![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Today’s story structure topic: “Main Character Resolve”<\/p>\n
Every main character needs to grow over the course of a story, but there are two ways to do that:<\/p>\n
In the first example, Scrooge is set in his ways. He has a world view that was born of his life experience. He believes he is right in his understanding of how the world works and how best to protect oneself. But he doesn’t not realize that to shield himself from pain and the fear of pain yet to come, he has built a wall around his emotions that separate him from the warmth of human connection.<\/p>\n
In the second example, Clarice Starling (in Silence of the Lambs) has also suffered pain as a child, from the death of her father, a lawman, and also from being unable to save the spring lamb from the slaughter. She probably does not even realize that is why she joined the FBI and why she will put herself at great risk to save every lost lamb, metaphorically speaking.<\/p>\n
In Scrooge’s case, the ghosts, with Marley as their warm-up act, eventually convince Scrooge of the error of his outlook on life, though it takes nearly the whole story to do it. But once he changes his perspective, he is a changed man, and we say that main character has grown by changing.<\/p>\n
In Starling’s case, Dr. Lecter fulfills the same dramatic role the ghosts provided in A Christmas Carol. Though his story-long efforts to understand what drives her, he eventually pressures her to reveal the story of the slaughter of the Spring lambs. But even when he does, she doesn’t make the connection and she cannot let it go. We know she has not changed because near the end of the story Lecter flat out asks her, “Are the lambs still screaming?” and she does not reply because, in fact, they are. It is that sadness that makes her a good agent. If she let it go, she would not be as driven. Lecter tests this out by telling her that he has no intention of “calling” on her because the world is more interesting with her in it. He asks her to provide him with the same “courtesy” but she says, “You know I can’t do that.” And he does know, because the lambs are still screaming. We call such a character Steadfast, because they stick by their guns, their attitude or world view, and grow in their resolve to hold on to that view.<\/p>\n
In each case, the story is passionate and the main character is pressured to change. They both grow, but one is a Change character and the other is Steadfast.<\/p>\n
When fashioning your story, consider which of these two kinds of characters you wish to employ to create the message you want to send to your readers or audience, keeping in mind that change is good if you are on a bad path, but change is bad if you are on a good one. Similarly, if you remain steadfast, that could be good if you outlook is correct, whereas remaining steadfast is bad if you are on the wrong path.<\/p>\n
Of course, you aren’t required to have your character grow at all. You could simply tell a story about a main character trying to achieve a goal by having to overcome greater or greater obstacles until they do or do not.<\/p>\n
Such a narrative is called a Tale because it is focused on the plot and does not examine character growth. There’s nothing wrong with a Tale, especially in an action story or a conspiracy investigation.<\/p>\n
But note that even in today’s popular superhero stories, the main character almost always has a personal issue that comes into question and about which they must choose. Even if it is underplayed, by including character growth you humanize your character and allow your readers or audience to empathize with them, be it in Hamlet, Lord of the Rings, or Wonder Woman 84.<\/p>\n
This story structure tip is taken from the Dramatica Theory of Story, which is a complete model of the elements of structure and how they work together.<\/p>\n
You can download the free eBook, Dramatica: A New Theory of Story, here: https:\/\/storymind.com\/free-downloads\/dramatica_book.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n You can also learn about our Dramatica Story Structure Software that uses a patented interactive Story Engine based on the theory to cross-reference the dramatic impact of your structure choices, such as change or steadfast, and use them to project a perfect structure for the story you want to tell. Click here for details: https:\/\/storymind.com\/dramatica_pro.htm<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Smothered in an Avalanche of Ideas<\/a><\/p>\n What do you do when ideas come so fast they gum up the works, and the engine of your creativity grinds to a halt?<\/p>\n Finding Your Creative Time<\/a><\/p>\n Maybe the problem isn’t where you are writing, but when…<\/p>\n Trouble Finding Inspiration for Your Novel?<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some ideas to help you get the ideas flowing…<\/p>\n Finding Inspiration for Writers<\/a><\/p>\n Inspiration can be hard to find. Here are a couple of tips for freeing up frozen creative gears and busting mental log jams.<\/p>\n Tricking the Muse: The Creativity “Two-Step”<\/a><\/p>\n Here’s a technique for making your Muse think that being productive is\u00a0her<\/em> idea…<\/p>\n Your Story as a Person<\/a><\/p>\n Every story has a personality that is greater than the sum of its parts.\u00a0 Learn how to ensure all its facets are working together.<\/p>\n One Way to Beat Writers Block!<\/a><\/p>\n Here’s one way to sneak around writer’s block when it isn’t looking…<\/p>\n Writing from Your Passionate Self<\/a><\/p>\n How to supercharge the power of your storytelling by tapping into the seething cauldron of creativity just below the surface of your civilized veneer.<\/p>\n A Novelist’s Bag of Tricks<\/a><\/p>\n Here are four tips to help you develop your novel and improve the power of your storytelling.<\/p>\n Avoiding the Genre Trap<\/a><\/p>\n Genre isn’t a list of requirements nor a box that limits your creative options. Find out how to create a story that honors your genre yet is uniquely its own style.<\/p>\n 10 Essential Tips for Beginning Writers<\/a><\/p>\n Just starting out?\u00a0 This list of practical tips will help you get your novel written.<\/p>\n Your Plot Step By Step<\/a><\/p>\n Be a Story Weaver – NOT a Story Mechanic!<\/a><\/p>\n No one reads a book because it has a great structure.\u00a0 So how do you find the right balance between structure and passion? This article will show you the way…<\/p>\n Blowing a Story Bubble<\/a><\/p>\n This article provides a whole series of techniques for applying the art of bubble-making to the art of story-making, and how to make your storytelling “pop.”<\/p>\n Writing from a Character’s Point of View<\/a><\/p>\n This article will show you how to make your story more personal by putting your readers into your characters’ shoes.<\/p>\n The First Step in Writing ANY Novel<\/a><\/p>\n Before you write your first chapter, ponder your opening sentence, or jot down a single word, there’s one step you should always do first, no matter your genre or style.<\/p>\n How Art Is Made (The Battle Between Art and Mind)<\/a><\/p>\n It is the Eternal Struggle for writers: how to freely express one’s passions within the constraints of story structure.\u00a0 Here are a few tips for gaining the upper hand …<\/p>\n Genre – Act By Act<\/a><\/p>\n Genre isn’t a box you write in nor a list of stylistic requirements for your story.\u00a0 It is the personality of your story, and in this article you’ll learn how to grow your genre act by act.<\/p>\n Creating Characters from Scratch<\/a><\/p>\n Character have two jobs: First, they should fulfill a dramatic function in your story.\u00a0 Second, they need to have real personalities so your readers or audience can connect to them at a passionate level.\u00a0 So how can you create such creatures?\u00a0 Here’s one way…<\/p>\n Character Arc 101<\/a><\/p>\n Whether your characters change through a leap of faith or overcome all pressures to hold onto their beliefs, their path to that moment of choice isn’t a straight one…<\/p>\n Character Development Tricks!<\/a><\/p>\n Building characters that are intriguing, unusual, and memorable is a difficult task.\u00a0 Here are a few of my best tricks for creating characters from scratch and for developing characters you\u2019ve already created.<\/p>\n Creating Characters from Plot<\/a><\/p>\n If you are a plot-oriented writer, here is a nifty technique from shaking a whole cast of characters out of the events that drive your story.<\/p>\n Throughlines\u00a0 – And How to Use Them!<\/a><\/p>\n What’s a throughline?\u00a0 It is a continuous unbroken dramatic thread in your story.\u00a0 Learn how you can pull these threads together to spin a yarn.<\/p>\n Fire Your Protagonist<\/a><\/p>\n Perhaps your hero isn’t the right guy for the job.\u00a0 Find out how to hold job interviews with your other characters to see if they should take over the position.<\/p>\n Is Your Story Coming Apart at the Themes?<\/a><\/p>\n Even when a story has memorable characters, a riveting plot and a fully developed genre, it may still be coming apart at the themes.\u00a0 In this article, we\u2019ll find out how to recognize this problem, and what to do about it.<\/p>\n Story Structure Seen As War<\/a><\/p>\n Eisenhower said, “Planning is vital; plans are useless.”\u00a0 Seeing the structure of your story as a military campaign can help you ensure that all the moving parts work together toward a common goal.<\/p>\n Characters: The Attributes of Age<\/a><\/p>\n Writers tend to create characters the same age as themselves and also have characters of other ages behave as if they were that same age.\u00a0 Here’s how to write characters who truly act their age…<\/p>\n When Characters Make Excuses<\/a><\/p>\n Why do characters make excuses, and how can you write them so they come off as real people when they do?<\/p>\n Maximizing Your Creative Process<\/a><\/p>\n Rather than looking at what your story needs, turn it around to discover what you need to write that story. When you do, all manner of barriers to your creativity are removed. Read the article for complete details of this technique.<\/p>\n Grow Your Story from a Log Line<\/a><\/p>\n Creating a log line centers your story, provides it with an identity, and ensures that all your story development work will be guided by this beacon so your story becomes sharply focused and every element is clearly connected to the hub.<\/p>\n Creating Characters in 7 Steps<\/a><\/p>\n In this article you’ll discover a technique for drawing characters out of a one-sentence description of your story called a log line.<\/p>\n Letting Go of Characters<\/a><\/p>\n As your story draws to a conclusion, your reader have become heavily invested in your characters.\u00a0 So you’ll need to help them disentangle from those relationships before your story ends.<\/p>\n Get Into Your Characters’ Heads<\/a><\/p>\n One of the most powerful opportunities of the novel format is the ability to describe what a character is thinking.\u00a0 Learn how to transport your readers inside a character’s mind.<\/p>\n How to Grow a Sentence Into a Story<\/a><\/p>\n Use this technique to develop an entire plot outline from a single one-sentence description of your story.<\/p>\n Novels Don’t Have To Be Stories<\/a><\/p>\n A story must conform to the conventions of story structure, but a novel does not need to be so rigid…<\/p>\n Have Your Characters Write Their Own Stories<\/a><\/p>\n This technique will help you stand in your characters’ shoes and see the world through their eyes.<\/p>\n Change is Good (or maybe bad)<\/a><\/p>\n Stories can be written about characters who change or about characters who don’t.\u00a0 That’s the first part of your message.\u00a0 The second part is what happens to the character in the end as a result of their choice to change or not.<\/p>\n SECRETS of the Protagonist…<\/a><\/p>\n It is often assumed that a protagonist is the hero of a story.\u00a0 Nothing could be further from the truth.<\/p>\n Characters: Cogs in the Machine?<\/a><\/p>\n Are characters people or pawns?\u00a0 They are both, in fact, and your job as an author is to ensure your characters fulfill each of their roles.<\/p>\n Your Influence Character is the Heart of your Story<\/a><\/p>\n Your antagonist opposes the goals of your protagonist.\u00a0 But who opposes the beliefs of your main character?<\/p>\n How to Avoid Stereotypes<\/a><\/p>\n It is an easy trap to create tired character types that follow societal expectations.\u00a0 How can you break out of that mold?\u00a0 Here’s a sure-fire technique for busting up stereotypes to create truly fresh and fascinating characters.<\/p>\n What’s in a Name?<\/a><\/p>\n Choosing names for your characters can be perfunctory or can provide your readers or audience with insight into your characters’ natures, add humor or surprise, or even at the very least break out of ordinary monikers into the realm of the unusual.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/8.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/3-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/30.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/8.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/9.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/11.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/11-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/12.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/12-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/13.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/13-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/14.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/14.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/15.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/15.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/16.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/16.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/17.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/17.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/18.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/18.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/19.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/19.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/20.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/20.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/21.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/21.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/22.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/23.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/23.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/22.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/24.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/25.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/25.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/24-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/26.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/26.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/27.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/27.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/28.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/28.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/29.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/29.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/31.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/30.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/32.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/31.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/33.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/32.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/34.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/33.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/35.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/34.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/36.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/35.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/37.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/36.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/38.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/37.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/39.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/38.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/40.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/39.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/41.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/40.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/42.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/41.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storymind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/43.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIntroduction to the StoryWeaver Method<\/a><\/blockquote>