What do you think?
Rate this book
Growing Great Characters from the Ground Up: A Thorough Primer for Writers of Fiction and Nonfiction
As Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up states, character development is the most important facet of any character-based book, because readers won't follow for long if they find the people you're writing about dull, one-dimensional or unbelievable. After listing the three attributes of a great character, the book takes readers through a step-by-step process that teaches them how to develop characters from start to finish.
- GenresWriting
223 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2007
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Martha Engber
9 books98 followersMartha Engber is the author of six books. SCATTERED LIGHT (https://vineleavespress.myshopify.com...), the sequel to WINTER LIGHT, an IPPY Gold Medal Winner for YA, will be published Nov. 25, 2025.
Her other fiction includes THE FALCON, THE WOLF AND THE HUMMINGBIRD, a historical novel, and THE WIND THIEF. Her nonfiction includes BLISS ROAD, a memoir about her neurodiverse family, and GROWING GREAT CHARACTERS, a resource for writers.
A workshop facilitator and speaker, she’s had a full-length play produced in Hollywood and fiction published in a variety of literary journals. She and her screenwriting team have optioned a TV series to a studio. She encourages readers to connect via her website, MarthaEngber.com.
Her other fiction includes THE FALCON, THE WOLF AND THE HUMMINGBIRD, a historical novel, and THE WIND THIEF. Her nonfiction includes BLISS ROAD, a memoir about her neurodiverse family, and GROWING GREAT CHARACTERS, a resource for writers.
A workshop facilitator and speaker, she’s had a full-length play produced in Hollywood and fiction published in a variety of literary journals. She and her screenwriting team have optioned a TV series to a studio. She encourages readers to connect via her website, MarthaEngber.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 19, 2024
I read this along with the Fantasy Author's Handbook Group:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Some terrific advice here, especially for anyone just starting out on the fiction writing journey.
A few tidbits I saved:
Fictional characters are people born from imagination. While this might seem an oxymoron—because how can characters be real if they’re made up—it’s not. If we’re real, then what we create is real, too.
When we finally understand our character’s greatest fear, our goal is clear: to make him face that fear.
When people say they like plot-driven stories, they’re not saying they’re willing to swallow cliché characters for the sake of showy action. What they really want are great characters who choose big physical actions that are highly dramatic and have a grave impact on a lot of people, like risking their lives to rescue others. They’re usually featured in genre fiction such as thrillers, science fiction, westerns and mysteries, and action nonfiction stories of true crime or high adventure.
…and more. Keep an eye on https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com for a more detailed recommendation.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Some terrific advice here, especially for anyone just starting out on the fiction writing journey.
A few tidbits I saved:
Fictional characters are people born from imagination. While this might seem an oxymoron—because how can characters be real if they’re made up—it’s not. If we’re real, then what we create is real, too.
When we finally understand our character’s greatest fear, our goal is clear: to make him face that fear.
When people say they like plot-driven stories, they’re not saying they’re willing to swallow cliché characters for the sake of showy action. What they really want are great characters who choose big physical actions that are highly dramatic and have a grave impact on a lot of people, like risking their lives to rescue others. They’re usually featured in genre fiction such as thrillers, science fiction, westerns and mysteries, and action nonfiction stories of true crime or high adventure.
…and more. Keep an eye on https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com for a more detailed recommendation.
Want to Read
November 7, 2008Author wrote wonderful review of Kate Evan's book, For the May Queen.
A budding writer can only get encouragement!
A budding writer can only get encouragement!
April 19, 2016
Engber has captured the essence of fully developed characters in "Ground Up." Enlightened character development finally taught in understandable terms. Thank you.
November 10, 2016
Engber has captured the essence of fully developed characters in "Ground Up." Enlightened character development finally taught in understandable terms. Thank you.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews