Sunday, April 17, 2011

Liz Waniewski: Character-Driven Stories

Liz Wanieski reads from FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB
Liz Waniewski is a senior editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group.

Liz suggests you ask yourself these questions:

If you could choose one book character to be your best friend, who would it be and why?

Which book character would be your mortal enemy, and why?

The characters we love the most give us insight to ourselves and our world.

Liz's first focus when she signs up a book is character. A books main character needs to be:
-compelling
-authentic
-fully fleshed out
-unique
-interesting
-And... a character one that the story could never happen without them.

Richard Peck is a master at creating this kind of character.

Liz doesn't need to like a character right away but needs to wish to know him or her better.

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