Episode 56 - How many characters are too many?  And he wore his guilt like a harness. episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 14, 2023 · 27 MIN

Episode 56 - How many characters are too many? And he wore his guilt like a harness.

from Essential Guide to Writing a Novel · host James Thayer

For each scene, the perfect number of characters exists.  We'll talk about that number.  Too few, and we don't have a scene.  Too many, and the scene is like a subway at rush hour.  Also, here are some techniques regarding metaphors and similes, a skill that can make our writing more lyrical and engaging.   Please note: I will be out of the office next week, and so won't upload a new episode next Friday, but will return for a new episode the following Friday.Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more.  Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes.  The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars.  If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.Support the showBuy the master class.

For each scene, the perfect number of characters exists. We'll talk about that number. Too few, and we don't have a scene. Too many, and the scene is like a subway at rush hour. Also, here are some techniques regarding metaphors and similes, a skill that can make our writing more lyrical and engaging. Please note: I will be out of the office next week, and so won't upload a new episode next Friday, but will return for a new episode the following Friday. Her...

NOW PLAYING

Episode 56 - How many characters are too many? And he wore his guilt like a harness.

0:00 27:17

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Essential Guide to Writing a Novel?

This episode is 27 minutes long.

When was this Essential Guide to Writing a Novel episode published?

This episode was published on April 14, 2023.

What is this episode about?

For each scene, the perfect number of characters exists.  We'll talk about that number.  Too few, and we don't have a scene.  Too many, and the scene is like a subway at rush hour.  Also, here are some techniques regarding metaphors and similes, a...

Can I download this Essential Guide to Writing a Novel episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!