If a character in a story scares the hell out of you, chances are he’s a Chaotic Evil. From ax-crazy psychopaths to nightmarish clowns, from cold-hearted monsters to eldritch abominations, these guys are known for their complete lack of empathy, their nihilistic outlook on life, and their sick sense of humor. From the easydamus character alignment page: A chaotic… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Chaotic Evil
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Flash Gold by Lindsay Buroker
All Kali McAlister wants is to leave Moose Hollow far, far behind–and with her dogless sled, the $1,000 prize for the sled race is just her ticket. But with pirates, gangsters, and thugs in the Yukon after her late father’s alchemical secrets, she’ll be lucky to make it to the finish line alive. And then… Continue reading Flash Gold by Lindsay Buroker
Trope Tuesday: Chaotic Good
Wherever you find the evil empire, dirty cops, or a misguided crusade, chances are there’s a Chaotic Good somewhere in the shadows fighting against it. From barbarian heroes to freedom fighters, rebellious princesses to ethical sluts, these free-spirited, noble-minded rebels are constantly at war with the man, robbing the rich to give to the poor. From the easydamus… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Chaotic Good
Trope Tuesday: Lawful Good
Lawful Good is the character alignment that is the most unambiguously heroic. These are the white hats, the caped crusaders, the knights in shining armor who fight for Truth, Justice, and the American way. They might not always be smart, and they might not always be nice, but you can always count on them to do the… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Lawful Good
Trope Tuesday: Character Alignment
I love personality tests. There’s something immensely satisfying about putting yourself on a grid that tells you something new and insightful about yourself and the people around you. My personal favorite is the Meyers-Briggs test (I’m an ENTP), but I like playing around with others as well. Character alignment is what you get when you… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Character Alignment
Character Interview: Master Sergeant Roman Andrei Krikoryan
So I recently heard about a really interesting blogfest, where the goal is to blog about the characters in your story, as well as have a little fun with flash fiction. The prizes look pretty good, too: a couple of free books and a manuscript critique, from a couple of up-and-coming editors. Not bad…but the… Continue reading Character Interview: Master Sergeant Roman Andrei Krikoryan
Trope Tuesday: Xanatos Speed Chess
Well, I can’t say any of this mess was part of my original plan, but it’s all working out so beautifully that I can’t complain. Tarvek, Girl Genius. The Xanatos Gambit is when a character plans out a scheme such that all possible outcomes (including abject failure) ultimately benefit that character. Named after David Xanatos… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Xanatos Speed Chess
The Jerusalem Man by David Gemmell
The old world is dead, destroyed by nuclear fire. The old ways are long forgotten–except by one man in search of the Holy City. He wanders the Earth with two guns and a Bible, leaving a trail of death and ancient prophecy in his wake. Brigands fear him, honest men pity him, and the Hellborn… Continue reading The Jerusalem Man by David Gemmell
Trope Tuesday: The Bechdel Test
The Bechdel Test is a way to measure how prominently women figure in a story. It mostly comes up in discussions of TV and film, but can also be applied to works of literature. To pass the test, the story must have at least two named female characters who talk to each other about something… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: The Bechdel Test
Trope Tuesday: Walking the Earth
Oh there’s sober men in plenty And drunkards barely twenty There are men of over ninety That have never yet kissed a girl. But give me a wandering rover From Orkney down to Dover We will roam the country over And together we’ll face the world. When a character decides to walk the Earth, they… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Walking the Earth