Growing your characters
Update on The Trouble With Demons: I'm plotting out the last chapters, and while my deadline is looming (10 weeks away), I think I can do it. My writing brain obviously does. Last night it did the same thing that it did when I was closing in on the end of writing Armed & Magical -- it gave me the first couple paragraphs of the next book. What the. . .? Apparently it's finished with TTWD and is ready to move on to the next project (Bewitched & Betrayed). That tells me that the answers to the problems I'm having now are in my head, and my writing brain thinks it's up to me to dig them out. It's moved on to ponder fresh stuff. (Grrrr, stupid writing brain.)
Enough venting. On to today's blog topic -- the character arc. My agent, Kristin Nelson, impressed upon me the importance (no, the necessity) of the character arc. That's when your character starts out one way in the beginning of your book, but grows and changes through the course of your book. It doesn't have to be big stuff, but if a character stays the same, more than likely, the plot will stagnate.
From the beginning to the end of a book (or throughout a series), the main protagonist has to grow. And if like me, you have an ensemble cast (Raine, Mychael, Tam, Phaelan, Piaras) they have to grow as well. As I write, I learn more about them and they learn more about themselves and the other characters. This is where some delightful conflict can come into play. As I'm closing in on the end of TTWD, I ask myself: Did Raine grow? Did she learn more about herself and others than she knew at the beginning? Have the relationships between the main characters grown, deepened, and intensified? If the answers to those questions is yes, chances are that I've done my job and you all will like the final result. Hopefully. ; )
For tomorrow (or at least coming up in the next few days), I hope to be able to post a really neat surprise for those of you who are on the verge of getting an agent, or that first publishing contract. If I get the green light, I'll pop back in today and let you know.
Lisa
Enough venting. On to today's blog topic -- the character arc. My agent, Kristin Nelson, impressed upon me the importance (no, the necessity) of the character arc. That's when your character starts out one way in the beginning of your book, but grows and changes through the course of your book. It doesn't have to be big stuff, but if a character stays the same, more than likely, the plot will stagnate.
From the beginning to the end of a book (or throughout a series), the main protagonist has to grow. And if like me, you have an ensemble cast (Raine, Mychael, Tam, Phaelan, Piaras) they have to grow as well. As I write, I learn more about them and they learn more about themselves and the other characters. This is where some delightful conflict can come into play. As I'm closing in on the end of TTWD, I ask myself: Did Raine grow? Did she learn more about herself and others than she knew at the beginning? Have the relationships between the main characters grown, deepened, and intensified? If the answers to those questions is yes, chances are that I've done my job and you all will like the final result. Hopefully. ; )
For tomorrow (or at least coming up in the next few days), I hope to be able to post a really neat surprise for those of you who are on the verge of getting an agent, or that first publishing contract. If I get the green light, I'll pop back in today and let you know.
Lisa
Labels: character growth
posted by Lisa Shearin at
7:54 AM
6 Comments:
For me, character growth is huge. Maybe it's because I'm a Baby Fanatic. I love to watch and help things grow, which reminds me it's time to start growing some plants indoors so they'll be ready to go in the ground when the ground finally thaws here in Alaska. Anyway, whether I'm reading or writing, if the characters don't grow I'm bored out of my mind and I chuck it over my shoulder.
I agree. As a reader, if a character doesn't grow, it's hard for me to care about them. And if I don't care about them, chances are I won't finish reading that book.
Totally agree. Nothing makes me dislike a book more than when I am reading about static characters. BTW, I must say that it is great to finally have time to read your blog! I almost forgot how much of a stress reliever your wirting is. You always make me laugh, which is a very good thing. :)
Thank you so much, Kate!!! : )
Hi Lisa! Sorry I haven't popped in much during the last few weeks, I've been engrossed in my writing. Lol.
Just wanted to thank you for all the helpful advice you've been posting too. :D
You're most welcome, Yolanda! And as to being hyper-focused on writing, no need to apologize. By necessity of my deadline, I've been forced to be a little light on my blog commenting, too. BTW -- As soon as I put TTWD to bed, I'll be doing an update of my website, and I'll be sure to list you in my list of author links.
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