What's more important to a story: a gripping plot or compelling characters? Literary-minded novelists argue in favor of character-based novels while commercial novelists argue in favor of plot-based stories, but the truth of the matter is this: The best fiction is rich in both. Enter Plot Versus Character. This hands-on guide to creating a well-rounded novel embraces both of these crucial story components. You'll learn to: Create layered characters by considering personality traits, natural attributes, and backgrounds Develop your character's emotional journey and tie it to your plot's inciting incident Construct a three-act story structure that can complement and sustain your character arc Expose character backstory in a manner that accentuates plot points Seamlessly intertwine plot and character to create a compelling page-turner filled with characters to whom readers can't help but relate And much more Filled with helpful examples and friendly instruction, Plot Versus Character takes the guesswork out of creating great fiction by giving you the tools you need to inject life into your characters and momentum into your plots.

A jargon-free manual on the basics of developing interesting fictional characters Vibrant, believable characters help drive a fictional story. Along with a clever plot, well-drawn characters make us want to continue reading a novel or finish watching a movie. In Creating Characters, Dwight V. Swain shows how writers can invent interesting characters and improve them so that they move a story along. “The core of character,” he says in chapter 1, “lies in each individual story person’s ability to care about something; to feel implicitly or explicitly, that something is important.” Building on that foundation—the capacity to care—Swain takes the would-be writer step-by-step through the fundamentals of finding and developing “characters who turn you on.” This basic but thought-provoking how-to is a valuable tool for both the novice and the seasoned writer.

Build a Timeless, Original Story Using Hundreds of Classic Story Motifs! It's been said that there are no new ideas; but there are proven ideas that have worked again and again for all writers for hundreds of years. Story Structure Architect is your comprehensive reference to the classic recurring story structures used by every great author throughout the ages. You'll find master models for characters, plots, and complication motifs, along with guidelines for combining them to create unique short stories, novels, scripts, or plays. You'll also learn how to: • Build compelling stories that don't get bogged down in the middle • Select character journeys and create conflicts • Devise subplots and plan dramatic situations • Develop the supporting characters you need to make your story work Especially featured are the standard dramatic situations inspire by Georges Polti's well-known 19th century work, The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. But author Victoria Schmidt puts a 21st-century spin on these timeless classics and offers fifty-five situations to inspire your creativity and allow you even more writing freedom. Story Structure Architect will give you the mold and then help you break it. This browsable and interactive book offers everything you need to craft a complete, original, and satisfying story sure to keep readers hooked!

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!

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.

"With CPE: Character, Plot, and Emotion, Diana Stout brilliantly reveals and edifies the uniquely powerful principles of plot and character created by eight writers and consultants who are regarded as masters of storytelling for film and fiction. But the real treasure of this wonderful book is how she simplifies and combines their methods with her own expertise as a hugely accomplished novelist, teacher, and consultant. The result (along with its accompanying workbook) is an essential guide to transforming the emotional impact and commercial success of your own storytelling." - Michael Hauge, author of Writing Screenplays That Sell, Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds, The Hero's Two Journeys (with Christopher Vogler), and Storytelling Made Easy (for business leaders, speakers, and entrepreneurs) Are you a writer who struggles to finish your book? Do you struggle with the sagging middle? Do you get so stuck that you're not sure where to go in the story? Have you ever been told your characters are flat, one-dimensional, or unlikable? Have you ever become bored with your story while writing it? Have you ever started writing an idea, then shelved it because you didn't know how to finish it? Are you still trying to determine what your writing process is? Would you like someone who used to suffer through those same struggles to show you the secrets she discovered on her journey? This book will: show you how this writer suffered through the same struggles, show you what she discovered, learned, and mastered, and then began coaching and teaching. show you how a few die-hard pantsers, who were stuck with their stories, embraced a minimal plotting technique, got unstuck, and found their enthusiasm again. show you the masters of storytelling and how to best use their plot points, creating stories that readers want and that publishers and producers seek! show you the worksheets she developed for her writing process of story development. This book isn't about making you a plotter or a pantser. It's about finding what best works for you, getting you unstuck, and discovering your process, so you can re-experience the joy of writing again.

A Simple System to Writing a Gripping Fiction Novel! This handbook offers guidance on creating stronger beginnings, dramatic scenes, and crafting lifelike characters. Writers will also learn how to make their first pages so intriguing that the reader won't be able to put the book down once they start. With easy to follow instructions on creating a comprehensive storyline and tons of great advice on scene building and character creation, writers of any genre will gain the tools needed to instantly strengthen their narrative. Topics in this book include: 3 Extensive Creation Character Templates, Tools to Create a Page-Turning First Chapter, Writing Scene Hooks, Story Structure, and Advice from Bestselling Authors on Plotting. Whether you're writing an intense thriller or a sweeping romance, all novels follow the same basic scene building blocks described within this book. Are you ready to take your writing skills to the next level? Please scroll up and grab your copy today!

"There are ways to create, fix, steer and discover plots—ways which, over a writing life, you'd eventually puzzle out for yourself," writes Ansen Dibell. "They aren't laws. They're an array of choices, things to try, once you've put a name to the particular problem you're facing now." That's what this book is about: identifying those choices (whose viewpoint? stop and explain now, or wait? how can this lead to that?), then learning what narrative problems they are apt to create and how to choose an effective strategy for solving them. The result? Strong, solid stories and novels that move. Inside you'll discover how to: • test a story idea (using four simple questions) to see if it works • convince your reader that not only is something happening, but that something's going to happen and it all matters intensely • handle viewpoint shifts, flashbacks, and other radical jumps in your storyline weave plots with subplots • get ready for and write your Big Scenes • balance scene and summary narration to produce good pacing • handle the extremes of melodrama by "faking out" your readers—making them watch your right hand while your left hand is doing something sneaky • form subtle patterns with mirror characters and echoing incidents • choose the best type of ending—linear or circular, happy or downbeat, or (with caution!) a trick ending Whether your fiction is short or long, subtle or direct, you'll learn to build strong plots that drive compelling, unforgettable stories your readers will love.