[My Guest Post] Alien Character vs Characterization

Hi everyone,

I resumed my guest post for Apex Book Company this month with a post about the difference between characters and characterization. I end with a writing prompt that fleshes out this concept. The prompt was to write a classified ad from one alien to another.

Here's a quote from the article:

To me, developing a character is part of my world-building process. From descriptions to occupation to personality quirks, the characters I design are part of a "world" I use to tell a story. The setting and the characters are tools that can function independently of any plot.

Characterization, on the other hand, is the glue that ties a character back to the plot. Maybe a birth defect isn't just a character flaw, the hero finds out the villain maimed him as a child. Maybe an aura of confidence isn't just an attribute, but the result of great upbringing by the character's mother. — SOURCE: Writing Prompt: Write a Personal Ad from One Area to Another at Apexbookcompany.com

If you're curious, pop on over and give Writing Prompt: Write a Personal Ad from One Area to Another a read. Then, why not challenge yourself and see if you can't characterize an alien?

Related posts: My Guest Post: Grammar in Your Alien Language
Guest Post: What's in an Alien Alphabet? (Or Why Some Languages Are Really Fonts…)
New Guest Post at Apex: Creating a Language Based on Symbols