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Margery (Mia) Walshaw

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Create Compelling Characters…Read on to learn the secrets

 

If a book is “formulaic,” meaning that the plot and characters are those that we’ve seen too many times before, chances are the reviews won’t be stellar and sales will be dismal. Yet, because we are all exposed to the same stimuli, it’s hard to think of new scenarios. One of the best ways to encourage your plot to soar into new directions is by ensuring that your characters are new and exciting. How do you create compelling characters?

Ask yourself ‘what if’ to find out how a compelling character reacts.

I like to ask myself “what if”… Let’s suppose my main character is a suburban mom. If you’re going the comedy route, you could ask, “What if she’s mistaken to be a pop singer/actress/porn star while on vacation? … And decides she likes it!” If it’s a suspense thriller you’re writing you could ask, “What if her husband embezzles a fortune, goes on the lam and she’s forced to protect the kids and herself from the thugs that come after them?”

A compelling character often has a fatal flaw.

Is there one particular thing that will just set off your character? For instance, maybe they’ve achieved a certain level of success in their lives. They have a good job, a beautiful family, but they can’t get over the fact that their neighbor seems to have it just a little bit better? How do they react when they see their neighbor driving a brand new car? Or, when that same person invites them over to celebrate their latest job promotion? If your character were to suddenly go off the handle and yet, we’ve gotten to know and like him prior, you’ve created a compelling character in the fact that we both sympathize with him and also see a train wreck about to occur.

Is your character relatable or cringe-worthy?

Maybe both…I love those mouth-dropping-open moments in films or television shows when you just can’t believe the character has reacted in a particular way. It’s like when Walter White from “Breaking Bad” killed off Jesse’s girlfriend without a second thought. How could he? He likes Jesse. In spite of what we as the audience think about the situation, one can’t deny that his actions were somehow relatable. He hadn’t come this far to let someone get in his way.

Cringe-worthy moments are equally compelling in characters. Those times when you cover your eyes and say, “Oh no, he’s not going to do that.” This is the fodder of date movies like “There’s Something About Mary” when she finds an “interesting” new hair gel.

Creating compelling characters happens when you know your character backwards and forwards. You know what they love or fear. You have a clear understanding of how they relate to other people and what impacts their life. Check out this related article, “13 Ways to Create Compelling Characters” for more ideas. Do you have a favorite character? Let us know what makes them compelling.

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Proud Member of IBPA

Proud Member of IBPA

Proud Member of NetGalley

Proud Member of NetGalley

Testimonials…

“Evatopia liberated me in providing all the information I needed to publish my debut novel. Margery and the team are outstandingly helpful and anyone wanting to get their story published should definitely check this company out.” -- Victoria Atkin, actress and author of "London Love"

“Margery Walshaw helped me with the final edits of my first novel, This Way To Forever (Bedford/St. Martins). Not only did she complete the project two days before deadline, she was detailed, encouraging and believed in the overall vision of the book. Every author understands how important finding the right editor for every stage of your novel is, and Margery has the background and the experience to move your project in a forward direction. She has a returning writer in me. Thank you, Margery!”  -- Loren Kleinman, Huffington Post columnist and author

“Working with Margery is a writer’s dream. I used to edit my work as I wrote. I spent more time correcting myself rather than focus on the freedom of writing. Margery is super skilled and so good at what she does, I don’t give editing myself as I write a thought. She frees me up to put valuable and often times fleeting thoughts down on the page where they belong.” -- Tracey Noonan, Author and Owner, Wicked Good Cupcakes (as seen on Shark Tank)

“Margery Walshaw is amazing. She packaged my book, So Many Frogs…Not Enough Prozac, and took care of everything from editing, to cover design, to formatting. I am so happy with the final product. Most importantly, Margery is a pleasure to work with. She offers her expert opinions and provides constructive criticisms, but she really made it a priority to stay true to my vision and make sure I was happy and comfortable every step of the way. It was such a joy to see all of my ideas come to life and I owe it all to Margery. I really enjoyed working with Margery and would highly recommend her to any author looking to take their work to the next level. “ -- Sammi Robin, blogger and author

As a brand new, hot-off-the-press screenwriter, all I had were questions. Margery took the time to answer them and make sense of a business that can be such a mystery. After critiquing my work and addressing my concerns, she made certain I knew that the door to her wisdom was always open. In the end, Margery's best advice to me: "Keep writing. Some scripts sell and others don't. But writers always write." -- Kathy Aspden, screenwriter

Thank you, Evatopia. I am in the middle of a major rewrite so your “Scriptique” was incredibly helpful. I appreciate the time you spent reading my script.” -- Len Nannarone, screenwriter

My Inspiration

Some lesser known facts about me. When not writing or working with writers, I'm most likely practicing yoga. I love to spend time with my family, cook (badly), and read. If I had to choose only two books for my library they would be "Girl on a Train" and "Special Topics in Calamity Physics." I could eat avocados for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm a dog person first, but there's nothing cooler than an aloof cat.

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