Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.

13.34: Q&A on Character Arcs

Your Hosts: Brandon, Valynne, Dan, and Howard

You had questions. We came up with answers. The questions are below:

  • How do you fulfill promises about character arcs without being cliché? How do you subvert character tropes without betraying the reader?
  • Do you need to complete each character arc in a single story featuring multiple characters?
  • What separates an iconic character from a caricature?
  • Have you ever had an iconic character necessarily become a character in need of an arc?
  • How do you continue a character’s story after they’ve completed their original arc?
  • How much does a character need to change in their arc?

Homework: Trace the skyline of a mountain.  Treat that line, with its ups and downs, as the narrative curve for a character arc.

Thing of the week: Fat Angie, by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo, narrated by Angela Dawe.

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