When you write or revise a novel, one thing to check for is how characters change or transform one another.
Novel Characters Transform Each Other
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| Pillow Fight, Piazza Maggiore by Donato Accogli |
In my WIP, I just created a chart showing the emotional narrative arc of two characters. Each is pushed along that narrative arc by the other character.
Character A:
Hides emotions———————————————-Follows heart
Character B:
Aimless/easily discouraged————————– Goal-oriented/tenacious
The point of this is that Character B’s strength is impulsively following her heart, so she can push Character A along his emotional arc. Character A’s strength is to choose a goal and stick with it as long as needed, so he can push Character B along her arc.
Of course, other plot events and other characters can also impact these arcs, but in this story I want the change to come mostly from the other character.
I’m checking the scenes I’ve written and planned to make sure that there is a series of steps to create these arcs.