Bad, Bad, Bad Characterization
I’m reading (or trying to read) a book called Hour of Judgement, by Susan R. Matthews.
Erch, it sucks.
Here’s a clue to all budding authors (and I say this with great authority as the author of exactly ZERO novels): Make me care about a character BEFORE you involve me in your character’s problems and conflicts.
If I don’t care about the character, I also won’t care about your elaborate plot and the intricate psychological issues which bedevil your protagonist. In fact, they’ll just bore me to death.
Comments
One Response to “Bad, Bad, Bad Characterization”
Leave a Reply
-
-
About
Sparkplug 9 is John Koetsier's blog on life, the universe, and everything,
but mostly the stuff you see big in the tags to the left.
Welcome, enjoy, buy the T-shirt, take a picture, tell your friends. -
Virtual me
-
Blogroll
Since I’m here anyway I have to recommend Dan Brown’s “The Davinci Code” is quite excellent.