Every protagonist in a novel should start in one place and end up in another irrevocably changed. Character arcs are crucial building blocks of novels. One very common arc involves a character who starts off shy or timid and has to become brave or find their voice. But here’s the problem that I often see […]
Characters
Even minor characters need to want something
One of the core tenets of writing advice is that everything flows from a protagonist’s motivation. It’s what inspires journeys to Mordor, jaunts through strange chocolate factories, and maniacal voyages to exact revenge on a white whale. Characters need to want something. What’s often neglected: this applies to minor characters too! Every single character, all […]
Make characters interesting through contradiction
When you think of some of the most iconic characters in film and literature, there’s often an interesting contradiction at the heart of charater. James Bond is capable of heroic action stunts, but he’s sauve and debonair. Hannibal Lector eats people, but he can be charming and intelligent. Dolores Umbridge is a strict rule follower, […]
Why protagonists need to be active
I’ve been on a “story essentials” kick lately as I work my way through the latest round of revisions for my new novel. One of the big weaknesses in the last draft: my protagonist wasn’t active enough through the second act of the book. It is so crucial to keep a protagonist active throughout the […]
What is a character arc?
“Character arcs” are important. You hear about them often. But… what’s a character arc? A character arc is the change that a character undergoes over the course of a story. For example, a character might start off a novel naive and weak and gain strength and courage. Or they might start off confident and successful […]
9 ways to spice up characters
Some characters leap off the page from the moment you first mention them. Some characters start off flat and boring. And no matter how hard we try, a few characters need a whole lot of coaxing to come to life. Never fear! Characters can be resuscitated and invigorated. You might just need to freshen them […]
