: Draw characters from a variety of sources Make characters show who they are by the things they do and say, and by their individual “style” Develop characters readers will love-or love to hate Distinguish among major characters, minor characters and walk-ons, and develop each appropriately Choose the most effective viewpoint to reveal the characters and move the storytelling Decide how deeply you should explore your characters' thoughts, emotions, and attitudes

Orson Scott Card has won several Hugo and Nebula Awards f

Orson Scott Card has won several Hugo and Nebula Awards f

Orson Scott Card has won several Hugo and Nebula Awards f

Orson Scott Card has won several Hugo and Nebula Awards for his works of speculative fiction, among them the Ender seor his works of speculative fiction, among them the Ender seor his works of speculative fiction, among them the Ender seor his works of speculative fiction, among them the Ender series and “ The Tales of Alvin Maker.” He lives in Greensborories and “ The Tales of Alvin Maker.” He lives in Greensbororie