SLink Awards: Character Edition [Results Are Out]

Our SLink Categories

Welcome to first ever SLink Awards: Character Edition's categories.

We are open to any and all questions you might have to help you choose the right category for your character.

Without further ado, six categories for you to choose from:

LIONHEART (FULL)

The character that overcomes their own fears to pursue their goal.

What do we look for? We look for characters who are in the situation that threatens for all their worst nightmares to come true, but despite that, they put on a brave face and charge forward. We are looking at external conflicts with high stakes that test character's integrity.

Focus: motivation, external conflict, fears.

FLAWED HERO (FULL)

The character that wins over their worst enemy - their own shortcomings.

What do we look for? Similar to Lionheart, this is a character that has to overcome an obstacle, but unlike Lionheart, Flawed Hero's obstacle comes from their own insecurities, flaws, and fear. In this category, we will focus on characters with strong inner conflict that, at the start of the story, is posed as the main motivation.

Focus: motivation, internal conflict, flaws.

ORATOR

The character that leaves you in awe with their linguistic acrobatics.

What do we look for? Despite how it seems, we are not looking for truly great talkers that evoke the thought of Cicero. We are looking for great speech characterizations, characters that have distinct speech patterns, word choices, and tone of their voice. It's all about what makes a character surpass the limitations of the pages and make a grand entrance to our auditory perception every time they open their mouth.

Focus: voice, quirks, connections to other characters.

JESTER

Whatever this character lacks in other aspects compensates with sharp humor.

What do we look for? This is probably the most subjective category reserved for characters that can make us laugh. They can be sarcastic, true comedians, or just unintentionally funny.

Focus: voice, ability to surprise.

(OVER)THINKER / PHILOSOPHER (FULL)

The character with such vivid inner world we could live in it.

What do we look for? These are the characters we learn about inside and out. We should spend a lot of time in their head, analyzing, observing, and feeling the world around them. We wouldn't mind the occasional trip down to memory lane to gain a deeper understanding in the minute, excruciating detail how did they become who they are. Everything around them is vividly colored by their own worldview.

Focus: internal conflict, history.

VISIONARY

The character with a clear goal whose actions keep us on the edge of our seat.

What do we look for? We are looking for those characters with a razor-sharp focus on their goal. Determined individuals who are active participants in their stories. Everything that happens is a result of their own pursuit.

Focus: agency, motivation.

P.S. If you feel like your character could belong to a few different categories, worry not. Categories are based on different aspects of characterization and that only means your character is complex and you, as a writer, are a badass.

All entries will be considered for a Grand Prize, The SLink Awards: Character Edition Prize.