Character Introductions - Tumblr Posts
building your main character
Hello :) I recently bought save the cat writes a novel but didn't have the motivation to read it until I came up with this new fantasy idea.
As a pantser, I really want to learn how to plot, and I thought this book was a good idea to give me some structure as to what goes into plotting (like know the rules so you can break them after pftt).
I decided to take some notes along the way so I don't have to keep re-reading this thing later down the road. It might be helpful, it might not be, but I thought it'd be a nice writing resource to put out to the world. ♥️
I think it's safe to say that most of us don't want to read, nor write, a perfect character - one who's good at everything, and has no problems in their lives.
Creating a flawed character, one that later transforms and learns a "universal lesson" is probably much more interesting to both read & write about (as most authors [like me] like to dump their trauma on characters lmao).
But to do so, your character needs:
A problem that needs fixing.
A want or goal that the hero is pursuing.
A need for their lesson to be learned.
Basically, a character's flaw (though doesn't need to be a HUGE one) or issue should be affecting, at least in their thoughts and possibly others, their world, relationships, and life. This is essentially their "problem," and one they hope to fix. It may also be seen as the start of their journey.
Aside from that, it's important for a character to want something, and be trying to get it. This is essentially what they think will fix their issues, but may turn out not to be true later on. This want should be tangible or specific in some way. And the fact that someone or something is preventing them from getting is, is part of their journey!
Side note: wants can also change throughout the novel. An example used was how Frankenstein goes from wanting to create life to wanting to destroy the very life he created. Not all characters get what they want, either. Take a character who wants to see their mother, for instance, only to find out she died in the end of the novel (sorry for this sad example lmaoo). Though she never gets to see her mother, she learns a few lessons along the way, and her getting to see her mother is what the novel may focus on more.
Characters can also be mistaken on what they think will make them happy, which is another reason why they think they want something.
That leads to what the hero really needs. Delve into their backstory.
Why is your hero so flawed?
What happened to them to make them the way they are?
What do they really need?
Essentially, this internal transformation (character development) combined with the actual plot and external action will create a plot/novel.
In the end, there may be some universal lesson or overarching perception that your character gains. Here's 10:
Forgiveness (of self and others)
Love (self-love, family, romantic)
Acceptance (of themselves, of circumstances, etc.)
Faith (oneself, others, world, religion)
Fear (overcoming or finding courage)
Trust (oneself, unknown, others)
Survival (will to live)
Selflessness (sacrifice, altruism, heroism, etc.)
Responsibility (duty, accepting one's fate, standing up for a cause)
Redemption (atonement, accepting blame, remorse, salvation)
ways you can further develop your main character
give them a misbelief
no characters have a personality when the plot starts. all of them have backstories, a past, and a mindset that they grew up with!
basically, a misbelief is the wrong mindset that they grew up with, and is also a belief that will be restructured by the end of your novel.
this not only shows character growth and development as their mind is "restructured" or they learn their life lesson, but also drives the internal plot of your story, which differs from the external (or action) plot that most people seem to read.
+ this gives readers a deeper insight to your character!
give them a goal
every character has a goal, or something they want in their lives. having them strive for it would essentially drive your plot, and may also help you dig deeper into your character's motivations!
this goal doesn't always need to be achieved, or may be impossible to (for example, someone wanting to meet a loved one who turns out to be dead; they may have not reached their goal, but it took them on a journey)
this goal should also be concrete if possible! vague ones like "they want to be happy," isn't very helpful. what do they think will make them happy?
(side note: wanting everything to be the way that it is can also be a goal, cause they're striving to make things go back to the way they were!)
more notes / explanations here! most of these notes in this post are taken from story genius by lisa cron, and i thought they might help. please take all this information with a grain of salt, and maybe use it in a way that'll work best for you! <3
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building your main character
Hello :) I recently bought save the cat writes a novel but didn't have the motivation to read it until I came up with this new fantasy idea.
As a pantser, I really want to learn how to plot, and I thought this book was a good idea to give me some structure as to what goes into plotting (like know the rules so you can break them after pftt).
I decided to take some notes along the way so I don't have to keep re-reading this thing later down the road. It might be helpful, it might not be, but I thought it'd be a nice writing resource to put out to the world. ♥️
I think it's safe to say that most of us don't want to read, nor write, a perfect character - one who's good at everything, and has no problems in their lives.
Creating a flawed character, one that later transforms and learns a "universal lesson" is probably much more interesting to both read & write about (as most authors [like me] like to dump their trauma on characters lmao).
But to do so, your character needs:
A problem that needs fixing.
A want or goal that the hero is pursuing.
A need for their lesson to be learned.
Basically, a character's flaw (though doesn't need to be a HUGE one) or issue should be affecting, at least in their thoughts and possibly others, their world, relationships, and life. This is essentially their "problem," and one they hope to fix. It may also be seen as the start of their journey.
Aside from that, it's important for a character to want something, and be trying to get it. This is essentially what they think will fix their issues, but may turn out not to be true later on. This want should be tangible or specific in some way. And the fact that someone or something is preventing them from getting is, is part of their journey!
Side note: wants can also change throughout the novel. An example used was how Frankenstein goes from wanting to create life to wanting to destroy the very life he created. Not all characters get what they want, either. Take a character who wants to see their mother, for instance, only to find out she died in the end of the novel (sorry for this sad example lmaoo). Though she never gets to see her mother, she learns a few lessons along the way, and her getting to see her mother is what the novel may focus on more.
Characters can also be mistaken on what they think will make them happy, which is another reason why they think they want something.
That leads to what the hero really needs. Delve into their backstory.
Why is your hero so flawed?
What happened to them to make them the way they are?
What do they really need?
Essentially, this internal transformation (character development) combined with the actual plot and external action will create a plot/novel.
In the end, there may be some universal lesson or overarching perception that your character gains. Here's 10:
Forgiveness (of self and others)
Love (self-love, family, romantic)
Acceptance (of themselves, of circumstances, etc.)
Faith (oneself, others, world, religion)
Fear (overcoming or finding courage)
Trust (oneself, unknown, others)
Survival (will to live)
Selflessness (sacrifice, altruism, heroism, etc.)
Responsibility (duty, accepting one's fate, standing up for a cause)
Redemption (atonement, accepting blame, remorse, salvation)
scene cards
scene cards here (just make a copy of the doc).
i found this really helpful when outlining my story, so i thought i'd share it with you guys. all novels / plots are written with a cause and effect that keeps the events going, and the best novels (from what i found) focus on internal character drive.
the top section focuses on the cause and effect for the plot, or the external action that you want to happen within your scene. simultaneously, the bottom section focuses on the third rail, or your character's arc. the action should matter to them, either by causing them to retaliate, devise another plan, or just them taking a step of overcoming their misbelief.
this scene card was taken from story genius by lisa cron, and i thought it might help. please take all this information with a grain of salt, and maybe use it in a way that'll work best for you! <3
if this information helped, you can: buy me a kofi | find me on insta