Character Arc and How it Ties into Your Story Plot By Connie Vines. #RR, #Round Robin Blog Hop, The Call to Adventure

The topic for July is the significance of Character Arcs in stories and their connection to the plot or story arc. Do you allow some time and narrative to character arcs for secondary characters?

One of the first writing classes I attended was a screenwriting class based on Chris Vogler's The 12 Stages Of The Hero's Journey. 

Since I was already acquainted with Joseph Campbell's work in comparative mythology and comparative religion (the power of the Myth), I discovered this was comfortable for me to plot my novels.

The 12 Stages of the Hero's Journey

The Ordinary World (Where the Hero/Heroine exists before the present story begins.

Call to Adventure

Refusal to the Call

Meeting the Mentor

Crossing the Threshold

Tests, Alles, Enemies...

Approach to the Innermost Cave

Ordeal

The above can be if you analyze the original Star Wars movie. 

This boils down to A protagonist embarking on an adventure into the unknown. They learn lessons, overcome adversity, defeat evil, and return home transformed.

If you are writing a romance, YA/MG novel, or historical, the plot and character arcs' development remains the same.

Romance: they start with one perspective, confront challenges that force them to face their fears and weaknesses, and ultimately change for the better.

SciFi: Here, you may be writing a negative arc where the character changes for the worst.

I develop character arcs for all of my characters. The main characters have the most detailed character arc. However, each character in the story must come across as a person. Different rules apply to the 'bad guy,' of course. 

Both plot and character arc are equally important in my stories.

The plot is the device that moves the story forward, and the character emparks on their journey through these plot points--experiencing challenges (both external and internal) and obstacles along the way.

These novels have the most intense character arcs and plot arcs.

Character and plot are inseparable because a person is what happens to them. Without a clear sense of who a character is, what they value, and what they're afraid of, the reader will be unable to appreciate the significance of your events, and your story will have no impact. 

Please visit the talented writers participating in this month's Round Robin Blog Hop.

See you next month 😎,

Connie

Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog

Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

How to Share a Backstory/History with Your Reader By Connie Vines #Backstory, #Round Robin, #Sharing with Readers, #Writing Tips

This month's topic:

The Importance of your character's backstory/history and how to share this with the reader without an info dump that stalls the action.

My preferred method is to utilize my blurb. 

Example: Lynx (Rodeo Romance, Book 1)

With a dangerous reputation for taking chances and tempting fate, rugged cowboy Lynx Maddox had one goal in life--to win the coveted Silver Buckle rodeo championship. But when he sets eyes on Lovely Rachel Scott, he becomes determined to capture her as well.

Rachel traveled the circuit with her famous father rodeo rider dad until his fatal accident in the arena. Now she wants nothing to do with that world--or the men who risk their lives for one brief moment of glory, But her attraction to Lynx becomes too powerful to deny..., and his unexpected gentleness is too seductive to resist.

However, this month's main topic is introducing backstory/history into the story.  

Internal dialogue is useful, but a conversation with a friend/confidant or having an event trigger a memory creates more substantial reader involvement in the scene.

Rachel stalled to no avail. Charlene planted herself on the arm of the couch, "Dan told me Lynx left for Lubbock without you. Why?"

Rachel squirmed.

"I couldn't do it. Lynx kept talking about his family. He kept telling me about the ranch and planning how we'd spend our days. The more he planned, the more frightened I became. When it came to the final day, I couldn't do it, Charlene. I pulled my suitcase from the closet and remembered all the times I'd picked up and moved...I just couldn't do it again."

Example 2: Brede (Rodeo Romance, Book 2)

In this story, I utilized a prologue. I seldom implement this device (except in my historical novels); however,  because this is romantic suspense, this moves the reader into an action sequence.

Example 3: Tanayia: Whisper upon the Water (Historical)

Prologue

1868

The Governor of New Mexico decreed that all Indian children over six to be educated in the ways of the white man.

Indian Commissioner, Thomas Morgan, said," It is cheaper to educate the Indians than to kill them."

1880, Apacheria, Season of Ripened Berries

Isolated bands of colored clay on white limestone remains where the sagebrush is stripped from Mother Earth by sudden storms and surface waters. Desolate. Bleak. Al and made of barren rocks and twisted paths that reach out into the silence.

A world of hunger and hardship. This is my world. I am Tanayia. I was born thirteen winters ago. We call ourselves N'dee. The People. The white man calls us Apache.

https://books2read.com/Tanayia

Everyone has great tips on sharing a character's backstory with the reader.

Please visit the participants:

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Dr. Bob Rich https://bobrich18.wordpress.com/2023/03/18/where-to-hide-the-time-machine-backstory/

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Connie

Link to my publisher's website:  https://www.bookswelove.com/vines-connie/

(eBook and print)

Happy Reading!  📖📚📱

How Can Contemporary Fiction Keep Up With A Changing World? #Round Robin #WriterTips

How Can Contemporary Fiction Keep Up With A Changing World?

Thank you, Dr. Bob, for this month's topic.

I write in multiple genres. For obvious reasons, history takes place in the past, and technology isn't an issue.  However, accurate historical knowledge (especially by YA) readers, perhaps should be discussed at another time.

Contemporary Stories

I find to keep up with tech, climate, and social focus (coffee pot vs coffee pods; someone should be a vegan; changes in fashion, etc.) I need to update my novels every 3 to 5 years unless I wish to market them as 'vintage'.

This isn't a real problem with my Western stories or my RomCom Paranormal stories.

My urban/big city stories often require revisions after the book is completed and ready for submission.

AI (artificial intelligence) do I need to mention its possible impact on selecting an employee for a position?

If I'm building a series, my choice will have a longer reach than if it's a stand-alone novel.

I try to avoid 'hot buttons' in contemporary novels because the focus is on "the romance', 'the humor', or 'life in a small town'.

Paranormal/ SiFi

I believe it's much easier to slide contemporary (hot-button) issues into this genre.

Not as a pro/con on the part of the author; observation and possible outcome of a misstep 

.

Thank you for stopping by today.  

I'm working on my laptop with limited WiFi here in SoCal.

Weather conditions in the burbs are unexpected this week:  rain, 60 - 85 mph wind gusts, hail storms, blizzard warnings in the nearby mountains/ passes, and a small tornado that ripped out a 50 ft pine tree. (all fodder for a future novel or two 😆 .)

Connie

Please visit our Round Robin blog participants: 

 Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Connie Vines https://mizging.blogspot.com/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2QS

Anne Stenhouse http://wp.me/31lsq

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenfairfax.com/blog

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/