When you learn how to write a book, creating characters is an integral part of the process, genuinely making the story stick in people's minds. I have discussed how to write a book and the initial stages of creating a character. Today, I will discuss creating character arcs and building characters from scratch.
How to Write a Book: Creating Character Arcs
Creating character arcs can be challenging. However, if you do it correctly, you will leave your readers talking for years. I will use examples from popular novels as well as my own.
Growth and Change
Every character must experience growth and change. Sometimes, they need to be as terrible as possible to do that. Let me explain. Some characters are incredibly immature when you begin the book.
In Lev Grossman's trilogy, "The Magicians," the main character is Quentin Coldwater. He is a selfish, whiny teenager who is depressed and cannot accept any happiness, even when he discovers a magical school called Brakebills. Even with the gift of magic and a new girlfriend named Alice, Quentin still is not happy with his life and constantly whines about it.
The reader gets into Quentin's mind and does not instantly like him. Why? He is unlikable. He is selfish and very hedonistic, but with magic nonetheless.
But if you read and explore the series throughout the trilogy, you will see that change happens gradually. Eventually, Quentin matures and becomes the best version of himself. He does not do it for any woman or anyone else. He does it due to the situations that happened in his life.
Quentin's arc tends to the story's theme of exploration, pain, and growth. He grows, as do other characters in the series, like Julia, Eliot, and Janet. While he starts off as a terrible human being, you grow to understand him as he grows.
Internal vs. External Conflict
Every character experiences internal and external conflict. Internal conflicts usually involve characters dealing with a struggle on the inside based on questionable decisions. For Jon Drake, it is the struggle to take revenge on Alexander Caine, kill him, or take him down the "right way." Meanwhile, he also deals with an external conflict, such as Vladimir imposing his will and the entire Legion of Samurai upon him as a consequence of Jon's inner conflict.
Often, the inner and external conflicts coincide and clash, giving the story more gravitas, tension, and stakes. As Jon deals with numerous internal conflicts, he must also deal with multiple external forces that threaten him and everyone he cares for.
Every good story balances internal and external conflict. If you have a character that gets everything they want, it will be over in two pages. There must be conflict and a character arc that helps your character grow from start to finish.
Conclusion: Creating Character Arcs
Creating character arcs does not have to be difficult. Whether you are a plotter or a pantser, it's critical to understand your character and the journey you are taking them on. If you want to see a good example of character arcs, check out any of my books on Amazon. Once you can do that, you can ensure you have a memorable character that readers will remember forever.
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