7 Quotes by David Corbett

The problem lies not with genre but with formula, which consists of seeing genre conventions as restrictions rather than mere guidelines, ends in themselves rather than possibilities.

Characterization requires a constant back-and-forth between the exterior events of the story and the inner life of the character.

Compelling characters are not cogs in the machine of your plot; they are human beings to whom the story happens.

An intuitive grasp of your character is formed by exploring scenes of profound emotional import-moments of overwhelming shame, joy, fear, pride, regret, forgiveness.

To paraphrase one of my favorite math professors: The difference between great artists, and artists who are not so great, is that great artists think deeply about simple things.

Whether we know it or not, our minds and hearts are populated by all the characters we will ever need – though we may disassemble them and rearrange the parts into composites for variation.

Writers possess only four tools: research, experience, empathy, and imagination. Fortunately, whole worlds can be built from them.