StoryCraft Novel Challenge Day 9: What is your protagonist’s emotional journey?
Characters are the heart of any great novel, and when we’re planning out our stories, it’s important to make sure our protagonist(s) have a strong emotional journey. Mapping out character arcs is a critical part of the StoryCraft Process, so how do you get started with building them?
Today, we’re talking about character arcs and the emotional journey of your protagonist.
A character arc denotes a journey of change. Where we are at the beginning of the story needs to be different than the ending in order for the reader to feel this journey. This contrast can exist physically, emotionally, or better yet, both.
A great way to show this emotional change is by ensuring our protagonists have Dramatic Flaws. This is the core reason why they fail in the beginning of the story, and by overcoming this flaw throughout the journey, they come face to face with their inner need and have the critical realization to overcome all obstacles in the climax.
This is Elizabeth Bennet realizing she’s judged Mr. Darcy with pride and prejudice, and that she actually loves him. It’s Katniss Everdeen realizing she needs to trust Peeta in order to win the Hunger Games.
As you’re developing your novel for the StoryCraft Novel Challenge, think about your protagonist and ask yourself these questions:
What is their goal?
Why must they obtain it?
What is their Dramatic Flaw and how is it stopping them from reaching their goal?
What is their inner need, and how do they overcome it?
When we showcase dynamic character arcs to our readers, it helps them get lost in our pages and clamor for more!
If you’re looking to dive deeper into building out dynamic characters and arcs, the StoryCraft: Writing Your Novel online course is currently in Beta. You can join now and save $150 with SCBETA
Use the hashtag #StoryCraftNovelChallenge to share your progress and connect with other writers!
Happy Writing,
Jess and Theo