Tag: CharacterArc

Sharpening the Edge—Mid-Book Crisis: Wrestling with Chapter 15’s Plot Snarl

SHARPENING THE EDGE - MONDAYS
Welcome to Sharpening the Edge, my Monday focus on real-time novel writing. Here you'll find insights from my current work-in-progress, sharing challenges, breakthroughs, and solutions as they happen. Whether you're in the midst of your novel or planning to start, these posts offer practical experience from the writing desk.

In The Boaz Student, Chapter 15 finds Bret Johnson at a crucial turning point. After challenging the mandatory prayer at a school assembly, he faces escalating isolation. The plot threads have tangled: his former youth group friends’ increasing hostility, a surprising ally in his skeptic philosophy club, and mounting pressure from both faculty and family.

## The Current Snarl

– Bret’s private doubts becoming public stands

– The philosophy club’s growing influence vs. administrative resistance

– Former best friend Marcus’s betrayal of confidence

– Family dinner scene that threatens to expose everything

## Working Through It

1. Mapped core conflict: Authentic self vs. Community acceptance

2. Listed consequences: Social isolation, family tension, academic impact

3. Identified subplot connections: Other questioning students

4. Connected to theme: Cost of intellectual honesty

## Today’s Breakthrough

While outlining possible paths, I realized Bret’s crisis parallels his younger sister’s growing curiosity about his changes. Both must navigate between comfortable acceptance and uncomfortable questions. This parallel strengthens the theme and clarifies the plot direction.

## Next Steps

1. Revise confrontation with Marcus

2. Strengthen sister’s subplot

3. Layer in consequences of assembly protest

4. Build tension toward family Christmas dinner

Sometimes plot snarls reveal deeper story truths. What looked like a structural problem was actually a character development opportunity.

Progress today: 847 words

Cumulative draft: 42,316 words

Use the Contact form to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Edge Coach—Mastering Character Goals in Fictionary: A StoryCoach’s Guide

EDGE COACH - TUESDAYS
Welcome to Edge Coach, my Tuesday focus on professional story development. As a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I share techniques to strengthen your writing and engage your readers. Whether you're revising your first draft or polishing your final one, Edge Coach offers practical guidance for your story.

Today, we’ll explore how Fictionary’s Character tab helps you track and strengthen your character’s journey through their goals and motivations. This powerful set of tools ensures your characters drive your story forward with purpose and impact.

## The Foundation: Character List and POV

Before diving into goals, establish your story’s framework:

– Use Character List to track every named character

– Mark POV (Point of View) clearly for each scene

– Ensure POV choices serve your story’s purpose

## Goal Tracking: The Heart of Character Development

Fictionary provides multiple layers for tracking goals:

### POV Goal

– What does your POV character want in this scene?

– Is it clearly shown through action or dialogue?

– Does it connect to their larger story arc?

### POV Goal Internal

The emotional driver behind your character’s actions:

– What internal need motivates them?

– How does this goal reflect their wounds or desires?

– Where does internal conflict appear?

### Goal Related to Plot

Connect character desires to story movement:

– How does this scene’s goal advance the main plot?

– Are character and plot goals aligned or in conflict?

– Does each scene goal build toward the story goal?

## Stakes and Consequences

### What if Goal Fails

Fictionary prompts you to consider:

– Immediate consequences of failure

– Long-term impact on character arc

– Ripple effects through the story

### Impact Tracking

Two crucial elements:

1. Impact on POV Character

– Personal consequences

– Character growth opportunities

– Emotional fallout

2. Impact on Protagonist

– How secondary character goals affect your protagonist

– Relationship dynamics

– Story momentum

## Knowledge and Movement

### POV Knowledge Gained

Track your character’s understanding:

– What do they learn in each scene?

– How does new knowledge affect their goals?

– Does information change their motivation?

### Character in Motion

Ensure active character engagement:

– Physical movement that reveals character

– Goal-driven actions

– Dynamic scene presence

## Putting It All Together

When reviewing your manuscript, use these elements to:

1. Verify goal consistency across scenes

2. Strengthen motivation-action connections

3. Ensure satisfying character arcs

4. Track subplot impact on main story

5. Maintain tension through goal conflicts

Remember: Every scene should move your character either toward or away from their goals. Fictionary’s Character tab helps you track this movement with precision.

## StoryCoach Tips

1. Review goals scene by scene first, then look at the larger pattern

2. Check that internal and external goals create tension

3. Verify that knowledge gained affects future goals

4. Ensure character movement serves goal pursuit

5. Track impact ripples through your story

Your characters’ goals drive your story. Use these tools to make every scene count.

Use the Contact form to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Craft Edge—Using Character Arc Progression Tools in One Stop for Writers

CRAFT EDGE - SATURDAYS
Welcome to Craft Edge, my Saturday focus on fiction writing craft. Here you'll find deep dives into writing techniques using One Stop for Writers and Fictionary resources. Whether you're developing characters or structuring scenes, Craft Edge helps you master the tools of storytelling.

Character arcs transform your story from a series of events into a journey of growth. Today, we’ll explore how One Stop for Writers’ Character Arc Progression Tool can help you craft compelling character development that engages readers from page one to “The End.”

Understanding the Character Arc Dashboard

One Stop’s Character Arc tool breaks character development into clear, manageable segments:

  • The Initial State (who your character is when we meet them)
  • The Inner Journey (the emotional/psychological path)
  • Growth Milestones (key moments of change)
  • The Final State (who they become)

Setting Up Your Character’s Journey

First, identify your character’s primary needs and emotional wounds. One Stop provides extensive lists to help you choose realistic combinations. For instance, a character might:

  • Need: Recognition and validation
  • Wound: Childhood abandonment
  • Resulting False Belief: “I must be perfect to be loved”

Mapping Key Progression Points

The tool helps you plan specific story moments where your character:

  1. Faces their fears
  2. Questions their false beliefs
  3. Makes mistakes and learns
  4. Takes emotional risks
  5. Grows through challenge

Using the Emotional Range Feature

One Stop’s emotional tracking helps ensure your character’s responses remain consistent yet show growth. Track:

  • Initial emotional responses
  • Growing emotional awareness
  • New coping mechanisms
  • Breakthrough moments

Integration with Story Structure

The Character Arc tool aligns character growth with plot points:

  • Inciting Incident: Emotional stake in the ground
  • First Plot Point: Challenge to false beliefs
  • Midpoint: Major truth revelation
  • Third Plot Point: Crisis of faith
  • Climax: Truth embraced or rejected

Real-Time Progress Tracking

As you write, use the tool to:

  • Monitor character growth pace
  • Ensure emotional logic
  • Track breakthrough scenes
  • Balance internal/external conflict

Tips for Maximum Impact

  1. Link emotional growth to plot events
  2. Create resistance to change
  3. Show both progress and setbacks
  4. Make growth hard-earned
  5. Connect inner change to story resolution

Character arcs make your story memorable. One Stop’s tools help you craft that journey with intention and skill. Your readers will thank you.

Use the Contact form to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.