For this week’s craft essay, here is an interesting excerpt from Writing in the Dark by author Tim Waggoner, in which he discusses the three types of pain all horror writers should consider inflicting upon their characters. Even if you don’t write horror, this is a valuable insight into how to add depth to your stories by layering these elements.
According to Waggoner, “All stories, regardless of genre, are about people in pain. How characters attempt to deal with that pain and how those attempts change them is the core plot of every story.”