Writers Helping Writers^®

Character Arc

Three Ways Writers Tell, Not Show (And How You Can Fix Them)

March 7, 2019

Three Ways Writers Tell, Not Show (And How You Can Fix Them)

March 7, 2019

One of my favorite writing coaches is here with us to dish some helpful advice on Show and Tell. Please welcome Janice Hardy and read on… Show, don’t tell, is…

Does Every Lead Character Need An Arc?

March 5, 2019

Does Every Lead Character Need An Arc?

March 5, 2019

At a Bouchercon some years ago, Lee Child was part of a panel on characters in thrillers. An audience member asked him a question about character change. “Every character has…

Introducing One Stop for Writers’ Character Builder

February 14, 2019

Introducing One Stop for Writers’ Character Builder

February 14, 2019

If you’re like me, you get pretty serious about creating characters who leap off the page. That’s why you’re going to love this new character design tool. At One Stop…

The Key Components of a Compelling Character (According to Psychology)

January 23, 2019

The Key Components of a Compelling Character (According to Psychology)

January 23, 2019

We’re fascinated by our fellow humans. In fact, we have a profound desire to try and understand the thoughts and feelings bouncing around other people, the characters on TV…the hero…

Goal-Oriented Storytelling: Attachment

December 18, 2018

Goal-Oriented Storytelling: Attachment

December 18, 2018

Imagine you’re playing your first game of Scrabble with a friend. You haven’t been taught the rules of the game, but you know the general idea is to make words…

Character Arc and Narrative Arc

November 20, 2018

Character Arc and Narrative Arc

November 20, 2018

Character arc: someone living their life Narrative arc: the things that happen when someone lives their life When I worked with children, I’d always teach them the simple, zen fact: every…

Powerful Scenes: Using One Stop for Writers’ Informal Scene Map

August 23, 2018

Powerful Scenes: Using One Stop for Writers’ Informal Scene Map

August 23, 2018

A while back, I profiled some of the custom brainstorming tools at our sister-site, One Stop for Writers, which help take the mystery (and misery) out of story structure. One…

The Six Stages of Your Hero’s Character Arc

August 2, 2018

The Six Stages of Your Hero’s Character Arc

August 2, 2018

By C.S. Lakin As a writer, you’re probably familiar with the term “character arc,” but what does a character arc entail? How do you structure this arc? And what informs…

How To “Level Up” Your Character’s Wound

July 3, 2018

Understanding how to properly create a character's emotional wound

How To “Level Up” Your Character’s Wound

July 3, 2018

Every writer who has spent time studying the craft writing knows of the character wound, and that they are the foundation of a strong, memorable character. Why? Because they make…

The Destructive Power of The Lie Your Character Believes

April 5, 2018

The Destructive Power of The Lie Your Character Believes

April 5, 2018

We are often our own biggest critics, aren’t we? Whenever something goes wrong, we feel disappointed, frustrated, upset, or hurt. The fallout might cause others around us to suffer too,…