Helping Writers Become Authors

The Lie Your Character Believes, which is the reason for all character arcs, is created from the conflict between the Thing He Wants and the Thing He needs.

Out of resistance comes conflict; out of conflict comes plot. This is the first of many ways in which plot and character arcs are inextricable.

Although the variations of character arcs are as endless as the vagaries of human nature, we can narrow character arcs down to three basic types, with a few primary variations upon each.

If you are wondering whether or not you might have opened your story too soon, ask yourself these questions.

If you are getting reports that your characters are acting out of character, it may be a sign of a deeper problem in your plot, your character building, or your narrative flow.

Find out how to put key minor characters to work in helping you build a more coherent and resonant theme.

Is killing off a character really the best way to serve your story?

Use thse character archetypes to bring full-fledged depth and resonance to both your plot and your theme.

Consolidating the power of your main antagonist into a catalyst for both halves of your story is a powerful way to bring cohesion to both plot and theme.

Weak character voice could be due to the simple problem of too much telling in your narrative.

Never let your character get off easily. If you can hit him from one side, you can hit him from two.

A book is always going to be a tremendous undertaking that can feel more than a little complicated sometimes. But what if we could simplify the process?

Sometimes that will be an easy decision: the right story will be staring us in the face. But sometimes the choices can be overwhelming.

Avoiding under-explanation comes down to a few key techniques.

Three reasons why you should perhaps give up on your story.