Category Archives: Characters

The Main Character and Duality

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Consider the Main Character and the Influence Character who, it would seem at first blush, are as opposite as they can be in regard to  some underlying philosophical perspective, world view, belief system or moral code. But in fact, they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Main Character | Comments Off on The Main Character and Duality

The 8 Archetypes

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

From my “classic” 1999 video series on story structure: Part 20: The 8 Archetypes

Posted in Archetypes | Comments Off on The 8 Archetypes

Forget Your Protagonist – Who’s You’re Main Character?

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

By Melanie Anne Phillips For just about any story you read, you get a sense of who it revolves around – who is it really about? Who is the character whose shoes we stand in, through whose eyes and heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Main Character | Comments Off on Forget Your Protagonist – Who’s You’re Main Character?

The Main Character’s Problem

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

This is the nature of the Main Character’s struggle in a story. He has either built up an understanding of how to try and solve problems that no longer fits, or he has built up an understanding of what causes … Continue reading →

Posted in Character Psychology | Comments Off on The Main Character’s Problem

Character Development Tricks!

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

By Melanie Anne Phillips Although it is possible to write without the use of characters, it is not easy. Characters represent our drives, our essential human qualities. So a story without characters would be a story that did not describe … Continue reading →

Posted in Building Characters | Comments Off on Character Development Tricks!

Only One Main Character in a Story

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

By Melanie Anne Phillips There’s only one main character in a story.  Why?  Because a story is about the group experience of trying to achieve a goal.  When people come together around a common issue in the real world, they … Continue reading →

Posted in Building Characters, Story Structure | Comments Off on Only One Main Character in a Story

Archetypes vs. Stereotypes

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Melanie Anne Phillips

By Melanie Anne Phillips Archetypes, by definition, are characters defined by their plot function, such as the protagonist, who is trying to achieve a goal, and the antagonist who is trying to stop him. All of the archetypes have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Archetypes | Comments Off on Archetypes vs. Stereotypes