Characters
are it, in both fiction and memoir, if you want to publish. Of course
you have to have a good plot, something happening. And your characters
have to be externalized enough that we readers feel they're believable,
interesting, intriguing. But characters drive a story, and no more than
in today's publishing market.
Several of my clients have had
happy news these past weeks--agents or book contracts--and almost all of
them have emailed me about their agent or editor loving the
characters. Those who get rejections know that this is also the most
common complaint: I just didn't fall in love with your characters.
