Other names for the character's inner journey include character arc, character change, character transformation, ritual pain, and range of change. CHARACTER ARC: WHAT IS IT? "Character change, also known as character arc, character development, or character range of change, refers to the development of a character over the course of the story," says John Truby. … Continue reading Character Change: The Inner Journey, Part 1
Category: Character
Antagonists: In our own stories
So this week we're looking at how to make our antagonists as awesome and effective as they can be. Let's see what we can do with the antagonists we've got in the one-liners we're developing. 1. Our human-rights-attorney story: When the money runs out before the case against his transgender partner is over, a human rights … Continue reading Antagonists: In our own stories
Antagonists: How the masters do it.
Here are my takes on the antagonist breakdowns of the stories we looked at last week (for main character want, need, flaw, symptoms). Andy Weir’s The MartianThis is a story about a guy who's left behind on Mars and has to survive until he can be rescued. Antagonist: This is a man vs. nature story, … Continue reading Antagonists: How the masters do it.
Antagonists: How to create a great one.
The masters use many names for antagonists, including nemesis, opponent and villain. Here's what they have to say... What's an antagonist? The antagonist, or Nemesis, "is the character who most stands in the way of the hero achieving his or her outer motivation," says Michael Hauge. John Truby agrees: "The opponent is the character who … Continue reading Antagonists: How to create a great one.
Want, Need, Flaw, Symptoms: In our own stories
We're looking at the wants, needs, flaws, and symptoms of main characters this week. Let's get to our own: 1. Our human-rights-attorney story:When the money runs out before the case against his transgender partner is over, a human rights lawyer joins a prestigious and wealthy law firm not knowing that the managing partner is the devil behind the … Continue reading Want, Need, Flaw, Symptoms: In our own stories
Want, Need, Flaw, Symptoms: How the masters do it
We're looking at how the masters give their characters emotional wants and needs and character flaws. Here's what I've seen in the stories I've read lately: Andy Weir’s The Martian Character: an astronaut abandoned on Mars. General Want: to survive Specific External Goal: to modify the resources that were supposed to last six people thirty-or-so days so … Continue reading Want, Need, Flaw, Symptoms: How the masters do it
Character: Want, Need, Flaw, Symptoms
This week’s tool pulls together what we’ve learned from other tools (concept and theme) and teases out how those tools apply to, and build, a character. Julie Gray calls it Want, Need, Flaw, Symptoms, and I think that's catchy, if not entirely illuminative, so there you have it. Want In terms of understanding its purpose, … Continue reading Character: Want, Need, Flaw, Symptoms
Backstory: Let’s See What You’ve Got
We're looking at backstory this week. Let's see if we can come up with some backstory to support the irreconcilable selves of the main characters of the one-liners we're developing. 1. Our human-rights-attorney story: When the money runs out before the case against his transgender partner is over, a human rights lawyer joins a prestigious and wealthy law firm … Continue reading Backstory: Let’s See What You’ve Got
Backstory: How the Masters Use It
Usually when backstory is effectively used, you don't notice it. It's often "marbled" in with the front story, as James Scott Bell says. Still, here are some examples of backstory that I have noticed (or remembered): Cheryl Strayed's WildIn this story, a girl goes on a hike as a way to deal with her mother's death. The … Continue reading Backstory: How the Masters Use It
Backstory: What Is It?
Now that our characters have irreconcilable conflict, it’s time to support how they got that way with backstory. What's Backstory? The masters provide tons of definitions of "backstory." Here’s a sampling: "The backstory is everything that took place before you started page 1," says Jack M. Bickham. "Backstory refers to any essential information about the characters … Continue reading Backstory: What Is It?
Writes With Tools 