The most common struggle writers have when writing their first novel is structure. Plotters overthink and often over complicate their plot. And pansters run amok with too much material for them to metabolize into a streamlined, compelling story. What’s often missing are character foundations.
Both plotters and pantsers get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of their material and ideas about the story. And the story becomes unwieldy very fast.
When a story breaks down, it’s because the underlying foundation isn’t thought out or explored deeply enough.
So in this episode, I’m going to give you 3 character foundations to help you structure your story.
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Episode at a glance:
[04:07] What Does Your Character Come Into the Story Already Wanting?
Too often character goals or desires are vague or on the surface. There’s an external goal, which, of course, the story needs.
But all our desires are emotionally driven. When something matters deeply, it comes with crippling self doubt, fear, and resistance. If it’s meaningful to us, it doesn’t come easy. But we become better versions of ourselves in the process.
When it gets hard, as it should – and will – we want to give up, but we don’t. We keep recommitting to the goal. Why? Because it matters too much, and we have no other choice, And your main character is no different.
[09:54] Dueling Desires
At the heart of every story, there’s a dilemma. The dilemma comes from your character’s dueling desires. Your character is caught between two powerful competing desires. The story’s external events will poke at that inner conflict and force your character to make difficult choices.
[11:20] The Payoff
Where does your character end up? What’s the transformation? What’s the payoff after all the external challenges and obstacles have played out? Will he get what he wants or not? He may get what he wants, but at a cost. Or he may not get what he wants, but gain something he didn’t expect.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
by Leo Tolstoy
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