Explores the techniques of effective character development in the processing of writing novels to take the author's stories from good to great, including how to determine which arc is right for your character, why you should never pit plot against character, and how to avoid the pitfalls of writing novels without character arcs.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Plot, in its simplest form, is all about the protagonist’s thwarted goal. He wants something, and he can’t have it, so he keeps trying. The Positive Change Arc is all about the protagonist’s changing priorities. He realizes the reason he isn’t getting what he wants in the plot is because either he wants the wrong thing or his moral methods for achieving what he wants are all wrong. #2 The Change Arc is about the Lie Your Character Believes. It begins with your character being incomplete in some way, and he must evolve into a better person because of it. He must start out with a reason that makes the change necessary. #3 Your character’s Lie is a specific belief that you should be able to state in one short sentence. It may include some qualifiers, similar to Jane Eyre’s. #4 The Lie is the fundamental belief that prevents your character from moving on and living a happy life. It is usually a product of the conflict, and your character may be aware of the symptoms of the Lie in his life, but he may not yet be able to recognize the Lie itself.

Powerful Character Arcs Create Powerful Stories. Have you written a story with an exciting concept and interesting characters-but it just isn't grabbing the attention of readers or agents? It's time to look deeper into the story beats that create realistic and compelling character arcs. Internationally published, award-winning novelist K.M. Weiland shares her acclaimed method for achieving memorable and moving character arcs in every book you write. By applying the foundation of the Three-Act Story Structure and then delving even deeper into the psychology of realistic and dynamic human change, Weiland offers a beat-by-beat checklist of character arc guidelines that flexes to fit any type of story. This comprehensive book will teach you: How to determine which arc-positive, negative, or flat-is right for your character. Why you should NEVER pit plot against character. Instead, learn how to blend story structure and character development. How to recognize and avoid the worst pitfalls of writing novels without character arcs. How to hack the secret to using overarching character arcs to create amazing trilogies and series. And much more!Gaining an understanding of how to write character arcs is a game-changing moment in any author's pursuit of the craft. Bring your characters to unforgettable and realistic life-and take your stories from good to great!

Uncover the Secrets to Creating Characters Readers Will Never Forget Award-winning author K.M. Weiland's previous book, the acclaimed Creating Character Arcs, showed writers how to identify the five most important types of character arcs and use them to bring your own characters to life with stunning and powerful realism. Now it's time to put those lessons to use! Building upon the principles you've already learned, the Creating Character Arcs Workbook presents a guided approach to choosing the right type of character arc for your story, joining plot and character into a cohesive and resonant whole, and choosing stories with life-changing themes. Containing hundreds of incisive questions and imagination-revving exercises, this valuable resource will show you how to: Write an inspiring Positive Change Arc Create one of three unforgettable Negative Change Arcs Take full advantage of a heroic Flat Arc Align the structure of your character arcs with that of your plot Revise a story that has no arc And so much more! This accessible and streamlined workbook will empower you to create resonant character arcs-and an outstanding novel. Start writing your best book today!

Transform your story with a character your readers will remember long after they've turned the last page When you think of unforgettable characters from books you've read, who comes to mind? James Bond, Harry Potter, Scarlett O'Hara, Elizabeth Bennett, Atticus Finch, Sherlock Holmes? These are just some of the most iconic characters in fiction. They are so memorable that even decades or centuries later, they still captivate our imagination. But what exactly is it about them that keeps readers through generations so invested in them? Despite their vast differences in age, gender, nationality, occupation, and personality, each of them has a special quality that makes us want to know them more. Whether it's James Bond's suave demeanor, Scarlett O'Hara's haughty vulnerability, or Atticus Finch's righteousness, we're hooked. Do you want to know how you too can create your own unforgettable characters that your readers will be dying to read about? Yes, it's rare to write such timeless characters - even some bestselling authors don't have widely recognizable protagonists. However, it's entirely possible to write characters that resonate strongly with your readers - and get them hooked on your story - no matter how new you are to the game. Writers apply certain rules and tricks with their characters to make their stories shine and keep their audience engrossed. And with this guide, you'll find out exactly what they are. In The Secrets to Creating Character Arcs, here is just a fraction of what you will discover: How your characters can make or break your story - and what you can do to make your characters more compelling 10 simple tricks to add more excitement to your plot without veering away from your main story How to take advantage of plot and structure to help develop your protagonist's journey The worst thing you can do for your character that will immediately make them unappealing and uninteresting How to make your readers relate to - and root for - an unlikable character A fun yet insightful exercise in character building that can help you make sure all your characters have their own unique individual personalities 2 letters that will speed up your writing process without sacrificing quality And much more. Writing your first story (or your latest one) can be intimidating. The stakes seem to be higher when writing down words rather than just saying them out loud. But remember that you're allowed to make mistakes, change things up, delete, and add to your story however many times you need to. Plus, with the techniques from this guide at your disposal, you can approach your writing with more confidence. Sometimes, all you need to do is get started... and the ideas will just keep flowing from there. If you want to take your stories to the next level, then scroll up and click the "Add to Cart" button right now.

CHARACTER ARCS show the events of our story are worth reading about. In most works of fiction, the major characters don't just experience the events of the plot--the story changes them. They learn and grow, ultimately succeeding at the climax of the story because of all they've gained. Even the greatest plot in the world can ring flat if the character's internal journey isn't dramatic enough. For a character to truly resonate with readers, he should change and grow over the course of the story. CHARACTER ARCS will help you: Give your readers a powerful experience in any genre Discover your character's arc: their internal, emotional journey. Implement that character arc to make your readers root for your character. Keep your story moving by using external plot events to prompt your character's internal growth. Revise your character's arc for maximum impact. PLUS a special chapter on using character arcs in romances, family dramas & other relationship stories. Far from a write-by-numbers manual, this approach examines the basic mechanics of character change to show you how to apply these principles in your own work, with numerous examples. Add power and resonance to any story--master character arcs!

Many writers believe once they have their basic plot points in place, their stories are destined to succeed. But many narratives fall flat between those plot points and lose their audience before the big finish. Engaging the audience and moving the story forward in every scene is the responsibility of the characters, not the plot. But while many books on the craft of writing state that characters need to be three dimensional and change, a beginning writer isn't always sure how to turn these rather abstract ideas into concrete craft on the page. Crafting the Character Arc offers a practical guide to character creation and development by expanding upon the concept of the character arc and creating a step-by-step guide for writers to ensure that their characters are dynamic and engaging. Using narrative examples from multiple platforms, including novels, films and games, this is the essential guide for helping writers create an active and well-defined character arc. Crafting The Character Arc is structured in three main parts. Part One covers the more traditional, basic approach to creating character, including personality traits, depth, secrets, goals versus emotional needs, active versus reactive protagonists, and dramatic functions. Part Two introduces the Major Dramatic Curve, a detailed pictorial representation of a character arc and its major elements: place of rest, inciting incident, rising action, crisis point, climax and falling action/resolution. Part Three offers practical applications of the Major Dramatic Curve. The writer is given guidance for using the curve to create a dynamic and engaging narrative work. Lastly, some variations in using the Major Dramatic Curve are explored and exceptions to the rules are addressed. Character Arcs are a critical part of every story making this guide applicable to multiple mediums: novels, short stories, films, TV, games, plays, and Web series.

Character Development Journal for Authors!Awesome journal for beginner or experienced writers for creating characters that readers will love or love to hate! Detailed prompts allow authors to create full back stories for each character, includingpersonal characteristics (age, sex, size, race, species)family backgroundpersonal history (education, beliefs, occupation)personality characteristics (over 150 descriptive traits to consider)key role in the storycharacter arcand more!This is a great gift for any new author just getting started. This is also a great journal for experienced authors to create character dictionaries for expansive stories or epic tales.Large, 8.5" x 11" format will fit perfectly with any other manuscript papers and folders.The Character Development Journal is a great way to finally start writing your novel!

All fiction is character-driven, according to William Bernhardt, despite what you might have heard elsewhere. If your characters don’t interest readers, even the most exciting plots will fail. “Action is character,” Aristotle wrote, but what does that mean, and how can you use that fundamental principle to create dynamic fiction that will captivate readers? This book explains the relationship between character and plot, and how the perfect melding of the two produces a mesmerizing story. Using examples spanning from The Odyssey to The Da Vinci Code, Bernhardt discusses the art of character creation in a direct and easily comprehended manner. The book also includes exercises designed to help writers apply these ideas to their own work. William Bernhardt is the author of more than fifty novels, including the blockbuster Ben Kincaid series of legal thrillers. Bernhardt is also one of the most sought-after writing instructors in the nation. His programs have educated many authors now published by major houses. He is the only person to have received the Southern Writers Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (U Penn) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (OSU), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." The Red Sneaker Writing Center is dedicated to helping writers achieve their literary goals. What is a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction and guidance rather than obfuscation and attitude. Red sneakers get the job done, and so do red sneaker writers, by paying close attention to their art and craft, committing to hard work, and never quitting. Are you a red sneaker writer? If so, this book is for you.

Create characters that leap off the page--and into readers' hearts! Populating your fiction with authentic, vivid characters is a surefire way to captivate your readers from the first sentence to the last. Whether you're writing a series, novel, short story, or flash fiction, Creating Characters is an invaluable guide to bringing your fictional cast to life. This book is a comprehensive reference to every stage of character development. You'll find timely advice and helpful instruction from best-selling authors like Nancy Kress, Elizabeth Sims, Orson Scott Card, Chuck Wendig, Hallie Ephron, Donald Maass, and James Scott Bell. They'll show you how to: • Effectively introduce your characters • Build a believable protagonist • Develop strong anti-heroes and compelling villains • Juggle multiple points of view without missing a beat • Craft authentic dialogue that propels the story forward • Motivate your characters with powerful objectives and a believable conflict • Show dynamic character development over the course of a story No matter what your genre, Creating Characters gives you the tools necessary to create realistic, fascinating characters that your readers will root for and remember long after they've finished the story.