Monday, November 7, 2016

A Quick Overview of Character Applications for the Aspiring Writer

Writing a good book requires a lot of character interaction. But if you want to create memorable characters and make them irresistible to your audience so that readers can't help but to become effortlessly invested in them, you need to make sure you remember to include these few character fundamentals when designing and executing your story:


Follow me on Twitter: @NicoleMDixon 

Website: www.nicolemdixonauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkimdixonauthor

Author of the Bandita Series (Sunstone Press)


1) Character Development – Detail your characters so the reader not only learns to care about them, but understands why they should. People want to read books in which they get to feel as though they are living the adventure alongside your characters, and being able to discern in their mind's eye what these heroes, heroines, or anti-heroes look like brings them along seamlessly. A great book causes emotions to swell within the reader, and a great way to influence those emotions is to create an attachment between the reader and your characters, and most definitely, your protagonist.

Character development is a necessary component when it comes to reader sentimentality.

2) Character Conflict – Your protagonist, and even ancillary characters, ought to have an inner struggle. It makes them interesting in the reader’s eyes, and gives readers a sense of their humanity. This actually touches on Character Flaws (number 5), FYI, where I mention that a good character may do something beneath them because they feel it's their only option, while a bad character may surprise you with good in their heart and prove a redeeming quality.

3) Character Goals – As a story progresses, the main characters, whether protagonist or antagonist, ought to have goals set that they must reach, whether it’s something they need to attain or defeat. It helps promote tension and conflict, and also adds to the plot of their story.

4) Character Arc – This is the evolution of your characters. Have they learned anything over the course of the story? How have they evolved, for better or for worse?

5) Character Flaws – Character flaws not only make the character more interesting, but they make the character much more relatable to the reader as a human being, even if the character only exists on paper. Character flaws should not only be given to the protagonist, but to the antagonist as well, i.e., good guys do bad things, bad guys do good things. Life is complicated that way, and it also lends more credibility to the characters, drawing the reader in and garnering sympathy or disdain. Will the “good” guy shock the reader by doing something the reader disapproves of and criticizes? Will the bad guy suddenly redeem themselves?
Never make your characters one-dimensional. If you do, your story may lack excitement and fail to inspire the reader.


**Hint: As an idea, if you're an aspiring writer, you can try a simple exercise in learning to recognize these character rules. Try reading children’s books to help you see these rules applied at their most basic level. The stories are short, making these points easier to spot. 

A Quick Overview of Character Applications for the Aspiring Writer

Writing a good book requires a lot of character interaction. But if you want to create memorable characters and make them irresistible to your audience so that readers can't help but to become effortlessly invested in them, you need to make sure you remember to include these few character fundamentals when designing and executing your story:


Follow me on Twitter: @NicoleMDixon 

Website: www.nicolemdixonauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkimdixonauthor

Author of the Bandita Series (Sunstone Press)


1) Character Development – Detail your characters so the reader not only learns to care about them, but understands why they should. People want to read books in which they get to feel as though they are living the adventure alongside your characters, and being able to discern in their mind's eye what these heroes, heroines, or anti-heroes look like brings them along seamlessly. A great book causes emotions to swell within the reader, and a great way to influence those emotions is to create an attachment between the reader and your characters, and most definitely, your protagonist.

Character development is a necessary component when it comes to reader sentimentality.

2) Character Conflict – Your protagonist, and even ancillary characters, ought to have an inner struggle. It makes them interesting in the reader’s eyes, and gives readers a sense of their humanity. This actually touches on Character Flaws (number 5), FYI, where I mention that a good character may do something beneath them because they feel it's their only option, while a bad character may surprise you with good in their heart and prove a redeeming quality.

3) Character Goals – As a story progresses, the main characters, whether protagonist or antagonist, ought to have goals set that they must reach, whether it’s something they need to attain or defeat. It helps promote tension and conflict, and also adds to the plot of their story.

4) Character Arc – This is the evolution of your characters. Have they learned anything over the course of the story? How have they evolved, for better or for worse?

5) Character Flaws – Character flaws not only make the character more interesting, but they make the character much more relatable to the reader as a human being, even if the character only exists on paper. Character flaws should not only be given to the protagonist, but to the antagonist as well, i.e., good guys do bad things, bad guys do good things. Life is complicated that way, and it also lends more credibility to the characters, drawing the reader in and garnering sympathy or disdain. Will the “good” guy shock the reader by doing something the reader disapproves of and criticizes? Will the bad guy suddenly redeem themselves?
Never make your characters one-dimensional. If you do, your story may lack excitement and fail to inspire the reader.


**Hint: As an idea, if you're an aspiring writer, you can try a simple exercise in learning to recognize these character rules. Try reading children’s books to help you see these rules applied at their most basic level. The stories are short, making these points easier to spot. 

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Bandita and Billy the Kid, The Scourge of New Mexico: Goodreads Giveaway

Bandita Bonita Series


Hello Goodreads members!

The  giveaway I'm running on Goodreads for the second novel in my Bandita Series, Bandita Bonita and Billy the Kid, The Scourge of New Mexico (Book II) has begun!

The giveaway ends 9/15/16. You can simply go to my website, Nicole Maddalo Dixon, and click the widget to enter into the drawing.

While Book II can be enjoyed as is, remember, it's a continuation of Book I, Bandita Bonita, Romancing Billy the Kid, so it may be a good idea to have a copy of the first novel in the series as well.

You can choose to buy both books, as they are available at many independent bookstores, but most of all, they are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble in Print and eBook. The eBook versions at Amazon goes for $3.99 for Book I, and $3.82 for Book II. Barnes and Noble sells the eBook versions for Book I at $3.99, and Book II for $4.99.

You **MUST** be a Goodreads member to enter!!!!!!

Again, go to: Nicole Maddalo Dixon

Thank you to all who show their support for me and of the arts! Remember, reading is a window into another world when you need an escape from the monotony of the real world. Sometimes we need a little escape!

Connect with me on Facebook: Nicole Maddalo Dixon



Book II



Book I

www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com

Bandita and Billy the Kid, The Scourge of New Mexico: Goodreads Giveaway

Bandita Bonita Series


Hello Goodreads members!

The  giveaway I'm running on Goodreads for the second novel in my Bandita Series, Bandita Bonita and Billy the Kid, The Scourge of New Mexico (Book II) has begun!

The giveaway ends 9/15/16. You can simply go to my website, Nicole Maddalo Dixon, and click the widget to enter into the drawing.

While Book II can be enjoyed as is, remember, it's a continuation of Book I, Bandita Bonita, Romancing Billy the Kid, so it may be a good idea to have a copy of the first novel in the series as well.

You can choose to buy both books, as they are available at many independent bookstores, but most of all, they are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble in Print and eBook. The eBook versions at Amazon goes for $3.99 for Book I, and $3.82 for Book II. Barnes and Noble sells the eBook versions for Book I at $3.99, and Book II for $4.99.

You **MUST** be a Goodreads member to enter!!!!!!

Again, go to: Nicole Maddalo Dixon

Thank you to all who show their support for me and of the arts! Remember, reading is a window into another world when you need an escape from the monotony of the real world. Sometimes we need a little escape!

Connect with me on Facebook: Nicole Maddalo Dixon



Book II



Book I

www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Buy Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid, Book I, Before Book II Hits Shelves This Summer (2016)!

With the upcoming release of Bandita Bonita and Billy the Kid: The Scourge of New Mexico, you may want to pick up a copy of Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid (Book I).

Forget the word "romancing"; this series is about the life, trials, and tribulations of Billy with Bandita as a near observer.

While writing the series, it was clear Bandita, AKA, "Lucky Lu", wanted to be her own character, but not at the expense of historical accuracy. Bandita is the perfect foil for Billy, and vice versa.

With all the biographies written about Billy the Kid, this series projects Billy as a human being without compromising historial fact. The fictional aspect of the series is to provide the reader with an edgy tale, refreshing in its elements of Billy's story and laced with the drama that played a major part in the account of his life and the horror of his experiences, and it's all done with humorous undertones.

You haven't read a story like this about Billy, as it's full of grit and offbeat in its telling. It's the first of its kind, especially in a series format.


So don't be left in the dark: Get ready for Book II by getting a copy of Book I, available in Print and eBook (eBooks $3.99). Amazon Print CopyAmazon Kindle EditionBarnes and Noble Print CopyBarnes and Noble Nook Edition

For more information regarding the book and purchasing, please visit my website: nicolemdixonauthor.com, or go to the Bandita Fan Page to "like" and click "Shop Now".


Book I 




Book II, Summer 2016