Creating Arc of Character

One of the best pieces of advice I had ever been given regarding creating a well-rounded character was to offer each character four questions, which all required a different answer. This works in every genre.

1. What do you HAVE?

2. What do you WANT?

3. What do you NEED?

4. What do you GET?

Each character needs to GROW, and discover what really is important to them in the course of the story.  If the character's desires and needs remain the same, what was the point, for the character to be able to say, "See I was right all along!"

ie. JAWS: Chief Brody

HAVE-Fear of water/Abilities doubted by citizens & himself
WANT-To protect the people of Amity & prove himself
NEED-Overcome Fear of water in order to kill shark
GET-Respect of citizens & himself

It could apply to overcoming a challenge or it may be simply directions in their life. For instance, Doc Hollywood, with Michael J. Fox--"A young doctor on his way across the country to a job interview crashes his car in a small town and is sentenced to work for several days at the town hospital." The doctor's goal is to head to Hollywood for success and fun lifestyle but he ends up falling in love with a small town and its inhabitants, which is the polar opposite of his initial want.

Now consider the main character in your favorite book.  Does she or he have a different answer for each of these questions? Then consider your own characters. It is a great way to make your character well-rounded and of course more interesting!

Quote of the Week

I'm Back!

It's been 20 years since I wrote my first novel, Echoes in the Wind. It's still available on Barnes & Noble online, and still an important part of my development as an author. 

But, as you all know, at some point, life happens. I got married, I had two children which I am still raising, got divorced, got remarried. In between then and now, I wrote stage plays, lyrics, screenplays, acted and directed. I needed a creative outlet--even if it was part time. 

Life hasn't really slowed down, but I once again have come to a crossroad in my life when I decided it's now or never to make that dream come true. 

I'm now working on my mystery book series, featuring the questionably brilliant R. Edwin Easley and his precocious 14-year-old daughter Reggie. 

So, I'm returning to the novel. The first in the mystery series is Mr. REE, DETECTIVE. Here I go.