WARNER - SECRETS TO CREATING CHARACTER ARCS, THE

You can never know enough about your characters.

This quote, given by W. Somerset Maugham, explains beautifully the necessity of creating meaningful characters in order for a novel to be successful. And indeed, if you look back to all the books, movies, and shows you have loved in your life, you will find that each had at least one character you could connect with; someone that continued to live on within your heart long after you finished those books, movies, or shows.

Characters are the life of any literary work, be it novels, plays, or short stories. As readers, the first thing that hooks you in a story is when you start caring about its characters. Once you start caring about the characters, you relate to their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. You will also feel connected to the happenings and events of their lives.

However, as a writer, creating multi-dimensional characters that your readers can relate to is a challenge. Many writers out there would agree that it is, in fact, one of the most difficult parts of writing a story.

Story-writing is a serious job and not something that springs from a mere idea. While the idea is the seed of any story, to turn your story into a full-grown tree, you will need to string all your ideas and thoughts together into a meaningful work.

And even if you manage to power through and complete your story, you will need to have that wow factor in order for it to stand out among the countless published stories available to readers. Something that will help your story catch the attention of the audience. This is a stage where many writers feel stuck, which is also a form of writers block.

If youre a writer with a half-finished book looking for inspiration to move ahead, or someone who wants to write stories but is nervous about where to begin, I understand what youre struggling with.

This book has been written to address the struggles and challenges faced by writers like you. In the chapters ahead, I will discuss the components of a good story. Throughout this journey, I will talk about several strategies and techniques that you can learn that will develop your writing.

The book is designed as a guide for all the writers who have great potential but lack the confidence to write an interesting, engaging story that can keep the readers glued to the pages. It also explains the ideal thought process that can motivate you to write better. Most importantly, it talks about the art of creating character arcs that can keep the readers captivated throughout the story.

If youve already finished writing your story and need guidance for editing it effectively, you will also learn about making final improvements in your story. And in the end, you must be wondering if Im qualified for the task of writing a book that can serve as your companion during your writing journey. Youre right to ask, so let me tell you a little bit about myself.

Born and raised in Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom, Ive been studying creative writing and cryptology for over 35 years now. I have two children and am married to a professor who teaches at a local University. Because Ive been engaged in creative writing for so many years, both personally and professionally, I have learned a lot about the process and am here to share with you fine people the knowledge and experience Ive gathered over the years.

On a personal level, helping other writers with the writing of their novels is a truly satisfying and rewarding experience for me. As an avid reader, I genuinely hope to fill the world with more amazing stories. Not only does it give me great pleasure, but it also strengthens my own confidence in writing. In other words, with your growth and development as a writer, I grow as well.

After spending decades studying creativity, the most priceless lesson Ive learned is that no matter how good a writer is, they can always improve and become better at it if they receive the right guidance and advice. And it is my intention to present all writers of the world with an ultimate guide for creating better, more impactful stories.

T he concept of the holy trinity originated from Christianity, wherein it is believed that the Almighty who protects and blesses its followers is not one single entity: it exists in three different forms. These forms are of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And while these three are distinct, they have the same essence or nature.

Just like the three entities that guide believers spiritually in life, a good story is also created with the union of a holy trinity: the union of plot, structure, and characters.

As a writer, you must have asked yourself, What would make my story a good one? In this chapter, I aim to answer exactly this question.

The first step to writing any story is to learn about the basic elements of fiction writing. If you have a firm grip on these elements, you will never struggle in planning your story before you start penning it down. But what are these basic elements? They are characters, setting, plot, conflict, point of view, and theme. Once you have clearly defined these elements for your story, the rest of the way will seem significantly easier for you, whether youre writing a novel, a novella, or a short story.

The incorporation of these elements will lend your story the integrity it needs in order to stand out. As a general rule, a good story should answer three main questions:

• Whose story is it?
• Whats happening in the story?