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Writing Unforgettable Characters: How to Create Story People Who Jump Off the Page
What will take your fiction from good to great? From decent to dazzling? From lackluster to blockbuster?
Characters who "jump off the page."
Of course plot matters. So does conflict, and scenes, and every other aspect of the fiction craft. But without unforgettable characters, your books will always be less than they could be.
Don't let that happen.
In WRITING UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS you'll learn:
•How to lay the foundation for a memorable character
•How to bond the reader with the main character from the start
•The super power of unpredictability
•The secrets of grit, wit, and moxie
•How to bring your character to life on the page
•How and when to reveal backstory
•All about arcs and what they truly mean
•The key to unforgettable villains
•How to make minor characters memorable, too
•How to create a great series character
And more, PLUS the powerful exercises James Scott Bell has taught in his sold-out writing workshops.
No more flat stories! Give your readers what will turn them into career-long fans—characters who jump off the page.
Characters who "jump off the page."
Of course plot matters. So does conflict, and scenes, and every other aspect of the fiction craft. But without unforgettable characters, your books will always be less than they could be.
Don't let that happen.
In WRITING UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS you'll learn:
•How to lay the foundation for a memorable character
•How to bond the reader with the main character from the start
•The super power of unpredictability
•The secrets of grit, wit, and moxie
•How to bring your character to life on the page
•How and when to reveal backstory
•All about arcs and what they truly mean
•The key to unforgettable villains
•How to make minor characters memorable, too
•How to create a great series character
And more, PLUS the powerful exercises James Scott Bell has taught in his sold-out writing workshops.
No more flat stories! Give your readers what will turn them into career-long fans—characters who jump off the page.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
129 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2020
About the author
James Scott Bell
122 books995 followersJim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest series, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing.
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 25, 2021
JSB gives the best writing advice. I’ve enjoyed and highlighted the heck out of every book of his I’ve read. I plan to make my way through all of them.
October 20, 2020
Excellent resource for writers in all seasons of their writing journey. James Scott Bell's teaching style is straightforward and supported with numerous examples. His practical tips at the end of each section are wonderful as well. This is a resource for my keeper shelf and one I will refer to often.
September 16, 2020
Lots of great, insightful information by the master, as always! My only teeny, tiny complaint is that JSB uses mostly really old novels and movies as examples. I realize most of them are true classics and deserve to be studied, but surely there are more contemporary ones he could use that would be easier for the younger writers (not me!) out there to relate to. Other than that, this is another fantastic book on craft, and a very quick read, even for me!
August 30, 2020
JSB does it again!
Once again James Bell provides insight wisdom and down to earth advice and instruction. Whether you're a seasoned writer needing a refresher or brand new seeking direction, this book is for you.
Thank you Mr. Bell!
Once again James Bell provides insight wisdom and down to earth advice and instruction. Whether you're a seasoned writer needing a refresher or brand new seeking direction, this book is for you.
Thank you Mr. Bell!
August 30, 2020
Strong, believable and engaging characters are essential for a novel that will sell. I've read a few of James Scott Bell's On Writing series and they are all helpful. provides what an author needs to write strong, believable and engaging characters. As Bell himself admits, it is easier said than done, but his advice about how to humanise characters and give them depth, shows the budding novelist the way.
April 10, 2024
"A novel is the record of how a character, through strength of will, fights against death"--which can be physical, professional, or psychological. This is one of several gems I highlighted in this book. Creating memorable characters is a challenge, one that can be less daunting by embracing Bell's concepts.
April 10, 2024
The Black Wolf Book Club (https://blackwolfeditorial.com/book-c... ) reviewed this book in April 2024. We decided to give this book a 4-star rating, recommending this book as a useful resource for fiction writers.
Like all of the books in the "Bell on Writing" series, this book is an easy read and logically laid out. Each chapter contains an explanation of the idea that Bell is trying to convey, an example (or two) to illustrate what he is getting at, and a series of questions (or an exercise) to apply the concepts to your own writing. Because of this consistent chapter structure, it make it easy to use this book as a quick reference guide for future manuscripts.
Bell includes a discussion about the plotter vs panster argument when it comes to developing characters. (He calls it dossier and discovery.) While many writers will be somewhere on the spectrum, he approaches that topic with a discussion of his own process, and the limits that he needs to impose on himself before the joy of writing disappears. And he reminds writers that it's OKAY to not have it all worked out before you write. And it's OKAY to have that full dossier too. You have to do what works best for you. (A huge thank you to James Scott Bell for this chapter, because it made many of us in the Black Wolf Book Club feel much better about not having full dossiers for our characters.)
We also noticed that the examples used in the book are from a mixture of older and newer stories (published in recent years) AND from a range of genres. As such, we feel that writers of all ages (and all genres) will benefit from the book and be able to connect with the material.
We are recommending that writers think of this book as a quick-reference guide. Bookmark and dog-ear the exercises.
Like all of the books in the "Bell on Writing" series, this book is an easy read and logically laid out. Each chapter contains an explanation of the idea that Bell is trying to convey, an example (or two) to illustrate what he is getting at, and a series of questions (or an exercise) to apply the concepts to your own writing. Because of this consistent chapter structure, it make it easy to use this book as a quick reference guide for future manuscripts.
Bell includes a discussion about the plotter vs panster argument when it comes to developing characters. (He calls it dossier and discovery.) While many writers will be somewhere on the spectrum, he approaches that topic with a discussion of his own process, and the limits that he needs to impose on himself before the joy of writing disappears. And he reminds writers that it's OKAY to not have it all worked out before you write. And it's OKAY to have that full dossier too. You have to do what works best for you. (A huge thank you to James Scott Bell for this chapter, because it made many of us in the Black Wolf Book Club feel much better about not having full dossiers for our characters.)
We also noticed that the examples used in the book are from a mixture of older and newer stories (published in recent years) AND from a range of genres. As such, we feel that writers of all ages (and all genres) will benefit from the book and be able to connect with the material.
We are recommending that writers think of this book as a quick-reference guide. Bookmark and dog-ear the exercises.
March 19, 2022
I've got 40+ writing craft books and Bell's are among the best. It's amazing how much value he packs into THIS 146 pages. Well-organized and compelling in the case he makes for each technique or facet of creating characters, the discussion of which does not occur in a vacuum, these chapters ground their ideas in the dynamics of plot, interrelationship, and world-building. Bell is great at crediting his sources and providing examples from fiction you've likely read. I'm looking again at my Kindle version as I write this, and am immediately going back to a book I'm working on because, Bingo! (again). $5 - you CAN'T go wrong, no matter what your writing level/experience.
November 5, 2021
I enjoyed this book for its tips and tricks on how to make a story character work. It discussed voice dialogue, creating character growth, villains, portraying intense emotions, and so much more, this is definitely a must-read for writers who wish to enrich their writing. I especially liked how the author used stories to demonstrate his arguments. An inspiring book for beginner writers and more aspiring writers too.
September 16, 2020
Great lesson!
As always Mr. Bell's book give you valuable information on the art of becoming Not a good writer but a great one.I have Read several of his books and each one has taken me further into the craft of writing and writing well.He breaks down the subject so that you know that you can do it because he is very straightforward with How And with great example.
As always Mr. Bell's book give you valuable information on the art of becoming Not a good writer but a great one.I have Read several of his books and each one has taken me further into the craft of writing and writing well.He breaks down the subject so that you know that you can do it because he is very straightforward with How And with great example.
November 1, 2020
James Scott Bell did it again!
This book and this series stir my current stories to rise and make a difference by offering aids for character development. Mr. Bell reminds us that making our characters real guide us to be the heroes we admire. His examples are crisp and detailed. Five stars!
This book and this series stir my current stories to rise and make a difference by offering aids for character development. Mr. Bell reminds us that making our characters real guide us to be the heroes we admire. His examples are crisp and detailed. Five stars!
December 6, 2020
Nice resource
This was a quick read with lots of great info supported by loads of examples. For those of us who struggle to pull themselves out of self-doubt cyclones by overdoing all of the things, this is a great checklist of how to build your characters and what to do with them in your story, and when.
This was a quick read with lots of great info supported by loads of examples. For those of us who struggle to pull themselves out of self-doubt cyclones by overdoing all of the things, this is a great checklist of how to build your characters and what to do with them in your story, and when.
February 29, 2024
Repeats a little of Bell's Plot & Structure book but the repetition helps solidifies concepts. It does a good job covering the basics on how to make characters stand out. Found it helpful, especially with the writing exercises at the end of each chapter. Would recommend if you're looking to improve your writing and story development.
August 25, 2020
Another winner
James has another winner in his series of writing books. I am so glad he decided years ago that writing could be learned, and chooses to pay it forward with his writing books.
James has another winner in his series of writing books. I am so glad he decided years ago that writing could be learned, and chooses to pay it forward with his writing books.
September 10, 2020
Good checklist
Bell provides lots of examples and questions to help flesh out your characters. The examples are great references to see how successful, timeless authors incorporate the specific skills into their work.
Bell provides lots of examples and questions to help flesh out your characters. The examples are great references to see how successful, timeless authors incorporate the specific skills into their work.
November 14, 2020
This was very helpful. It has lots of practical exercises and tips to get you writing. If you are stuck on getting started or moving your story along, this is a great book to help you get off your ass and get it done.
November 25, 2020
Great advice
If you are a writer, or beginning writer, the advice Mr.Bell gives is invaluable. I have gotten several great ideas for my own novels from this book alone, and he has a bunch. Fascinating, rewarding, and worth every penny.
If you are a writer, or beginning writer, the advice Mr.Bell gives is invaluable. I have gotten several great ideas for my own novels from this book alone, and he has a bunch. Fascinating, rewarding, and worth every penny.
January 23, 2021
Another Great Book
I read all James Scott Bell’s books in writing. They’ve made me a better writer by teaching the craft one on one so my books aren’t built on a formula that reads like all other writers...
I read all James Scott Bell’s books in writing. They’ve made me a better writer by teaching the craft one on one so my books aren’t built on a formula that reads like all other writers...
May 10, 2021
3.5 stars
There are some genuinely good tips in here and I liked the checklists at the end of every chapter.
I had some gripes though:
- I've read another book by the author and noticed some of the same points and advice again here (Specifically the sections on a character's fight with death, backstory, flashbacks, act first explain later and villain choices, attractiveness and arguments)
- Sometimes examples felt drawn out or too outdated.
- There were typos on page 22 & 23
There are some genuinely good tips in here and I liked the checklists at the end of every chapter.
I had some gripes though:
- I've read another book by the author and noticed some of the same points and advice again here (Specifically the sections on a character's fight with death, backstory, flashbacks, act first explain later and villain choices, attractiveness and arguments)
- Sometimes examples felt drawn out or too outdated.
- There were typos on page 22 & 23
July 5, 2021
Mr. Bell never fails to give me invaluable tips to improve my writing. In his typical humourous and succinct fashion, he gives excellent tips and exercises about how to make your characters jump off the page. This has improved my writing already. Highly recommended.
April 15, 2022
Another JSB addition to my reference shelf
I love his books. Straight nuts and bolts and mechanics. So many writing books float around in the conceptual clouds, but for every concept he discusses there are a couple/few tactics laid out to help you implement.
I love his books. Straight nuts and bolts and mechanics. So many writing books float around in the conceptual clouds, but for every concept he discusses there are a couple/few tactics laid out to help you implement.
January 20, 2023
Mr. Bell educates and encourages at the same time.
I love Mr Bell's books on the craft of writing. His style is not only educational, but greatly encouraging! Definitely worth reading.
I love Mr Bell's books on the craft of writing. His style is not only educational, but greatly encouraging! Definitely worth reading.
October 5, 2020
Informative and Enlightening
I admit I needed this book for its straight-to-the-soul lessons for giving life to characters. Bravo to Mr. Bell for this brilliant work of art.
I admit I needed this book for its straight-to-the-soul lessons for giving life to characters. Bravo to Mr. Bell for this brilliant work of art.
March 10, 2021
Excellent
One of the better books on writing I’ve read. Breezy, informative and accessible and yet still crammed with useful tips in every chapter. Highly recommended.
One of the better books on writing I’ve read. Breezy, informative and accessible and yet still crammed with useful tips in every chapter. Highly recommended.
March 23, 2021
Methodical approach
Not new ideas, but presented in a useful format that is easy to comprehend and apply to your own work.
Not new ideas, but presented in a useful format that is easy to comprehend and apply to your own work.
July 28, 2021
This includes lots of great pointers. No doubt, I'll be referring back to this in the future.
December 19, 2021
Thorough and easy to read. I'll probably re-read with every book I write!
January 30, 2022
A lively primer full of good examples illustrating techniques for creating better fiction characters. Easy to understand.
January 27, 2023
Sugerencias prácticas para hacer personajes más vívidos en tus textos.
August 16, 2024
great read!
Great book! Always enjoy reading Mr. bells advice on writing section, always gets me thinking outside the box on my book
Great book! Always enjoy reading Mr. bells advice on writing section, always gets me thinking outside the box on my book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews