From Sex to Schizophrenia: Everything You Need to Develop Your Characters! What makes a person commit a white-collar crime? Who is a likely candidate to join a cult? Why do children have imaginary friends? How does birth order affect whether or not a person gets married? When does mind over matter become a crippling problem?Writer's Guide to Character Traits, 2nd edition answers all of these questions and many others. With more than 400 easy-to-reference lists of traits blended from a variety of behaviors and influences, you'll gain the knowledge you need to create distinctive characters whose personalities correspond to their thoughts and actions - no matter how normal or psychotic they might be. In this updated and expanded edition, you'll also find:Comprehensive instruction on how to use this bookNew statistical information to help you create true-to-life charactersCorresponding exercises that show you how to put the material to work in your storiesA quick-reference index to make cross-referencing a snapIdea sparkers to get your thoughts out of your head and onto the pagePlus, you'll learn about common - and not so common - psychological, physical, and relationship disorders; delve into the minds of criminals; find out what it takes to be a professional athlete, scientist, and truck driver; discover what life is like for a gang member, suicidal teen, and alcoholic; and more. In Writer's Guide to Character Traits, 2nd edition, note psychologist and author Dr. Linda Edelstein takes you beyond generic personality types and into the depths of the human psyche where you're sure to find the resources you need to make your characters stand out from the crowd.

Product Description: Following on his successful Guides to the plots and themes of Shakespeare's plays, Robert Fallon now explores the world of characters created by the Bard. Like Mr. Fallon's earlier books, A Theatergoer's Guide to Shakespeare's Characters is designed to enhance the playgoer's enjoyment of a performance, but it also makes for enlightening reading after the show...read more

Product Description: A Writer's Magic Carpet Ride - Carry Your Readers from Coast to Coast without Leaving HomeFill your settings with the insider details readers love - without spending days in a library or weeks on the road. Writer's Guide to Places makes it easy! Featuring all fifty states, ten Canadian provinces, and fifty-one North American cities, this book provides a writer's eye view of hundreds of fascinating locales, from bustling cities and scenic landscapes to tourist traps and small town squares...read more

Provides profiles of dozens of mental, emotional, and physical personality traits and types to help writers create original characters (view table of contents)