
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Master character development with these five must-read books that transform static characters from boring to brilliant.
You've created characters with compelling backstories, but somehow, they still feel... flat. They move through your plot but don't feel like real people.
Here's the thing: character development is what makes readers fall in love with your story, not just read it. But it's also one of the trickiest parts of fiction writing.
That’s why today, I'm sharing five books that have completely transformed my approach to character development. And they've also helped hundreds of my students create characters readers are totally invested in.
You'll hear me talk about things like:
[01:17] Why most characters feel flat even when they have clear goals and motivations (and which book can help you unlock the missing piece)
[06:22] My favorite resource for understanding character arcs, whether you’re writing a positive arc, a negative arc, or a flat one
[08:16] Which book can help you understand your villain's emotional wounds—and why this might be more important than perfecting your protagonist's backstory
[10:35] A book that’ll help you make readers feel your character's emotions without ever naming a single feeling on the page
[00:00] My go-to resource for learning how to marry your plot with your characters (this one’s especially good for pantsers who want a little more structure!)
If your characters feel static despite having detailed backstories, or if you're struggling to show meaningful character growth throughout your story, this episode will give you the exact resources you need to create characters readers will never forget.
🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:
⭐ Follow & Review
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your review will help other writers find this podcast and get the insights they need to finish their books. Thanks for tuning in to The Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast! See you next week!
NOTES TO NOVEL IS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! 🎉 No more false starts. No more guesswork. In just 8 weeks, you’ll have the clarity, confidence, and system to finally write your novel—and keep going. Enrollment closes August 28th! Join Notes to Novel now →
Support the show
👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
4.9
14161,416 ratings
Master character development with these five must-read books that transform static characters from boring to brilliant.
You've created characters with compelling backstories, but somehow, they still feel... flat. They move through your plot but don't feel like real people.
Here's the thing: character development is what makes readers fall in love with your story, not just read it. But it's also one of the trickiest parts of fiction writing.
That’s why today, I'm sharing five books that have completely transformed my approach to character development. And they've also helped hundreds of my students create characters readers are totally invested in.
You'll hear me talk about things like:
[01:17] Why most characters feel flat even when they have clear goals and motivations (and which book can help you unlock the missing piece)
[06:22] My favorite resource for understanding character arcs, whether you’re writing a positive arc, a negative arc, or a flat one
[08:16] Which book can help you understand your villain's emotional wounds—and why this might be more important than perfecting your protagonist's backstory
[10:35] A book that’ll help you make readers feel your character's emotions without ever naming a single feeling on the page
[00:00] My go-to resource for learning how to marry your plot with your characters (this one’s especially good for pantsers who want a little more structure!)
If your characters feel static despite having detailed backstories, or if you're struggling to show meaningful character growth throughout your story, this episode will give you the exact resources you need to create characters readers will never forget.
🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:
⭐ Follow & Review
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your review will help other writers find this podcast and get the insights they need to finish their books. Thanks for tuning in to The Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast! See you next week!
NOTES TO NOVEL IS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! 🎉 No more false starts. No more guesswork. In just 8 weeks, you’ll have the clarity, confidence, and system to finally write your novel—and keep going. Enrollment closes August 28th! Join Notes to Novel now →
Support the show
👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
619 Listeners
996 Listeners
215 Listeners
1,289 Listeners
691 Listeners
305 Listeners
132 Listeners
110 Listeners
767 Listeners
58 Listeners
355 Listeners
81 Listeners
17 Listeners
41 Listeners
70 Listeners