Tag: FictionaryEditor

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.

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Edge Coach—First Pages: What Story Coaches Look For

As a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I often see beginning novelists struggle with their opening pages. Today, let’s explore what makes those crucial first pages work—and what might be holding yours back.

Let’s start with an example:

Weak Opening: “Sarah Jones had always loved the ocean. Growing up in coastal Maine, she spent summers watching waves crash against rocky shores while dreaming of adventure.” Why it doesn’t work: Background instead of story

Strong Opening: “Sarah’s hand trembled as she gripped the ship’s radio. Three hours into her first solo sailing trip, and the storm warnings changed everything.” Why it works: Character in action, immediate tension

Key Elements Story Coaches Evaluate:

  1. Opening Hook
  • Does your first sentence create curiosity?
  • Are readers immediately engaged?
  • Does something happen or change? Common Issue: Starting with background instead of story momentum
  1. Point of View (POV)
  • Is your viewpoint character clear?
  • Are we grounded in their perspective?
  • Do we experience the scene through their senses? Common Issue: Shifting perspectives or distant narration
  1. Character Introduction
  • Do we meet your protagonist in action?
  • Are they facing a challenge or decision?
  • Do readers have a reason to care? Common Issue: Character descriptions without purpose
  1. Story Question
  • What makes readers wonder what happens next?
  • Which story questions emerge naturally?
  • Is there clear tension or conflict? Common Issue: No compelling reason to turn the page

FICTIONARY KEY ELEMENTS: Using Fictionary’s storytelling elements, I evaluate:

  1. Opening Scene Function
  • Introduces main character
  • Establishes tone
  • Sets story in motion
  • Creates story questions
  1. Scene Entry Point
  • Character doing something
  • Clear setting anchors
  • Immediate conflict
  • Sensory details
  1. Scene Tension
  • External pressure
  • Internal conflict
  • Time constraints
  • Stakes matter
  1. Character Goal
  • Clear motivation
  • Visible actions
  • Specific obstacle
  • Meaningful outcome

EVALUATION EXERCISE:

  1. Read your first page aloud
  2. Mark with different colors:
    • Character actions (blue)
    • Background info (red)
    • Dialogue (green)
    • Setting details (yellow)
    • Internal thoughts (purple)

Analysis Questions:

  • Which color dominates?
  • Where does true story action begin?
  • When do readers first care?
  • What makes them want more?

Coming Soon: Watch for more professional editing insights in future Edge Coach posts, where we’ll explore:

  • Transforming weak openings
  • Layering in background naturally
  • Building organic tension
  • Creating compelling hooks

Need help evaluating your first pages now? Schedule a First Chapter Focus session to get professional guidance on starting your novel strong.

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