Tag Archive - Story Structure

Crafting Unforgettable Character Arcs

October 2, 2023 in Novel Structure with 0 Comments

Character arcs are the backbone of compelling fiction. They give readers a reason to invest in the characters, to care about their journeys, and to see themselves in their struggles and triumphs. We love to fall in love (or hate) with characters, root for them, worry over them, and cheer them on when they overcome hard obstacles and reach the goals they are passionate about.

While all characters in a novel can have arcs, it’s the protagonist whose change should be the most significant. Depending on genre and plot, your hero’s change might be subtle or life-altering. A suspense thriller or cozy mystery may show little character growth by the end, when the bad guy is caught or the mystery solved, whereas a thoughtful women’s fiction novel or relational drama may showcase monumental change.

The Foundation: Three Stages of the Character Arc

While Michael Hauge has a terrific six-act structure for the character arc (which I’ll elaborate on further down), let’s look at the overarching three basic stages to be aware of when crafting a character arc. Continue Reading…

6 Ways to Manipulate Time in Fiction

July 9, 2018 in Novel Structure with 2 Comments

Today’s guest post is by Martin Cavannagh.

One of the least analyzed literary devices in literature is time.

Time works differently in books. It ceases to be the tyrannical presence that we know in real life and instead becomes a simple tool that the writer manipulates to tell her story. Every great story puts time to work for it on some level—many times, in a way that’s deft and creative.

Okay, so what’s the literary equivalent of Notting Hill’s famous “Walk through the Seasons” sequence in Notting Hill, you might ask? Well, authors have their own tricks up their sleeves when it comes to controlling time. Let’s take a look at them now.

Here are six ways that writers work around the clock to tame time in their stories. Continue Reading…

A Look at the Second Pinch Point in Stories

May 30, 2016 in Novel Structure with 2 Comments

Last week we took a look at the first pinch point—that moment in your story that comes after the hero’s goal is set and before the midpoint appears (in which the character has some important choices to make about the tough obstacles he’s facing).

Pinch points are mostly about the opposition. If the first pinch point reveals the strength of the opposition, the second one showcases the full force of it. If your character faces the edge of a hurricane at sea at the first pinch point, showing him what he’s truly up against, the second pinch point is going to be the battle for survival with the full brunt of the storm.

This isn’t the climax, but it’s building up to it. It’s preparing the stage for the final attack or onslaught or challenge your character will have to take.

As I said in last week’s post, I cringe when I have to do math and force my story into something like “the second pinch point comes 5/8ths into the story, at the 62% mark, exactly between the middle of the story and the second plot point—the middle of the third act.” Continue Reading…