{"id":691,"date":"2022-04-27T07:51:32","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T07:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/?p=691"},"modified":"2022-04-28T09:24:05","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T09:24:05","slug":"fiction-writing-stages-of-character-growth-arc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/fiction-writing-stages-of-character-growth-arc\/","title":{"rendered":"Fiction Writing 101: The Stages of Writing a Character Growth Arc"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-692 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/spirit-night-1024x683.png\" alt=\"Fiction Writing Characters\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/spirit-night-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/spirit-night-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/spirit-night-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/spirit-night-1536x1024.png 1536w, https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/spirit-night-2048x1365.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Show me a great book, and I&#8217;ll show you great characters! Would the Game of Thrones be any better without the humour of Tyrion Lannister or Arya Stark&#8217;s evolution from an unsuspecting kid to an assassin who avenges her family&#8217;s murder? We love them, hate them, and despise them; they&#8217;re the ones that make stories special. And what makes characters memorable? It&#8217;s the flaws that shape them and the hurdles they overcome despite those flaws; their growth arc, so to speak. But how does one <strong>write a character\u2019s growth arc <\/strong>that&#8217;s believable and relatable? <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fiction_writing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Fiction writing <\/strong><\/a>is about connecting the dots, justifying actions through motivations, and motivations through character flaws and temperament. Read on to figure out the essentials of character development and growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_78 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c2e8a;color:#0c2e8a\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c2e8a;color:#0c2e8a\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/fiction-writing-stages-of-character-growth-arc\/#Profile_the_Characters_before_You_Start_Writing_the_Book\" >Profile the Characters before You Start Writing the Book<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/fiction-writing-stages-of-character-growth-arc\/#Plant_Long_and_Short-term_Milestones_in_Your_Novel_Outline\" >Plant Long and Short-term Milestones in Your Novel Outline<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/fiction-writing-stages-of-character-growth-arc\/#Highlight_the_Characters_Progress_through_%E2%80%9CFoils%E2%80%9D\" >Highlight the Character&#8217;s Progress through &#8220;Foils&#8221;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/fiction-writing-stages-of-character-growth-arc\/#A_Well-Written_Fiction_with_Amazing_Character_Arcs_Needs_Brutal_Setbacks\" >A Well-Written Fiction with Amazing Character Arcs Needs Brutal Setbacks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Profile_the_Characters_before_You_Start_Writing_the_Book\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Profile the Characters before You Start <strong>Writing the Book<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Draft a rough outline for each prominent character in your story before you start <strong>writing the book<\/strong>. This &#8220;outline&#8221; aims to decide in advance each character&#8217;s flaws, appearance, motivations, quirks, and temperament. Doing so, in turn, determines the characters&#8217; reaction to situations they are to face moving forward. It&#8217;s the flaws that shape characters, remember!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plant_Long_and_Short-term_Milestones_in_Your_Novel_Outline\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Plant Long and Short-term Milestones in Your <strong>Novel Outline<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Planting milestones concerning characters&#8217; growth arc in the <strong>novel outline <\/strong>is a very industrious way of keeping the reader engaged. A &#8220;reluctant hero&#8221; undertaking a challenging mission, for example, may overcome minor conflicts in the run-up to the final showdown. Planting &#8220;milestones&#8221; keeps the story moving at an urgent pace and &#8220;shows&#8221; the character&#8217;s gradual progress to the reader.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Highlight_the_Characters_Progress_through_%E2%80%9CFoils%E2%80%9D\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Highlight the Character&#8217;s Progress through &#8220;Foils&#8221;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fiction, a &#8220;foil&#8221; is something or someone that makes others&#8217; qualities more noticeable\u2014for instance, a polite and docile friend alongside a loud, rude person. Adding a foil to the story can have multiple benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A) They offer contrast and make the character&#8217;s flaws more apparent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">B) They provide aspirational value, giving the character someone to look up to and emulate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">C) They work as a parameter for gauging and highlighting the progress made by the character.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Well-Written_Fiction_with_Amazing_Character_Arcs_Needs_Brutal_Setbacks\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>A Well-Written Fiction <\/strong>with Amazing Character Arcs Needs Brutal Setbacks<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The road to progress is planted with ordeals and brutal setbacks; your hero&#8217;s journey should be no different; it&#8217;s <strong>fiction writing<\/strong> 101. Adding failures and setbacks adds narrative suspense to the story while making the character&#8217;s transition more fascinating, convincing, and varied.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Take, for example, the story of a boy who aims to become a legendary swordmaster but loses his ability to see in a tragic accident. Obviously, his most significant disadvantage would be lack of sight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Keeping the growth arc uncertain helps maintain intrigue throughout the story, as the readers would want to know if the character overcomes the odds or not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Finish the arc on a high. The path must be rocky as hell, and the reward well-earned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That&#8217;s it- &#8220;<strong>The Stages of Writing a Character Growth Arc<\/strong>.&#8221; Let us know how you feel about this post by leaving a reply in the comments section. Also, check out our article on &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/developing-the-plot-for-gripping-novel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Developing the plot- Tips for plotting a gripping novel<\/strong><\/a>.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Show me a great book, and I&#8217;ll show you great characters! Would the Game of Thrones be any better without the humour of Tyrion Lannister or Arya..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[70,63,67,66,38,68,65,69,64],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=691"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":704,"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691\/revisions\/704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bfcpublications.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}