Character development gives your characters depth and takes readers on an engaging journey. Learn more about character arcs.
There are a lot of moving pieces that make up your book. Plotlines and characters to keep track of, foreshadowing, compelling conflict and stakes, setting, avoiding cliches, the list goes on. But it is my belief (and I don’t think I’m alone) that while each of these is important, the only absol
Flat arcs are the black sheep of character arcs, focusing on characters that have already discovered their truth. So how do you write a flat character arc?
Character development gives your characters depth and takes readers on an engaging journey. Learn more about character arcs.
Here are the starting thoughts that created Ember Dragon Daughter (EDD): A girl with a trait or symbol she wants to hide that turns into a mystery and a strength. A world where love of all kinds can't be contested, yet the absence has consequences. I start with an idea and then I ask "why" over and over again. Then, I ask "what could go wrong" until I'm upset for the characters. After that, I sew each answer together until there is no way to untie them. Every why, consequence, and action is tied
I love deconstructing Pixar movies because they’re not only wonderful, they’re straightforward. These stories utilize specific story rules, structure, character, and themes. All of which make for excellent storytelling. Today I want to look at Pixar’s newest movie: Soul . Recently,
Learn the five primary types of character arc. This two-part series starts with a beat-by-beat view of the heroic arcs: Positive-Change Arc and Flat Arc.
Character development can be one of the most difficult of the writing processes. We help you craft your characters using a development worksheet...
What is character development? What’s a static character? What’s a dynamic character? We explain all that here.
Here’s everything you need to know so that you can use the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to build more three-dimensional characters in your script.
Transcript - 5 Ingredients in Character Arcs The TRUTH: What your story is about; the theme. What the character has to learn. The LIE: T...
A good character arc template includes first goals your characters have, the helps and hindrances that aid them or stand in their way, and more. Learn more.
The majestic Queen Arc builds upon the lessons learned in the Hero's Journey to create an archetypal character arc that offers a worthy sequel.
How to Nail Your Character Arc: The Ultimate Guide A crucial part of any screenplay is the main character's growth and evolution from beginning to
A hero's journey is one of service and self-sacrifice. Most importantly, this hero’s character arc is something you can use to write heros of your own!
Writing is creative. But, the most creative and innovative story will fall flat if the characters are flat. It is easy to see a character arc within a single book, but what becomes more challenging is when your character is going over a series, or trilogy, of books. This is particularly relevant if your main ... Read More about Character Development: Creating a Series-Long Character Arc
Learn how to write character arcs that resonate with your readers and leave them gasping, cheering, or crying. Or all three!
In a word, the negative character arc is about failure, and this becomes nowhere more clear than in the Third Act.
An archetypal character doesn't have to be a flat, filler character. Learn how to use common archetypes to drive your novel's plot, dialogue, and more.
What is a flat character? We'll answer that question, plus look at classic examples of flat characters from film & literature. And more!
Need some advice on how to write character arcs? Here is a 4 step process you can follow.
Welcome to the Character Evolution Files! This column focuses on character arcs, from the elements that create or enhance a character’s inner journey, to techniques that writers can employ to…
Are you ready to take the overwhelm out of outlining your novel? Transforming a new story idea or a shapeless first draft into a spectacular full-length book is more than a little difficult. There are endless elements at play: plot arcs, character arcs, stakes, themes, pacing... It's no w
As I mentioned with the worksheet I shared last week, it's often easier to work backward when we're framing our story. At the very least, knowing the ending often makes it easier to see our character's arc.
There’s nothing quite like a really memorable villain to add drama to a story! Who can forget Count Fosco, or Moriarty, or Sauron? Use this worksheet to craft the perfect villain. Click Here to Download This Worksheet (PDF) If you’d like a more well-rounded villain, you might consider plotting their character arc. You can also…
Not every character warrants a character arc—and this is where the difference between dynamic and round characters becomes important.
There are a lot of moving pieces that make up your book. Plotlines and characters to keep track of, foreshadowing, compelling conflict and stakes, setting, avoiding cliches, the list goes on. But it is my belief (and I don’t think I’m alone) that while each of these is important, the only absol
Each positive character archetype inherently represents a struggle with related shadow archetypes--one passive and one aggressive.
The powerful and mysterious Mage Arc--the final archetypal character arc--turns its attention to questions of power and surrender.
Picking the character's arc that's perfect for your story requires nothing more than the answers to three questions.
Here's what my daily writing process looks like when using Scrivener for my first drafts.
Whether we plot or pants (or do something in between), the drafting stage is where we work to put core ideas onto the page. It’s a lot of fun because creativity is cranked up and our imaginations are set loose! After all, we know we’ll be back to improve everything later. Of course, it’s this […]
This post was published as a guest post on Well-Storied.com! Study scene decisions at points along Laia of Serra's arc in AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir to learn how critical choices are in developing a strong and successful character arc.
A redemptive character arc is a journey of change wherein a character who does “bad” or “morally gray” things becomes a hero. In this blog, we break down how Prince Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender is a perfect example.
If you've ever wondered how to write a story that simply works and that your readers will love, you have to start with your character's goals and needs.
I love deconstructing Pixar movies because they’re not only wonderful, they’re straightforward. These stories utilize specific story rules, structure, character, and themes. All of which make for excellent storytelling. Today I want to look at Pixar’s newest movie: Soul . Recently,
Need some advice on how to write character arcs? Here is a 4 step process you can follow.
Character development gives your characters depth and takes readers on an engaging journey. Learn more about character arcs.
How to plan character arc alongside plot points, for a more complete map of both the external and internal journeys of the character.
