In teaching writers the fundamentals of creating characters that will keep their readers spellbound, Kress utilizes dozens of excerpts from well-known fiction, along with enlightening exercises. In this guide, award-winning author Nancy Kress explores the crucial relationship between characterization and plot, illustrating how vibrant, well-constructed characters act as the driving force behind an exceptional story.In teaching you the fundamentals of creating characters that will keep your readers spellbound, Kress utilizes:Dozens of excerpts from well-known fictionEnlightening exercises to help you build strong characters starting from the outside-inBeginning chapters that focus on the physical elements that comprise a character, providing techniques for using external qualities to reflect personalityBuilding skill upon skill, you blend these qualities with emotional and mental characterization, forming muti-dimensional characters that initiate exciting action, react to tense situations, and power the plot from beginning to end.