Your story character’s defining moment

Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider books about a 14 year old spy have sold ten million copies worldwide.

In an interview, Anthony Horowitz: The secret life of a spy master the author talks about the Alex Rider character: “He’s not surprised that those about Alex Rider have been the most successful. ‘Alex is the most real character I’ve written,’ he says. ‘I vividly remember being 14. That was the age when I started to get happy: I started being a writer and stopped being a loser.’”

I’ve just written an article for my new write a book membership site about defining moments in a character’s life; you discover that defining moment by evaluating your own defining moment. Once you can see what it is, you understand how to find it in story characters.

The defining moment of your story person’s life can be looked on as a seed: this is what shaped your character and it’s what will make him real to both you and your readers.

In unsuccessful novels (and you’ll know as you write it that the book’s not coming to life) characters are either wishy-washy or cardboard.

Find the defining moment: it’s the beginning of really getting to know your character.

Discover the secrets of writing a book which will sell in Writing Freelance Star: Write A Book.