Fiction writing articles

This is my fiction writing blog page. I'll add articles, tidbits and advice monthly.

The importance of a character arc

Here’s a fiction writing problem.

If you look through most books on fiction writing, you’ll find little on the importance of a character arc. The book may mention the story needs such an arc, but there is little more than that. Certainly, the book will not mention the importance of the arc. And that is a shame because I submit that the character arc is one of the most important elements in the story and, without such an arc, the story will most likely fail.

The overall definition of the arc is “what changed in the life of the character over the course of the story”. Or “what great lesson the character learn because of the events in the story.”

As such, the character arc can be summarized by two values: the beginning value and the ending value. Some writers think of the character arc like it’s an on-off switch. It’s in one position at the beginning and the it’s in the other position at the end with nothing in between. Treating the character arc in such a fashion is to miss the main purpose of the arc, namely describing the journey the character takes from the beginning value to reach the ending value.

This journey comprises a story within a story. This isn’t a subplot, rather it is a part of the main storyline, but outside the basic plot. It adds a richness to that storyline. Once the reader pegs that the character is changing before her eyes, she will keep turning the pages to follow along with those changes.

However, the change can’t be a straight line. It has to have ups and downs, starts and stops, two steps forward and one step back. This isn’t easy, but the effort is worth it. Want an example? Think of the original Star Wars movies. Luke Skywalker has to fight the bad guys, that’s the main plot, but the character arc is about Luke learning how to be a Jedi Knight. And it only takes three movies for him to learn that. Here’s another example. The main character in the story is a pompous windbag who constantly hurts people with his cutting remarks. Over the course of the story, he slowly comes to realize the pain he causes and starts to change. The change has to be two steps forward and one step backward and the reader has to see the evolution as it occurs.

Adding a character arc to your story and making it a story-within-a-story will greatly increase the reader’s enjoyment and interest in your book.

Beta reader questions

Beta readers are an essential part of putting a book together. The

problem with these readers is that their feedback may not help you

strengthen the story. Comments such as “I like it,” or “good story,” are not

very helpful.

If you don’t tell the beta readers what it is you are looking for, there is a good chance you won’t get it. So I developed a list of questions to send the beta readers along with the manuscript.

This list is based on one I found at https://writingcooperative.com/15-

questions-to-send-beta-first-readers-please-steal-3ff9fa198b5

For a novel, I send my beta readers this list of questions I’d like them to

answer after they finish reading the manuscript.

Please answer as many questions as you feel are relevant. There is no

need to answer ALL of the questions (unless you want to)

1: Did the story hold your interest from the very beginning? If not, why

not?

2: Did you get oriented fairly quickly at the beginning as to whose story it

is, and where and when it’s taking place? If not, why not?

3: Could you relate to the main character? Did you feel her/his pain or excitement?

4: Did the setting interest you and did the descriptions seem vivid and

real to you?

5: Was there a point at which you felt the story lagged or you became

less than excited about finding out what was going to happen next? Where, exactly?

6: Were there any parts that confused you? Or even frustrated or

annoyed you? Which parts, and why?

7: Did you notice any discrepancies or inconsistencies in time sequences,

places, character details, or other details?8: Were the characters believable? Are there any characters you think could be made more interesting or more likable?

9: Did you get confused about who’s who in the characters? Were there

too many characters to keep track of? Too few? Are any of the names of

characters too similar?

10: Did the dialogue keep your interest and sound natural to you? If not, whose dialogue did you think sounded artificial or not like that person would speak?

11: Did you feel there was too much description or exposition? Not

enough? Maybe too much dialogue in parts?

12: Was there enough conflict, tension, and intrigue to keep your

interest?

13: Was the ending satisfying? Believable?

14: Did you notice any obvious repeating grammatical, spelling,

punctuation or capitalization errors? Examples?

15: Did you think the writing style suits the genre? If not, why not?

16: Did I introduce too many characters in the first scene?

Point of view examples

I created these examples for a fiction writing workshop I run

Here are examples on how each type of point of view looks to the reader.

Omniscient:

The old forest was gloomy and humid. Not even a hint of a breeze stirred the leaves. Occasionally a small shaft of sunlight broke through and illuminated a small patch of ground. Vines hung from the lower limbs of the huge oak trees and thick spider webs filled in the spaces between vines and limbs.

In this case the narrator is the author telling the reader what the forest looks like.

Third person limited:

Jack traveled through a gloomy forest. Already sweat soaked his shirt. Ahead, a small ray of sunshine somehow evaded the thick umbrella of oak limbs and shone on a pile of moldy leaves. Jack ducked under a vine hanging from a tree limb and sidestepped a thick spider web.

Here we see the forest narrated by a character who uses actions and feelings to help the description: soaked shirt, ducking, sidestepping. This type of narrator brings the reader closer to the action than in the previous example.

First person:

I had a sense of foreboding about the gloomy forest. Even the small shaft of sunlight ahead didn't do anything to lighten my mood. Sweat ran down my nose and dripped on my already soaked shirt. I had to duck under a drooping vine to move ahead and edge around a thick spider web.

This time, the description is even more personal and the reader is brought even closer to the forest. That is the consequence of using a first person narrator.

Using AI To Help With Fiction Writing

Have you ever wondered what artificial intelligence can do you for you as a writer? Let’s take a look at a typical application using the story opening as my example. I’ll use Perplexity as my ai app, but you can use any one of the many currently available. Most have a free version you can use.

Let’s try in out with this rather simple query.

(I always show AI responses in italics to differentiate it from my writing).

AI Query

How should writers create their story openings

AI Response

Creating a compelling story opening is essential for grabbing readers' attention and setting the tone for the narrative. Writers can employ various strategies to craft an engaging introduction. Here are key approaches:

1. Start with a Hook

Pose a Mystery or Question: Introduce an intriguing situation or unanswered question that compels readers to continue. For example, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History opens with a mysterious death, immediately sparking curiosity.

Use a Bold Statement: A striking or provocative first sentence can set the tone and draw readers in.

2. Establish the Theme

Consider encapsulating your story's central theme in the opening line. For instance, Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina begins with a statement about family happiness and dysfunction, which frames the novel’s exploration of relationships.

3. Begin with Action or Dialogue

Starting in the middle of an action scene or with compelling dialogue can create immediate engagement. This approach works particularly well for fast-paced genres like thrillers.

4. Introduce the Protagonist

Let your main character introduce themselves, their voice, or their perspective. This helps readers connect with them right away, as seen in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.

5. Set the Scene

Paint a vivid picture of the setting to immerse readers in your world. Use sensory details to establish mood and context, as Sylvia Plath does in The Bell Jar.

6. Convey Stakes or Conflict

Highlight what’s at risk or hint at the main conflict early on. Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude begins by foreshadowing life-or-death stakes, creating immediate tension.

7. Play with Narrative Style

Showcase your unique narrative voice or style from the outset. A distinctive voice can captivate readers and set your story apart.

8. Start Near the Inciting Incident

Begin just before the moment that disrupts your protagonist’s normal life, plunging them into the story's main conflict. This approach ensures momentum without overwhelming readers with backstory.

9. Use Unusual Details

Introduce an unexpected or strange element to pique curiosity, such as George Orwell’s reference to clocks striking thirteen in 1984.

10. Experiment and Revise

Don’t be afraid to try multiple openings and refine them later. Sometimes, the best opening emerges after completing the first draft.

By combining these techniques thoughtfully, writers can craft openings that hook readers and set up their stories for success.

In case you haven’t realized it (yet!), an AI app can be a great writing buddy or assistant. It can save you work leaving you more time to be creative.