Fantasy

This week:

Edited by: nfdarbe
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Wishing everyone a happy National Novel Writing Month.

What makes a protagonist outstanding? What makes an antagonist unforgettable? Is it the way they interact in a story? Is it the way the protagonist grows and changes as he or she confronts the antagonist or personal weakness? What is it the makes a character memorable?

In novels, well-rounded characters are important. The protagonist and antagonist need both strengths and weaknesses, which the author can use to advance the plot. The main character needs to grow in some way before the novel’s climax. Is it this transformation, personal growth, which makes the main character memorable?

For me, the characters with the most appeal are those that have human attributes. I am not writing about physical characteristic here; I am referring to personality traits, such as steadfastness, reverence, self-discipline, friendliness, etc. A character does not have to look like a human to have these qualities or virtues.

A protagonist or antagonist needs both virtues and vices or they are not believable. This is because every human being we encounter in our daily lives has both good qualities (virtues) and bad traits (vices). True some people have more virtues then vices or visa versa, but everyone we encounter has both good and bad traits.

When a writer creates a character, the choice of virtues and vices is not always obvious. For instance if a character has the virtue of determination is the character’s vice the other side of his or her virtue of is the vice untruthfulness or something else. The choice of the protagonist’s virtue and vice determines the way that character reacts to others and the way other characters react to the protagonist.

Stories and Poems

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#1606078 by Not Available.

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#1604646 by Not Available.

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Cause and Effect (E)

A moon breaks in half with some results. (Flash Fiction)

#1512740 by Hyperiongate

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#1610764 by Not Available.

Deadly Music (13+)

The notes came out clear and sharp, a violin among the death.

#1253918 by Bomont

Universal Missionaries (ASR)

Sylvia before the assembly, explaining the faith of her people, an unfallen alien race

#1370883 by Beth Barnett

A Cat Named Stitch (E)

This is a story about a young witch, who created a magical friend!

#1612293 by blackcats2

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#1613867 by Not Available.

Contests, Reviews, and Writers’ Forums

Spectacular Publishing (13+)

Spectacular publishing is looking for writers, artists and readers.

#1591911 by Colin Back on the Ghost Roads

Reviews 'R Us (E)

Now reopened, would love to review your work.

#272831 by Colin Back on the Ghost Roads

FORUM

The Writer's Cramp (13+)

Write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!

#333655 by Sophy on the road

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sarahreed writes: I don't write much science fiction, but even in my fantasy stories, I don't use portals very much. I tend to stick to spells for traveling, like teleportation. That may be a type of wormhole, considering you are instantly traveling from one point to another, skipping the in-between.

jmccarty writes: About wormholes: I do not currently have any stories writen with a wormhole in it. Maybe one day I will write one ready. It sounds like you have the basic idea, however, not all wormholes may be created equal.

For the most part, a wormhole does not need to be opened. One just needs to know the way into one. With those wormholes, it is a tricky maneuver past a very high mass object, such as a black whole or a nutron star.

The ones that need to be opened are like in "Andromeda." They are like inactive wormholes. I read an article a long time ago about using something called "Protomater" to do this. If this stuff does exist, it would also be useful in creating a "space warp."

rach55 writes: Prosperous Snow,
Another great newsletter! I have to tell you I am really enjoying them and getting great ideas, as well. Your article on wormholes has given me great ideas for my fantasy novel, which hitherto I've only ever thought to use in sci-fi. Many thanks and keep up the good work!

Thank you. nfdarbe

What makes a character memorable to you?
nfdarbe

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