13.21: Q&A on Character Depth and Motivation

13.21: Q&A on Character Depth and Motivation

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler May 27, 2018 Duration: 20:08
Your Hosts: Brandon, Valynne, Dan, and Howard

Our listeners submitted some great questions!

* How do you fairly and even-handedly write a deeply compelling character you deeply dislike?
* What's the best way to discuss a character's underlying motivations without expressly stating them in narrative or dialog?
* How well should characters understand their own motivations?
* How do you make non-violent characters interesting?
* Can there be too much depth to a character?
* How do you balance character depth across multiple attributes?
* How do you make a character motivation seem deep when most people's motivations are actually pretty shallow?
* Do you create standard dossiers for your characters?
* Does your story have to have a villain?
* How do you know whether or not a character's voice is working?
* Do you track words or phrases that are unique to a particular character's voice?

Liner Notes: Brandon mentioned Howard's "Tyrannopotomus Rex" doodle as part of the writing prompt. Here it is, should you need visual reference.



Credits: This episode was recorded by Dan Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson. Our Sponsors: * Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s a common piece of advice: if you want to be a writer, you should write. But what happens when you’re staring at the blank page, or when the business side of publishing feels like a maze? That’s where Writing Excuses comes in. Each week, hosts Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler gather not just to talk about writing, but to dissect it. They move quickly, respecting your time while packing episodes with actionable discussions on technique, from character voice to plot structure. But this podcast understands that a writing life isn’t just about craft-it’s also a career. So conversations naturally pivot to the practicalities of the business, navigating careers, and sustaining creativity in a demanding field. You’ll hear five distinct professional perspectives blending into a single, focused conversation designed to get you past excuses and back to your work. It’s like a regular, invigorating workshop session delivered directly to you, meant to equip you with tools for both your manuscript and your professional path.
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