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This episode features Karen Boss, an editor at Charlesbridge Publishing, as she discusses creating standout, realistic characters in publishing. Karen, holding an MA in children's literature and an MA in higher education administration, shares insights from her extensive publishing and editorial experience, alongside personal anecdotes from her travels. The discussion includes developing deep, flawed, and emotional characters, highlighting examples from upcoming books. Tips for making characters, including non-human ones, feel fully developed are shared, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, character agency, and unique character voices. The episode also addresses common issues with manuscripts, such as solving problems too easily or characters acting unnaturally. Karen suggests various exercises for character and dialogue development, underscoring the importance of practice, revision, and being open to character evolution.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
01:21 Karen's Travel Adventures
02:15 Unusual Characters in Literature
06:07 Character Development in Stories
07:41 Examples of Well-Developed Characters
19:45 Deep Dive into Character Development
20:31 Methods for Developing Characters
20:37 Off-the-Page Exercises for Character Development
22:11 The Importance of Voice in Character Development
23:04 The Role of Agency in Character Development
23:48 Common Pitfalls in Character Development
25:48 The Art of Crafting Authentic Dialogue
28:58 The Impact of Dialogue on Character Development
33:41 Practical Exercises for Dialogue Development
38:16 Final Thoughts on Character and Dialogue Development

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

The Kid by Jeff Shill

La Mala Suerte Is Following Me by Ana Siqueira, Illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Troublemakers in Trousers by Sarah Albee

Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin by Michelle Cusolito, Illustrated by Nicole Wong

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