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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Characterization – Part Five

By Lynette Easonon August 23, 2023
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We’re back on the topic of characterization. I’m getting close to wrapping up this topic and moving on to plotting, but I have a few more things to say about building characters. But for the moment, let’s summarize.

When starting a story, I come up with my main characters and write a short summary of what the story is about. Then I do a deep dive into who the characters are by doing character sketches. After that, I go even deeper, getting to know them by figuring out how their Most Painful Life Moment (MPLM) has shaped them into who they are when the story starts. I start fleshing out their goals and motivations. In other words, what’s driving them? And finally, I really get to know them by figuring out their personalities. What makes them tick? If you haven’t read these former posts, feel free to go back and start at the beginning.

Today, I want to take all of what we already know about our characters and talk about the “character arc.”

But what exactly is the character arc?

So glad you asked. The character arc is how your character is different by the end of the story. How did they change from beginning to the end? Super simple, right? In theory, yes, very simple. But it takes a lot of work and thought to get the character from point A to point B. 😊

However, the cool thing about this step in the story process is that if you’ve done the previous work, then this is kind of a walk in the park. If you haven’t done the previous work up to this point, then it might be a bit tougher, but definitely not impossible.

So, here we go. In crafting the character arc, the first step is to understand where you character begins. What is their normal, everyday life like? Who is he/she before the story opens? Well, if you’ve filled out the character sketch from the previous post, you know that.

You’ll definitely know step two, which is identifying their need/want. See post #4 if you don’t know what this is.

Next, you’ll need to know the inciting incident and how that challenges their normal, everyday life.

Then, as the story progresses and the character faces the challenges and conflicts that push them out of their comfort zone, you’ll have to decide—based on the personality test you gave them—how they’ll react to those challenge conflicts. And it’s in these reactions that you’ll reveal the character’s flaws and shortcomings. Which is great because this is all part of the arc as the character fails, then picks herself up to keep going.

Next, you have the character facing the black moment. They feel defeated, beaten down, at their “stick a fork in me cuz I’m done” moment. All is lost; and the character is now facing their biggest fears and flaws, searching for escape or the right decision to show they’re no longer the same person—that they’ve learned their lesson.

And here we arrive at the epiphany, the realization that the character comes to. The “I need to change” moment that reveals the true hero or heroine inside.

Armed with this new realization, the character has a confrontation with the main external conflict or the antagonist and they use their internal growth to overcome this final obstacle.

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end of the story with the character having undergone a significant change. And if it’s the hero or heroine, they’re a better person than when the story started.

Keep in mind, through all of this character arc building, you must stay true to the character you’ve created. Their motivations and actions should always be believable and consistent with their personality.

Think about your character arc in your current work in progress. If your story is finished, did your character change and grow? Does the reader see this as a natural progression throughout the story? Who are some of the most memorable characters you’ve read about or seen in a movie who have  stuck with you through the years?

And I believe that will wrap up our characterization topic. Come back next time as we move on to conflict and how to really mess these lovely characters up in a major way.

 

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Category: Writing Craft

A Is for Attribution: And, With, or Ghost?

By Steve Laubeon August 21, 2023
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Sometimes it is helpful to review publishing terms to make sure we are all talking about the same thing. The cover of a book invariably will state the author’s name. Every once in a while there are two or more names listed (i.e., Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins). The use of “and” or “with” is the code word that tells the reader what type of professional relationship is between these names on the …

Read moreA Is for Attribution: And, With, or Ghost?
Category: Book Business, Steve, The Publishing LifeTag: Collaboration, ghost writing

Fun Fridays – August 18, 2023

By Steve Laubeon August 18, 2023
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Is your deadline looming? Today’s image vividly expresses what every writer feels like as the day nears.

Read moreFun Fridays – August 18, 2023
Category: Fun Fridays

Conference Hacks for First-time Writers

By Megan Brownon August 17, 2023
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When I attended my first writers conference, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. In 2017, a mentor author awarded me a scholarship, purchasing my ticket to the Speak Up Conference with Carol Kent. I had never written an article, much less had any idea how to begin the process of writing a book. In my limited understanding, someone who was interested in writing a book just had to sit down in a …

Read moreConference Hacks for First-time Writers
Category: Conferences

Impossible Books

By Dan Balowon August 16, 2023
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There are a lot of hard things in life. Some are downright impossible. Entrepreneur and media guru Patrick Bet-David says the ten hardest things in life are: Getting Married Parenting Becoming an entrepreneur Keeping your health Overcoming addiction The loss of a loved one Leaving people behind Handling success Trusting others Massive failure Many say the most difficult thing to do in all sports …

Read moreImpossible Books
Category: Inspiration, The Writing Life, Theology, Trends

Poetry: I Can’t Sell It, but I Recommend It

By Bob Hostetleron August 15, 2023
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Anyone who has read my “Who and What I’m Looking For” post on this site may be aware that poetry is not a genre I represent. I know, I know. Your poetry is different, and it would force me to make an exception. I hear you. But the likelihood of selling a book of poems is somewhere between nil and nada, even for you. I love you, but it’s true. (See how that rhymed?) Having said that, though, I …

Read morePoetry: I Can’t Sell It, but I Recommend It
Category: The Writing Life

Who Owns Whom in Publishing?

By Steve Laubeon August 14, 2023
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Updated August 2023 (first created November 2011) For a comprehensive list, check out The Christian Writers Market Guide. Available in print at your favorite retailer or as an online subscription (updated frequently) at www.ChristianWritersMarketGuide.com. My emphasis in this post is the Christian publishing industry. There are many fine commercial publishers that do not publish Christian books …

Read moreWho Owns Whom in Publishing?
Category: Book Business, Defense of Traditional Publishing, Get Published, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, The Publishing Life, Traditional Publishing

Fun Fridays – August 11, 2023

By Steve Laubeon August 11, 2023
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Today is the last of the “Dog Days of Summer,” and major league baseball is in the home stretch. Thus, it is wonderfully appropriate to post today’s classic video, “Who’s on First?” by Abbott and Costello.  

Read moreFun Fridays – August 11, 2023
Category: Fun Fridays

As an Author, Do I Owe Strangers a Gift?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 10, 2023
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When speaking to authors, I’m often reminded of a quote attributed to Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” When I wrote books for publication, a few favor-seekers would find me on social media and assume I had plenty of funds to send them gifts. If only that had been true! Books are expensive. Aren’t all published authors rich …

Read moreAs an Author, Do I Owe Strangers a Gift?
Category: The Writing Life

Characterization Part 4

By Lynette Easonon August 9, 2023
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Give your characters a personality In the last post, we worked on figuring out what made our characters tick. We talked about Most Painful Life Moment, goals, motivations, and the difference between the last two. Today, I want to continue the discussion on characterization. So, by now you should know your characters pretty well when it comes to their “why”; now let’s talk about their “who.” WHO …

Read moreCharacterization Part 4
Category: Craft, Writing Craft
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