Character Types – Part 2
22 Jan 2010 1 Comment
in Character Definitions, character dynamics, Character Types, Characters Tags: Antagonist, Anti-Hero, Anti-Villain, Character Definitions, Character Types, Characters, Contagonist, Villain
Last week I discussed a few character types, specifically main character, protagonist and hero/heroine.
So the main character/protagonist/hero or heroine have to have someone, something to fight against or it’ll be a very boring, very thin and very one-sided story.
So that brings in the antagonist, villain, contagonist.
The Antagonist is the protagonist’s obstacle, their main goal is to stop protagonist from getting to their goal. The Villain is the exact polar opposite of the hero.
And what is a Contagonist?
The Contagonist is someone who works to hinder the progress of the protagonist but may not necessarily want to stop them from their goal but lure them away or tempt them from the path into another direction, possibly false or alternative goal.
How can you tell the difference?
The antagonist wants to stop the protagonist permanently. The contagonist wants to divert, delay or distract the protagonist from their goal for a short time. Another difference is the contagonist can be someone who is allied with either the protagonist or the antagonist. Usually the contagonist is made the henchman or minion of the villain/antagonist and is cast as the thorn in the side or pain in the butt or bad influence when allied with the protagonist.
There is also the anti-hero and anti-villain to consider.
The Anti-Hero is that shade of gray character. He’s middle of the road, a cross between good and evil. This character is dark, edgy and usual the opposite of the traditional hero type, a morally challenged, morally questionable misfit.
At the opposite end of the anti-hero is the Anti-Villain. This character is the villain but who has a good heart, decent morals and some good qualities and virtues. A mix of good and bad and moral ambivalence. The anti-villain tends to work because of this imbalance within his own character. This type of character can be more believable and more threatening as an antagonist.
The anti-hero and anti-villain work because they blur the distinction between their counterparts hero and villain. And also can be used to darker or lighten their counterparts, respectively. These character types are ofter used to confuse the hero/heroine (and sometimes the readers) in the story and throw them off.
Next week I’ll discover more on character archetypes.
What I’m Tweeting About
21 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
- 17:14 @LouisaEdwards – I am so jealous. I would love to meet her. #
- 20:29 Today is a good day. Got some good revisions/editing in. I am loving this story again. #
- 22:28 @briaquinlan – I have 4 more pages to go on my WG for the day. So I #amwriting. Kinda. I’m editing/revising. #
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What I’m Tweeting About
20 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
- 21:12 It seems wrong to eating french fries while watching The Biggest Loser. #
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The “Uh Oh” Moment
20 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in the "uh oh" moment, the same difference Tags: similar storylines, the "uh oh" moment, writing plot holes
I recently had what I call an “uh oh” moment. Not to be confused with the “ah ha” moment.
The “uh oh” moment is when you’re doing something and you realize you may have gone down the wrong path. Or, in this case, may be writing (well revising) a story to get it submission ready and that’s it’s similar to an already published book.
There are enough differences that it can hold it’s own. But there are some similarities.
But to bring this even closer to writing. An “uh oh” moment can be when you have the wrong characters in your story. You know the one’s who won’t co-operate, regardless of all the careful planning and plotting you’ve done. Or you realize you’ve written yourself into a major plot hole. A hole so big that it’s less of a hole and more like quicksand and your characters (and plot) is sinking fast.
So have you had an “uh oh” moment recently? What was it?
What I’m Tweeting About
19 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
- 21:29 RT @RevRunWisdom: Ladies::: Be good 2 urself,, ppl only treat u as good as u treat urself #
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What I’m Tweeting About
18 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
- 16:42 Redoing my LTG Spreadsheet #
- 13:30 Check out the 1st part of my new YA Contemp serial read – Truth or Dare – danieford.com/2010/01/18/truth-or-dare/ #
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Truth or Dare
18 Jan 2010 21 Comments
in Excerpt Monday, Serial Read, Truth or Dare Tags: Excerpt Monday, Serial Read, Truth or Dare
With the new year, I decided to start a serial read. I hope you enjoy it.
Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just a writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.
Truth or Dare - Contemporary, Young Adult
Excerpt:
Indigo Jones smelled like grease, fried onions and burnt toast.
Not a good combination for a first date.
She sniffed her hair, wrinkled her nose at her reflection in the funhouse style mirror with Yves Diner spray-painted across the top on the other side of the diner.
Ugh. That smelled too.
Ketchup, mustard and special sauce splattered across her making a pseudo-mosaic pattern on her top and apron. She knew it was unavoidable, rather, hazard of working at the diner. But she was tired of having to do a deep cleaning instead of taking a regular shower each day. And she still sometimes smelled like onion rings or grease.
Her mother said it was in her pores. But since getting new skin was out of the question, she resorted to long, hot showers every day, which drained the hot water tank.
Indigo muttered under her breath as she cleared off the last table in her section. She glanced up at the clock. As usual, Cyndi was a late.
I am not staying to help. I am not staying to help. I have a date. I am not staying to help.
She took the dishpan to the kitchen, undid her apron and was kneeling by the computer about to clock out when her boss, Yvette Davis, came out of her office. “Would you mind staying and covering part of Cyndi’s shift? Just until she gets in and got settled?”
“I really can’t tonight Yvette.”
“Please Indigo. You’re my best waitress.”
I’m practically your only waitress. “I have plans Yvette. And I’d rather not go out on my date smelling like the diner. You know I hate to leave you in the lurch but…”
“No. Go. I understand. Have fun.” Yvette sighed as she pulled on an apron.
Dagnabbit. “You sure?”
“Yes go. It’ll be fine.”
Indigo gave her boss a long look before she raced out the diner. She got in her beat-up, second hand car. Her mother’s first car, a navy blue Dodge Shadow and drove home. Less than two hours later, she was scrubbed, refreshed and dressed in her best designer jeans, kitten heels and shirt. She waited half an hour for him to show up. After an hour, she went back to the drove back to the diner.
Yvette looked up when Indigo walked back into the diner. “What…”
Indigo shrugged, “Still need some help?”
“Yeah. Thanks. I appreciate it. Cyndi, obviously,” she waved her hand around the diner, “never showed. This is the last straw. She knows Friday’s and the weekends are our busiest days.”
Indigo nodded and got to work. She focused on serving the customers, chatting with her school friends who came in and not on Gregg Anderson and the possible reasons, he could have stood her up.
Her day brightened considerably when her neighbor Morgan Downing came in and sat at the counter.
“Hey Indi.”
“The usual?”
He smiled, nodded and then frowned, “I’m sorry about Gregg.”
Crossing her arms, she waited for him to continue.
“The dare?”
“What dare?”
“To see how far he could get with you.”
“Mmm hmm. How long did you know about his dare?” Her voice nearly a whisper.
“I overheard him bragging to Trent when he came over to pick up Taylor for their date. Apparently, according to Trent, Taylor found out about the dare and got mad. So instead of fessing up to you, he stood you up.”
“I should have known.” She shook her head, silently counted to ten and then counted to ten again, “I…” her voice trailed off when the bell above the diner door dinged signaling new customers. Looking up Taylor Downing and Gregg Anderson entered the diner hand and hand.
Following her gaze, Morgan turned back towards the counter with a smirk.
“Just go with it.” His voice low enough for only her to hear. Then Morgan Downing, Indigo’s best friend since preschool leaned up on the counter and kissed her on the lips.
“Links to other Excerpt Monday writers”
Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.
The Excerpt Monday Hosts:
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)
Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)
Joining us this week:
Stephanie Draven, Fantasy with Romantic Elements (PG 13)
Babette James, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Cynthia Justlin, Thriller with Romantic Elements (PG 13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Contemporary Romantic Elements (PG 13)
R. F. Long, Fantasy Romance (PG13)
Shawntelle Madsion, Paranormal Romance (PG13)
Debbie Mumford, Science Fiction/ Fantasy (PG13)
Kendal Corbitt, Erotica Contemporary (R)
KB Alan, Erotic Paranormal Romance (R)
Cate Hart, YA Paranormal (R)
Jeanne St. James, Interracial Menage Erotic Romance (R)
Cherrie Lynn, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Michelle Picard, Paranormal/Fantasy (R)
Mary Quast, Contemporary Romance (R)
Danielle Yockman, Historical Romance (R)
Sara Brookes, Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy (NC17)
Angeleque Ford, Contemporary, Interracial, Erotic Romance (NC 17)
Elise Logan, Contemporary Romance (NC17)
What I’m Tweeting About
17 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
- 19:07 Just discovered. Possible major problem with LL. Not in a good mood right now. #
- 19:10 @KimberlyFarris – Yeah b/c may have to scrap everything #
- 19:14 @KimberlyFarris -ok #
- 20:18 @briaquinlan – Yes. @KimberlyFarris helped. Gonna keep writing/editing. #
- 10:24 RT @RevRunWisdom: Envy is a sort of fever,, and all those ppl need 2 stop sweating u! #
- 10:24 RT @RevRunWisdom: jealousy is an inner consciousness of ones own inferiority, Its is mental cancer -(Forbes) #
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What I’m Tweeting About
16 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
- 19:00 @briaquinlan – Nope. Been feeling like that all day. Having fun writing. #
- 19:00 RT @ChefJuanita: Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr…♥ #
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What I’m Tweeting About
15 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
- 21:15 The "Why Wait" blog post is officially done. #
- 21:20 New Blog Post: Why Wait? What are you waiting for? – danieford.com/2010/01/14/why-wait/ #
- 21:20 @briaquinlan – Blog post link – danieford.com/2010/01/14/why-wait/ #
- 14:04 RT @johannaharness: Weekend #wordathon starts tonight at 6pm! More here: twurl.nl/ltnmgx #amwriting #
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