The Importance of Character Motivation

Posted on by Colin McMahon

Recently, I had the pleasure of reading The Mark of the Dragonfly, a young adult (they say Middle-Grade but I contest it) piece of fantasy. The novel follows Piper, a gifted young mechanic who rescues Anna – a young girl – from the clutches of a shadowy pursuer. The two store aboard a train that is on route to Noveen, the capitol city of this particular fictional world. While Mark of the Dragonfly is set in a unique fantasy world and stars three compelling protagonists, I found an issue that severely hampered my enjoyment of the later chapters. This problem underscores the focus of today’s post: the importance of character motivation.

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A Writer’s Obligation

Posted on by Colin McMahon

Over the past week, I have been doing a lot of thinking on the so-called “writer obligation.” This is discussed a lot, often times involving a controversial text and whether or not it should have been written/be read by the public. It speaks to a writer’s obligation to society: stating that what is written in part shapes the fabric of daily life and perception. I don’t disagree with that last sentence, but still encourage all writers to not be obliged to anyone.

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Love Triangles and the Female’s Role in YA

Posted on by Colin McMahon

Quick note: this can apply to plenty of adult fiction as well.

Last night, I had the pleasure of having a discussion with a couple of my fellow authors from Pen Name Publishing. For about a half an hour, we talked about the role of women in young adult (YA) literature, paying particular attention to the question: why are so many female protagonists always in love triangles? Basically: why are so many female protagonists defined by their quest to find love? Why is this such a common thread in young adult writing?

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