The Secrets of Character
Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love
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The Secrets of Character
Narrated by:
Eric Michael Summerer
Buy Now for £12.96
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Narrated by:
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Eric Michael Summerer
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By:
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Matt Bird
About this listen
The hardest yet most essential element of writing great fiction is character – specifically, creating a central hero who is relatable, compelling, and worth the reader’s precious time. In this entertaining and practical guide, popular blogger, writing coach and screenwriter Matt Bird breaks down what makes characters embraceable and unforgettable, and presents insider tips and tricks for writers of all levels and genres.
Generously packed with examples from popular books and movies analyzed with engaging specificity, this expert guide reveals what makes audiences believe, care, and invest in great characters – and how to bring your own characters vividly to life.
Critic reviews
“There are plenty of books on the craft of writing. But there’s only one Matt Bird, the ultimate writing coach: smart, funny, insightful, and armed with a toolbox of innovative tips for creating characters readers will love. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned pro, you need this classic-in-the-making.”
--Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award winning author of The One and Only Ivan
“Secrets of Story instantly became one of my favorite writing guides. This follow-up dives under the water to take an even more in-depth look at the iceberg of character development. Meticulously researched and brimming with examples, it offers advice that is both precise and actionable. It reveals the genre-spanning patterns of memorable and resonant characters in an easy-to-access reference format that makes for both fun reading and a great tool to keep on your desk for easy thumb-through inspiration.”
--K. M. Weiland, author of Creating Character Arcs and Structuring Your Novel
“Matt Bird has done it again! The Secrets of Character is a book you want next to you when you write. From revealing what gatekeepers look for in your first ten pages to sharing powerful writing tricks from 150 years ago through today, this is a book to read with your laptop nearby. You'll see what your writing needs and it's sure to inspire you to write!”
--Torrey Maldonado, author of What Lane? and Tight
“All the great ideas in the world don’t matter if you don’t hook your audience out of the gate. In Matt’s new book, he lays it out plain and simple, practical advice for making readers grab on to your protagonists and never let go. The Secrets of Character is the perfect companion to The Secrets of Story, another essential writing guide from Matt Bird.”
--Lou Anders, Hugo-winning editor and author of Once Upon a Unicorn, and Star Wars: Pirate’s Price
“Who says there are no shortcuts to success? Matt Bird’s marvelous Secrets of Character offers indispensable, easy-to-implement story hacks that guarantee your character will grab readers’ attention—and ensure you have a story worth writing.”
--Keir Graff, author of The Three Mrs. Wrights and The Swing of Things (writing with Linda Joffe Hull as Linda Keir)
--Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award winning author of The One and Only Ivan
“Secrets of Story instantly became one of my favorite writing guides. This follow-up dives under the water to take an even more in-depth look at the iceberg of character development. Meticulously researched and brimming with examples, it offers advice that is both precise and actionable. It reveals the genre-spanning patterns of memorable and resonant characters in an easy-to-access reference format that makes for both fun reading and a great tool to keep on your desk for easy thumb-through inspiration.”
--K. M. Weiland, author of Creating Character Arcs and Structuring Your Novel
“Matt Bird has done it again! The Secrets of Character is a book you want next to you when you write. From revealing what gatekeepers look for in your first ten pages to sharing powerful writing tricks from 150 years ago through today, this is a book to read with your laptop nearby. You'll see what your writing needs and it's sure to inspire you to write!”
--Torrey Maldonado, author of What Lane? and Tight
“All the great ideas in the world don’t matter if you don’t hook your audience out of the gate. In Matt’s new book, he lays it out plain and simple, practical advice for making readers grab on to your protagonists and never let go. The Secrets of Character is the perfect companion to The Secrets of Story, another essential writing guide from Matt Bird.”
--Lou Anders, Hugo-winning editor and author of Once Upon a Unicorn, and Star Wars: Pirate’s Price
“Who says there are no shortcuts to success? Matt Bird’s marvelous Secrets of Character offers indispensable, easy-to-implement story hacks that guarantee your character will grab readers’ attention—and ensure you have a story worth writing.”
--Keir Graff, author of The Three Mrs. Wrights and The Swing of Things (writing with Linda Joffe Hull as Linda Keir)
This, however, is mostly a repetition of his original ideas without any actual added value. The strangest thing about this book might be this, though: at times, it meanders into so much bizarre political correctness (to give it a positive name) while failing to notice the amount of stereotyping accompanied by this approach.
So my recommendations would be to go for book number one. It's well worth it. If you're interested in more examples, then visit the author's website.
Performance: a bit too much pathos at times, but in general a solid professional narrator.
Disappointing, in places almost insulting
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