Ksenia, Thank you for this amazing character analysis sheet. Most of what I've written (and expect to write) is plot-centered, mysteries, and to a lesser extent, retelling of Greek myths. Sometimes I've struggled with the stories because they've gone flat. Generally, after an agonizing reappraisal, I've discovered that the story has gone flat because the MC has---I've neglected the character arc. Sometimes I've been able to fix it. I think this analysis gives me the tools to do so more effectively and more efficiently. Not only that, I can at least put the pieces in place for the character arc in my thinking beforehand.
This is great, Ksenia, very helpful. I am not experienced with fiction but am about to serialise my first novel. I wrote it during NaNoWriMo using a pantser approach, and that paragraph starting with "Writing as a pantser can be great fun..." describes EXACTLY the situation I find myself in. I had so much fun writing and I got carried away with all sorts of cliffhangers, teases, loose ends, characters popping in and out, and now, as I try to wrap it up with a satisfying conclusion, my head is spinning. I know what I want to happen, but I need to fill in the plot holes and my goodness, it's overwhelming!
I had never thought about the internal conflict of my characters - this is eye-opening. It's interesting - I read your post an hour or so ago, and then went back through bits of my book and it seems like my main characters have [inadvertently?] answered many of these questions. But there are a few other questions I ought to consider. There's a lot of writing advice out there, some of it conflicting, but I really appreciate your insights. They're clear and make so much sense. ☺️
Of course your MC answered these questions. It's what writing is all about, and people have done it wonderfully before creative writing analysis and classes came out. But now that people have studied what makes a great story work, it's cool to be familiar with the tools.
Many writers write successful and wonderful stories without worrying about this. I only learned it in the last couple of years. But once you know it, you'll never fall into the trap of writing a flat MC or a Mary Sue. 🙃
Ksenia, Thank you for this amazing character analysis sheet. Most of what I've written (and expect to write) is plot-centered, mysteries, and to a lesser extent, retelling of Greek myths. Sometimes I've struggled with the stories because they've gone flat. Generally, after an agonizing reappraisal, I've discovered that the story has gone flat because the MC has---I've neglected the character arc. Sometimes I've been able to fix it. I think this analysis gives me the tools to do so more effectively and more efficiently. Not only that, I can at least put the pieces in place for the character arc in my thinking beforehand.
Thank you for the comment. I love plot-heavy stories. They’re so much fun to read!
If you add layered characters to it, you will hit jackpot 😊
This is great, Ksenia, very helpful. I am not experienced with fiction but am about to serialise my first novel. I wrote it during NaNoWriMo using a pantser approach, and that paragraph starting with "Writing as a pantser can be great fun..." describes EXACTLY the situation I find myself in. I had so much fun writing and I got carried away with all sorts of cliffhangers, teases, loose ends, characters popping in and out, and now, as I try to wrap it up with a satisfying conclusion, my head is spinning. I know what I want to happen, but I need to fill in the plot holes and my goodness, it's overwhelming!
I had never thought about the internal conflict of my characters - this is eye-opening. It's interesting - I read your post an hour or so ago, and then went back through bits of my book and it seems like my main characters have [inadvertently?] answered many of these questions. But there are a few other questions I ought to consider. There's a lot of writing advice out there, some of it conflicting, but I really appreciate your insights. They're clear and make so much sense. ☺️
I'm glad it helped.
Of course your MC answered these questions. It's what writing is all about, and people have done it wonderfully before creative writing analysis and classes came out. But now that people have studied what makes a great story work, it's cool to be familiar with the tools.
Many writers write successful and wonderful stories without worrying about this. I only learned it in the last couple of years. But once you know it, you'll never fall into the trap of writing a flat MC or a Mary Sue. 🙃