7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt.

4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

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MARCH 2, 2014 by K.M. WEILAND | @KMWEILAND 128 COMMENTS

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Creating Stunning Ch
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How to
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Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Chara
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Most
Common What is your character’s ghost, and how does it
Writing
Mistakes character arc? Once you’ve figured out the Lie Y
Believes, as well as Thing He Wants and the Th
Storytelling
According the next question you need to ask yourself is: W
to Marvel
character believe the Lie in the first place? To fi
start looking for something ghostly in your char
NOW AVAILABLE!
If there’s one solid rule in fiction, it’s that every effect mus
your character is in need of undergoing a change arc, then
tasks is figuring out why he needs to change. What happe
him to embrace this obviously damaging Lie?

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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

Humans are survivors. We’ll do anything we can to

move toward life, comfort, and peace. But we’re also a
generally self-destructive lot. We can focus so tightly
on one aspect of survival that we sacrifice other
Guardar

elements. In our quest to be top dog in our chosen

careers, we can sacrifice our emotional health
through poor relationship choices and our physical
health through poor lifestyle choices. Worse than
that, we’re usually deliberately blind to our
destructive behaviors. We rationalize our actions and
convince ourselves—rightly or wrongly—that the end justi

In other words we lie to ourselves. But there’s always a rea

There’s always a reason why we value survival in one aspe
survival in another. Sometimes these reasons are obvious
enough money to eat, even it means busting your back day
sometimes the reasons are so obscure even you don’t reco
have to work like a dog to earn a six-figure income or you’
your father always said you were). Find the reason, and yo

Your Character’s Ghost

“Ghost” is moviespeak for something in your character’s p
him. You may also see it sometimes referred to as the “wo
fabulous Negative Trait Thesaurus, Angela Ackerman an
explain:

“ Wounds are often kept secret from other

embedded within them is the lie—an un
character believes about himself…. For e
man believes he is unworthy of love (the
was unable to stop his fiancée from bein
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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors
JOIN FOR
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS robbery (the wound), he may adopt atti
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AND MORE! and negative traits that make him unde
women.

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Often, the wound will be something shocking and trauma
massacre of the French and Indians at Ft. Charles that ha
Martin in Roland Emmerich’s The Patriot or Jason Bourn
an assassin in Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Identity), but
something smaller and more ordinary, such as a breakup
Austen’s Persuasion), a stressful parental relationship (Ba
Man), or physical inferiority (Mike Wazowski in Dan Scan
Currently Free at: University).
Amazon | Kobo |
Apple |
The bigger and more destructive the Lie, the more shockin
Smashwords | My
Store ghost should be. Or to flip that on its head: the bigger the
the Lie, the bigger the arc.

The ghost will often be a part of your character’s backstor

discover it only bit by bit. In these cases, the ghost can oft
tantalizing mystery. The why behind your character’s beli
hook readers’ curiosity, and you can string them along for
only little clues, until finally the ghost is presented in a gr
Currently Free at:
Amazon | Barnes & the end.
Noble | Kobo |
Apple | In other stories, we may never discover the specifics abou
Smashwords
character may have an obviously significant past, but it re
| My Store secrecy. Or his past, in itself, may not seem so interesting
obviously contributed in some way to his Lie, but the auth
reveal it, for whatever reason.

And in still other stories, the ghost’s origin may be drama

Act, in a prologue of sorts. This is particularly prominent

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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

such as Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie and Christop

Batman Begins. In these instances, the ghost segment is a
that explains the protagonist’s motivations, before the boo
on to the real story. In these stories, the character probab
believing in a Lie in Chapter One. Only once the ghost has
changed his normal world will he find himself struggling t
mindsets and actions. In The Writer’s Journey, Christoph

“ Other stories show the hero as essential

until a close friend or relative is kidnapp
the first act.

What Is Your Character’s Gho

Your character’s ghost may take any number of forms. Th

The promise that he would grow up to be king, regar

merits. (Thor)
Her aunt’s refusal to love her. (Jane Eyre)
[Unstated.] (Jurassic Park)
His mother’s pathological deceit. (Secondhand Lions
Knowledge of what happens to unloved toys. (Toy St
Disillusionment about an Army career. (Three Kings
An absentee father. (Green Street Hooligans)
A divorce. (What About Bob?)

The ghost may be as simple as someone else’s lie to the pr

Eyre’s aunt tells her she’s wicked and worthless, and, deep
believes her). The ghost may be something obviously horr
protagonist did (as in The Patriot) or that was done to him
loved (as in Spider-Man), or the ghost may be something
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embraces without realizing the damage it’s causing (as in

thing to remember about identifying the ghost is that it w
underlying cause for the protagonist’s belief in the Lie. Fo
check out Angela Ackerman’s “7 Common Wound Themes

Examples of Your Character’

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: Scrooge has
literal ghosts flying around his story, and one of them—th
Christmas Past—gives us a front-row seat to the figurative
backstory. Turns out he had a wretched childhood, thanks
never showed him affection and locked him away at a boa
during the Christmas holidays.

Cars directed by John Lasseter: We’re never told wh

McQueen’s ghost is. The race commentators say, “The roo
into the season unknown”—and that is largely how he com
We never discover why he’s so intent on being free from d

Questions to Ask About Your

Character’s Ghost
1. Why does your character believe the Lie?

2. Is there a notable event in his past that has traumatized

3. If not, will there be a notable event in the First Act that

him?

4. Why does the character nourish the Lie?

5. How will he benefit from the Truth?

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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

6. How “big” is your character’s ghost? If you made it bigg

up with a stronger arc?

7. Where will you reveal your character’s ghost? All at onc

by piece throughout the story, with big reveal toward the e

8. Does your story need the ghost to be revealed? Would i

never revealed it?

Backstory is always one of the most interesting aspects of

constructing yours, pay special attention to the ghost. If y
started your character’s belief in the Lie, you’re halfway to
overcome it.

Stay Tuned: Next week, we’ll talk about how to begin yo

introducing him in a Characteristic Moment in the first ch

Read Previous Posts in This Series: Part 1: Can You

Character?

Part 2: The Lie Your Character Believes

Part 3: The Thing Your Character Wants vs. The Thing Yo

Tell me your opinion: What is your cha

ghost?

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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

About K.M. Weiland |

@KMWeiland
K.M. Weiland lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imagi
survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso. She
NIEA Award-winning and internationally published autho
bestsellers Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your N
historical and speculative fiction from her home in wester
mentors authors on her award-winning website.

Comments

Hannah Killian says:

OCTOBER 29, 2016 AT 2:22 PM

I have a ghost for three characters so far.

The heroine’s brother: The Lie the heroine’s brothe

he failed one family member, he’ll fail them all. The
his Ghost is the fact he wasn’t fast enough to save th
his sister) from falling into the river, which is how s
separated from their family. Ever since that happen
he failed her, and he’s scared that he’ll eventually fa
loved ones.

The hero’s father: Not sure what the Lie is yet, but h
how his brother died.

The hero’s cousin: The hero’s cousin is the captain

since the story is partially based off Robin Hood, he
the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy mixed up. H
captain of the guard before him, which was before t

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happened. Now what happens is he (the cousin’s fa

treason, and when no evidence emerges that he’s in
sentenced to be executed. This is what is going to p
(the hero’s father) to join the rebels. But after the e
he was innocent all along is going to show, and that
the rebellion.

But the rebellion could also be incited by the arrest

then prompt the hero’s father to join the rebels, due
that they can help the hero’s father help his brother
course, the rebels are backstabbers, because after th
refuses an order from them (an order that he believ
he’s killed.

So, his father’s death is the cousin’s Ghost, and the

that. . .standing up for what’s right will only lead to
a kid when it happens after all. Perhaps he’s even a
his cousin, because he (the cousin/hero) still has hi
again, the cousin is really torn up about killing his u
Climax, because after his father died, he became an
uncle and aunt (the hero’s parents) raised him. The
and his uncle was pretty much the only parental fig
his life.

Maybe the heroine’s Ghost could be the separation

She was six when it happened. Or maybe she doesn
yet.

The Lie the hero believes might be that his father is

him? No, wait, that was his fear. Wait, a Lie and a F
same, right? Anyways, he also doesn’t want his fath
the Robin Hood vigilante, because then his father w
when the hero was a child and he was sickly. I know
the best of terms when they first interact in the stor

Mmpf. . .writing is hard.

REPLY

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Ryan says:
FEBRUARY 20, 2017 AT 3:39 PM

You have an awesome series, here!

I was very curious about creating believable charac

I plan to tell through an RPG, but I have never writ
any sort of arc or to any degree of notable complexi
that this series is bringing me closer and closer to c
that I can be proud of. Thank you for this series! I c
the rest.

REPLY

Kerry says:
FEBRUARY 24, 2017 AT 5:44 AM

Great post! When you start interviewing your chara

consider the ghost for all of them or just the MC?

REPLY

K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland says:

FEBRUARY 24, 2017 AT 4:25 PM

Never hurts to look past the surface on supp

and finding their “pain” is a great way to min
dimensions. However, you don’t *have* to lo
any character who won’t be displaying a prom

REPLY

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Katja Rammer says:

MARCH 5, 2017 AT 10:45 PM

Hi Katie,

I am still struggling with this one for my new WIP.

Can the Ghost be something the Lead does not cons
like coming from another background as she is mad
has been stolen from her real family and originates
people that is heavily exploited by her kind and tho
humans”.

She will discover that during the course of the story

really connect directly to her Lie/Truth – Want/Ne

She is taught, by society as well as her parents, seve

(Supremacy, Competitiveness, Worth by Winning).
whole upbringing will lead her to adapt her persona
game and only the winner is worthy. As a result she
Want of “Winning all the games and knowing all th
regardless of consequences for others”
She will eventually learn the Truth: All life is valuab
are indeed equal. That will prompt her to address h
purpose worth winning/fighting for at the end of th

Does that make sense?

I do believe her abduction as a toddler even though
remember it would be her ghost, even if it does not
But making up a “lack of love and approval” inciden
years is …. cheesy and somehow over-contrived. Th
happen.. but more like a general and repeated beha
shows towards her.

– Katja

REPLY

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Rod says:
MARCH 6, 2017 AT 1:00 PM

Katja,

“She is taught, by society as well as her paren

How exactly did this teaching happen? Mayb

(trauma) is the way the lies were taught.

The Ghost is said to be the reason why the ch

the lie(s) in the first place. Why does the cha
“(Supremacy, Competitiveness, Worth by W
game and only the winner is worthy.” ?

Both “why” in the sense of “what caused it,”

sense of “what’s the payoff, why continue to

– Rod

REPLY

Katja says:
MARCH 6, 2017 AT 10:32 PM

Hi Rod,

thanks so much for taking the time to

my comment here – it’s very much ap
your 5 reporter’s questions in an earli
those, too.

I have come to realise only the 1st hal

is actually stated to her in the same ex
2nd half is based on experiences.

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I’d reason like this:

WHO first told the MC?: Her father. E

been small he has taken great time an
advance her abilities. When she was v
played “learning games” with her. If y
know the sort of “games” you can find
number of abilities in children at an e
at fine motor skills up to pre-school p
attachment to music or sport… It wou
multiple occasions like: “Come on dar
play a game … and then he would hav
her abilities”

–> motive/goal of father: because he,

the upper crust they belong to, thinks
lesser humans and he was not suppos
In fact he stole her from a high securi
goal is to not get caught and loose his
the society as a trustee of their “leade
This results in his reasoning he’ll have
to speed” so that nobody would notice
the low-class. He hope to advance her
just that, thinking otherwise she will a
by not meeting the standards.

This paragraph answers questions WH

WHERE:
When: beginning from an early age, o
again.
Where: at first at home. later, the soci
Lie. How? Well, since they don’t really
for a very long time (10-fold time span
normal age equals 10 to 15 their enha
process) the society had to come up w
DO for the population. And they came
and competitions of various kinds to k
busy and happy. So she sees others (a
the same pattern: compete in a “game

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praised accordingly. This is how the L

too.

WHAT is the LIE: Life is only a game

don’t have to worry about life-suppor
Only if you live the privileged life that
exploit of others. Furthermore: A gam
said game can’t be the sole meaning o
purpose and it has a natural expiratio
TRUTH)

What is she avoiding in believing the

obvious discrepancies in what she see
told. She (still) feels dissent over the “
teachings. She can’t spot a difference
of the low class she sees/meets. She is
enough to notice their plight and the u
But she focuses on the games to distra
nagging feelings that are in dissonanc
group’s views.
-> Of course, as soon as I’ll have her “
world of the lower-class by end of act
quickly enough.

Believing the lie – and especially the 2

winner is worthy – gives her life purp
explains her fathers behaviour – how
her when she “wins” and “does well” –
(attention and affection really) is alwa
progress and success. This part is rein
society insofar as that the winners get
praise at first (big tam-tam for the win
contests) AND that only those success
are advanced in status up to a point w
introduced in the innermost “circle of
that is lead by the big boss. This is the
the LEAD – to prove her worth by bec
of this elusive circle.

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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

All these behaviour patterns by her fa

stand in stark contrast to her mothers
who lost a child and “got” the MC as r
nearly suffocation her with attention
Since the mother is not highly compet
made it into the “circle of confidents”
like the majority, does not know abou
mechanics and reasons for the longev
therefore reason to believe “her subst
die after a normal life-span. The cling
suffocating love leads to overprotectio
to remove herself from. It makes her f
weak. So she rebels against it and sho
contempt towards her mother. This, t
the GHOST – her abduction and the s
secrecy connected to it.

OK … this turned out VERY long, I am

a great exercise to go ahead and break
these 5-questions.

Katie suggested earlier, that the resul

between father’s and mother’s behavi
childhood is her ghost. This would ma
by her parents after death of their ow
of her parents!

So in the end, Katie and you both had

me. Thanks!

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 15, 2017 AT 8:14 PM

Katja,

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If the Lie is “only the winner is worthy

of action would that character take as
believing it? To treat other people bad
didn’t win a Game? To treat self badly
win a Game? Conversely, to treat “bad
favorably because they did win?

And “worthy” of what? In daily life, do

people as “worthy” or “unworthy” on
whatever — so that the only problem
basis? Or is there something wrong w
people as “worthy” or “unworthy” AT
case, there’s a deeper Lie here, buried
you’ve named: that one person has th
another, or that “worthiness” is amon
we have the right to judge.

We’re mostly looking for self-destruct

although actions that are destructive t
count as they are ultimately self-destr
live in a community.

I still see that you have two kinds of “

the Games, and of the economic game
determines who are the “uppers” and
“lowers.”

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 15, 2017 AT 8:25 PM

Katja,

I’m interested in the origin-of-

Your world has “uppers” and “l
has a Big Boss and also has life
some) and also has Games. (Di
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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

anything? What other features

which came first? What caused
sketch out a brief sequence of e
country start out like ours, and
happened? Or did it start out li
utopia? Or did it start out like t
where uppers and lowers have
Does the society as a whole hav

And is it a country on our Earth

on Earth in a different timeline
planet? or in the past, perhaps

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 15, 2017 AT 8:51 PM

Katja,

I just re-read. So her Wa

the games and knowing
regardless of consequen

Interesting about the “s

that about?

What are the “conseque

winning the games? Obv
others must lose, but do
something more in min
someone else win, then
that’s really no better. C
play?

“the Truth: All life is val

humans are indeed equa
old debate about equalit
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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

vs. equality-of-results; c
about equality and how
story? “Life is valuable.”
relate to your story? Are
disposed of in some gas
system? What is at stake
besides praise? How are
chosen–does everyone p
lifetime, or every year? O
play, like gladiators? Va
both by economic stand
outcomes; how do these
relate to each other? If a
does he become an “upp
as the “lowers” are not j
(perceived as) unteacha
a permanent caste syste
capitalist system.

“her need: a purpose [in

she have a purpose befo
happened? What kind o
you away from pursuing
thinking you have a pur
purpose? How does som
negative feelings toward
this happens when they
“game” of pursuing a pu
somebody else’s purpos
school or a job) and disa
“Don’t play that game,”
will hurt you, or you wil
else. Drop out and wait
system to be destroyed.
drugs.” I’m again stumb
types of games. In the e
you pick a purpose and
(hopefully) make money
purpose relate to the Ga

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K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland says:

MARCH 6, 2017 AT 1:13 PM

The abduction can be the Ghost, but in order

the Lie, there has to be a connection that the
unwittingly carrying with her. For example,
remember the abduction, perhaps she alway
didn’t quite fit in. Or perhaps the Ghost is he
childhood with her adopted parents as a res
abduction.

REPLY

Katja says:
MARCH 6, 2017 AT 10:34 PM

Hi Katie,

thanks a lot for your input. I replied t

above (in length … sorry about that, b
exercise ) and included your comm
reasoning.
Am quite happy with my progress by
good to go plot out the rest…

– Katja

REPLY

K.M. Weiland | @KMWeila

MARCH 7, 2017 AT 9:15 AM

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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

Excellent. You go!

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 7, 2017 AT 4:57 AM

Katja,

Lot of themes here, and not 100% harmonious.

He risked his position by stealing her from a high s

Why on earth did he do that?

He’ll have to “bring her up to speed” so that nobody

took her from the low-class. This reminds me of “Th

So, the Lie is institutionalized, the entire upper cru

What about the inner circle?) believes it, including
taught it to her? Is there no personalized, individua
Dissonance. (Widely believed Lie reminds me of “T

The society had to come up with something to DO f

– contests, competitions. Reminds me of ancient R
circuses

The winner is praised accordingly. What else is at s

games? It’s not the Hunger Games

WHAT is the LIE: Life is only a game. But only if yo

worry about life-support and/or injuries. Only if yo
privileged

Another Lie?: Our (upper-crust) life is NOT sustain

others.

Another Lie? (Or the same one?): A game and winn

ARE the sole meaning of life. But what about repro
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Another Lie?: A life needs NO purpose

Another Lie?: Life has. NO natural expiration date.

What is she avoiding in believing the lie? Well, wha

she stopped believing it? What if EVERYBODY stop

Does the “lower” society have its own Lie(s)?

Another Lie?: People of the low class have NO pligh

Only the winner is worthy – of WHAT? Is survival a

games? Only praise? Job adnavcement? Something

“love” (attention and affection really) is always link

and success. This sounds like a slightly differenct L
of an interview with the Willy Wonka actor: Gene W
about an audience’s clapping: “It sounds like love”

The innermost “circle of confidants” – is that REAL

position to be in? Another Lie?

How does the big boss get to be the big boss? More
his Lie?

Nearly suffocating her with attention and love and

another Lie in here somewhere

WHY is the mother not highly competitive? And wh

It makes her feel incapable and weak. Is there anoth

about strength? What exactly is this overprotective

Dissonance is great!

REPLY

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Rod says:
MARCH 7, 2017 AT 5:03 AM

But for the privileged class, maybe life IS a g

meaningless?

Marie Antoinette believed that everyone was

cake to eat. The peasants are rioting because
bread? Well, why don’t they just eat cake?

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 7, 2017 AT 5:12 AM

When she was very young her played “learning gam

this the teaching of the Lie? But everybody does thi
teaching a Lie? What’s different here? Something m
along with this, to teach the Lie(s). How does he tre
“wins” and “loses”? (Or when she doesn’t want to p
stop, or wants to change the rules or play some oth
Gates’ grandma made everything into a competition
the pond? Who can swim to this log the fastest?

REPLY

Katja says:
MARCH 7, 2017 AT 3:16 PM

Hi Rod!

Wooza! You bring up a lot of good questions

Thanks for that and all the effort. Very much
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I see I may not yet be quite there with the lie

you wrote and digg deeper – especially regar
interaction and relationship of the family (Le
father) and their connection to society.

The father’s motive to take her from the facil

beloved wife is in pain. She has recently lost
hurtling toward depression and suicide… be
within the society is a great honor … they all
be born due to population regulations. So be
and deliver a child but loose after it’s born is
failure for the mother. He seeks to protect he
willing to cross the line and steal a similar lo
same age.
2) curiosity. Can the low-class be taught?

Will have to look deeper into your other idea

many good points to think through.

Thanks again!

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 13, 2017 AT 10:13 AM

FKatja,
Why is this lower-class (poor) child k
security facility? Around here, they liv
or on the streets.

The story function of the Lie is to pus

toward the Want and away from the N
each candidate Lie, let’s ask: if I believ
that belief cause me to do and to mov
Want), and to avoid doing and to mov
Need)?

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What does the Lie “only the winner is

toward and away from? Toward alway
course; what about your treatment of
to be winners and losers? Are the “low
to be losers, and the “uppers” all perc
winners? But then we have the Games
contradictory methods of identifying
losers. Or do people shift classes as a
performance (upward and downward

What if you set the Lie aside for a mom

the trauma (loss of child; abduction o
something else?) and identify the Nee
be neglected, and the artificial Wants
pursued instead, as a result of the trau

Does the society as a whole (personifi

Big Boss) have a Ghost that precipitat
Discovery of life extension: interestin
I’d normally consider a trauma. Does
whole have neglected Needs and misg
connected to the Lie(s)? A need to die
A desire to play Games to distract the
facing the fact that they’re trying to ch
(Reminds me of Frankenstein) Is life
connected to something else, some bi
cheating or denying nature or God? W
society’s Need to take care of its poor?
upper/lower caste system begin at the
Games, as a result of life extension? W
extension available only to the “upper
artificial reason–the result of a Lie (“n
around”)? Or was life extension disco
that was already upper/lower? Could
already had Games? Did the Games. H
purpose before life extension was disc
discovered by a cult that had religious
with the (formerly healthy) society?

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Changing subject: Why does the moth

child was lost–what does she blame it
exercise a lot, and now believe that ex
death? Does she blame it on the fathe
competition? Did the father talk her i
swimming competition to stay in shap
overprotective of the unborn child, if
thing?

How does she feel about the idea of a

replacement child?

Does the mother even know that the s

What if your child died and your husb
different child, all without telling you
you’d know; maybe she’s in denial, sh
memory, so her Lie is that this is her k
is normal” and she doesn’t have to gri
would be neglected and what artificia
pursued as a result of that?

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 7, 2017 AT 6:38 PM

Katja, you’re welcome. So the loss of the baby (misc

secret?
I suppose the “upper crust” believes a number of Li
class?
And I suppose vice versa: the lower class believes a
about the “uppers”?
Does this child-stealing happen in the beginning of
or in flashback? Before we learn of the child-stealin
of this curiosity that the father has, about whether t
be taught. How does he demonstrate this curiosity?
experiments, does he argue with his peers, is he tol
wiser guy? Oh — if he isn’t sure they can be taught,
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an ENORMOUS risk, because if his theory is wrong

taught, then he’ll be caught for sure. I suppose his t
Why does he believe they can be taught, if his peers
know that he has this theory — has he argued about
is it a secret belief?
Rod

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 7, 2017 AT 6:44 PM

Oh I see, not miscarriage, but death of a you

they keep it secret? The child is too young fo
lived with mom and dad? Why does nobody
child — nobody else ever routinely saw the c
far away? No doctor? Do they have a housek
sympathetic “lower” who will keep the secret
father has (secretly) taught the housekeeper
convinced it can be done?

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 11, 2017 AT 4:58 PM

Okay, so what kind of Ghost would be befitting som

to be alone? (other than the Batman version)

REPLY

K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland says:

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MARCH 11, 2017 AT 5:08 PM

Just about anything could prompt that. Take

experiences with other people.

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 11, 2017 AT 11:19 PM

Hmm. . .well, I guess I’ll have to coun

experience I’ve had, because my chara
if she’s ignored. After all, she does wa

Maybe she tried too hard to impress s

people and it ended in disaster, which
gossip about her and how she can’t do
right? Then she grew to crave being a
what’s the point of trying to impress p
just going to always be finding fault?

So. . .maybe her Ghost is insecurity?

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 11, 2017 AT 8:47 PM

Hannah,

What else is going on with this character who want

Rod

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REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 11, 2017 AT 11:24 PM

Well, if almost being murdered and then get

grumpy detective bodyguard because of said
life is anything to go by. . . .

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 9:55 AM

OK, this happens during the story? N

childhood? Is it connected with anyth
(Not that the Ghost must necessarily
childhood).

What happened to make this characte

sensitive to grumpiness?

(Most central question) What about t

caused or triggered the murder attem

What is the Lie? (Don’t need protectio

try to kill me again?)

What is the Want? (To be alone and a

detectives)

What is the Need? (To be protected)

REPLY

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Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 9:57 AM

What about this grumpy detect

annoying?

OK, why is the detective grump

another Lie/Need/Want/Ghos

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 13, 2017 AT 3:41 PM

People often falsely impute cau

a murder attempt after she did
was doing y, she can develop th
causes murder attempts. Take
washing dishes, jogging, doing
puzzles, having honest convers
more to the point, something t
do, in line with the theme(s) of
overall message you want to “s

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 10:05 AM

Does this theme of gossip show up in the story? Do

detective tell stories about her behind her back? Or

Does she try to impress the detective or the murder

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What did she do to try to impress someone? Why w

Did she only THINK it was a disaster because she h
unrealistically high standards? Or the opposite? Ho
attempt related to any event in the story?

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 10:12 AM

And what else is going on with this character

life like before the murder attempt?

If there had been no murder attempt, what w

about?

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 12, 2017 AT 1:50 PM

Ok, so to start, I started on this almos

I’m not sure why someone wants to k
be a jealous someone, or someone wh
or they thought she humiliated them?
whether the first attempt will happen
or during the beginning.

The Lie may be “It’s no use being arou

they’re just going to continuously crit
Want, of course, is to be away from so
every move isn’t criticized, and the Ne
to do with people.

Perhaps she tried impressing a potent

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I guess gossip does show up – but the

part of it. Also, the socialite does end
him at one point without even trying.

As for the detective, he’s only grumpy

solve a case, and at story’s beginning,
he hasn’t solved.

He does have a Lie/Want/Need/Ghos

Ghost so far.

His Ghost happened five years before

and it’s the murder of his wife, who w
their first child. That one case he can’
since he hasn’t found the culprit yet.

Oooooooh, I just got an idea! So, soon

dies, the culprit is running away, and
the society queen. And maybe she trie
seeing as how they had blood on hims
so happened, the chain reaction turne
disaster, which is why people started
it sort of turned into almost all the tim
years later, after the detective finally t
she puts two and two together and rea
remembers what the culprit looks like

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 7:12 PM

What are the larger themes — w

REALLY about? The answer to
guide you in making these deci
these other answers).

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So far: alone vs. company (rela

— ironic, a socialite who wants
grumpiness, jealousy, humiliat
example of something needed
socialites vs. the rest of us (clas
and Pauper; see also Beauty an
not a socialite), the desire to im
???, trying vs. achieving, ability
solve cases) (causing grumpine

What if it’s really the detective

https://www.helpingwritersbe
and-main-character-same-per
may-transform-your-story/

What if it’s a romance? The wo

detective complete each other
the other lacks or needs?

Why was the first wife murdere

another theme here) What hap
(who now has a Ghost too)? W
the child’s story? Or what if it’s
wife’s story, all told in flashbac
by the present events?

If the woman sees the culprit, w

coincidence? Why is it that the
who sees the detective’s culprit
very same detective? (Coincide
so if you can establish a chain o
effect, some common reason w
events happened involving the
you’ll be ahead. I say “common
I can’t imagine that the seeing
causes the assignment of that d
all members of some club that
land on top of each other all th
really small town? Do any of yo
provide a common cause?).

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If she puts two and two togethe

long after the reader has had a
to put the same two and two to
this is a murder mystery and th
right? And there should be fals
solutions also, so it’s not too ea

Blood? How does she react to b

volunteer at a hospital?

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 7:17 PM

This socialite who wants

she paired with a detect
but wants to be with som

Why is he alone? How d

cause people to turn aw
him to turn away from p

Did the socialite’s attem

cause people to become
try to bother her all the
gestures of sympathy (d
to be alone which may b
earlier disaster)?

The detective is, of cour

she probably is too, but
he’s suffered a murder w
suffered an attempted m
would his pain express i
inability to be

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Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 7:44 PM

Why would his pain exp

inability to be around pe

Is he not only grumpy b

triggering her worst rea
trigger his worst reactio

Socialite means rich. Wh

wealth come from? (“St
inherit it”). Does she ma
well or badly? Did this c
trauma?

Conversely, can we assu

is stereotypically poor?
manage his money? Wh
“say” about money? Can
Sometimes it can buy in
other people, from prob
insulation, e.g. with drin
facet of that stereotype)
Gamble? Does she drink
vs. wine?

What was the motive fo

the detective’s wife?

Why was the detective a

investigation of his own
That’s one heartless pol
was it not officially assig
What’s going on with th
supposed to be doing th

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falling down on the job,

between the two detecti

What if you flip the gend

socialite, female detectiv

I recommend looking at
themes, and any other t
resonate, while figuring
murders occurred.

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 8:01 PM

The Lie may be “It’s no

people if they’re just goi
continuously criticize yo

This has buried within i

“People are just going to
criticize you.”

(The Need might have s

with criticism. It might
criticism.)

The corresponding Trut

“People aren’t just going
“Even if people criticize
necessarily a bad thing”
may be needed and heal
may be good people.” Th
character, probably a ne
personifies this criticism
character is seen as an e
as a friend. Or does the

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role? Does he criticize h

criticize him?

To personify the first of

above: a character who
criticizing, but who real
finally realizes that the c
which she thought she w
really all in her head.

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 8:21 PM

“His Ghost happened five years before the main sto

murder of his wife, who was pregnant with their fir

Oh, I thought the child survived. Maybe there’s ano

detective is a single dad; maybe he gave it up for ad
taken by Children’s Services.

Of course, one Want is to have his wife back, but th

And he Wants to solve that case and catch the culpr
wrong with that. What other Want can come from t
wife and baby?

Maybe his Need is to move on from that murder, an

else. Or maybe his Need is to get over grieving and
attention to the surviving child.

The best Lie is the one that pushes him toward the
from the Need, right? A Lie might be: “Don’t get clo
she’ll leave you or get murdered.” Or: “Don’t invest
generation, they’ll all just vanish on a moment’s no
never love anyone the way you loved her.” Or: “No
ever love you the way she did.” Or: “No matter wha
way of security, it won’t work; criminals are everyw

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always eventually win.” (She died because he failed

what caused this failure? How exactly does he blam
does he tell himself about why the murder happene
unable to protect her? Did he pick some aspect of h
call it a flaw? E.g. he was away at a party that night
partying is irresponsible and always causes death; o
late, so a Lie is that work is evil, or police captains a

Did she die in childbirth? I know it was a murder, b

have happened in the hospital. Or maybe she died i
he THINKS it was a murder. Being in the business
murderers, he just can’t believe that an honest mist
woman in a hospital. So during the daily grind, he d
that says all deaths are murders. So then the story i
forgiveness — quite a twist on a murder mystery! T
covered in blood because, of course, he worked in th
socialite assumed at the time that the blood had an
explanation, but the detective later convinced her o
made her believe his Lie).

What did this detective do before he became a dete

have some other background? What happened to th
did he become a detective instead? Or did he want t
detective even from high school? Was his father a d
something similar? Is his family progressing, or reg
father more successful, or less?

Same questions for the socialite: does she, or did sh

career? Is her family on the way up or on the way d

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 12, 2017 AT 8:24 PM

So yes, his Want is to catch and punish the c

misguided Want (the kind that works for a s
culprit is really innocent. And his Need is to
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that his wife’s death was NOT a murder, and

everyone involved. Including himself.

Wow … a murder mystery where the solution

no murder! Of course there would be clues a
false clues, as usual.

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 13, 2017 AT 3:55 PM

These are all good questions and good

notebook.

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 13, 2017 AT 4:08 PM

Matter of fact, it is a romance,

is more like a Sherlock Holmes
(the socialite and detective) do
battle’ at some point.

The wife is around five or six m

she dies, along with the child. I
the whole hospital thing and th
fifth-generation, I guess?

REPLY

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Rod says:
MARCH 13, 2017 AT 6:13 PM

Add to your notebook a

forces and obstacles tha
apart–including person
of will and simple misun

Sherlock doesn’t seem t

but what do I know? Do
flaws? So far we have gr
possibly clinginess.

I do think you’re passin

opportunity for a good c
having a surviving kid. L
plus plenty of complicat
lovers. Maybe you have
you want to avoid comp
thing; but for a novelist
backwards: complicatio

Rod says:
MARCH 13, 2017 AT 6:48 PM

And many of your reade

position of trying to woo
kids — there are so man
and single moms nowad
an extra kid will resonat
story about a pair of pri
partners.

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What if the lovers have

the socialite finally reme
culprit, she decides to w
information from him?

What caused the spat?

What if the police capta

detective off the case at
moment (because he ha
stress”) and gives it to a
uncaring detective (you
career-long rival), who h
about how to proceed or
is? (Thus adding to his s

What if the other detect

SOCIALITE?????? And
her buddy is off the case
withholding information
she doesn’t know that th
is closing in on her!!!

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 13, 2017 AT 6:46 PM

Hmm. . .thinking about adding a kid. . .

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 13, 2017 AT 6:54 PM

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Part of the impulse against adding a kid, I th

the “perfect tragedy” of an otherwise childles
getting killed. But in a way, that’s too “pat.” M
man if he has no surviving kid; but more to w
does.

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 14, 2017 AT 12:59 PM

AND a kid would be one more annoya

socialite who wants to be alone.

There’s a POV problem in what I wrot

the other detective suspecting the soc
know what the other detective is up to
POV? Do we see an omniscient POV?
information through the eyes of our d
some reason doesn’t understand what
the reader will? Maybe our detective i
to pass out, and doesn’t remember it l
we see through the kid’s POV, and the
a meeting between the two detectives
kid along because some problem with
detective goes to the bathroom or som
other detective comments/gloats/bra
knowing or expecting that there will b
comprehension?

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 14, 2017 AT 1:53 PM

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What if the socialite likes kids

least tolerates them?

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 14, 2017 AT 5:48 PM

If the socialite gets along OK with kids, then that’s o

conflict. But then the socialite can make friends wit
participate in the kid’s internal conflict (in other wo
the kid’s internal conflict thru the socialite’s eyes/e
even better!

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 14, 2017 AT 6:45 PM

When I say “participate in someone else’s in

suppose you want to lose weight, but you als
slice of pie. That’s a conflict between present
future benefit, or a conflict between the desi
and the desire for pride. Imagine an angel on
and a devil on the other (representing the Ne
or two incompatible Wants). Now, along com
say “I want this pie but I also want to lose we
sides with either the angel or the devil. I can
have some pie” or I can say “stay strong, eye
the weight.” So I’m participating in your inte

The kid’s Ghost, I suppose, is the mom being

of (legitimate) Need would the kid neglect as
What kind of (artificial and destructive or se
Want would the kid pursue as a result of tha
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REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 15, 2017 AT 1:04 AM

Does the kid blame self for the mom’s

the dad? Or something else?

The police captain and the rival detec

on the job five years ago? What do the
Does the captain think that our detect
has suffered as a result?

What was the “origin of evil” in this li

Motive for attempt on the socialite: h

Somebody wants to inherit, or collect
somebody’s running a con/scam to ill
her wealth? It has to be a motive to tr
that just what she thinks? Was it just
robbery, and nobody’s targeting her f
attempt? Was it not even a murder at
we have here a paranoid police captai
around assigning bodyguards for no s
don’t use the same gimmick twice). W
does she have — what was her life like
murder attempt?

Is the motive related to money, but no

way? Maybe she owns a company tha
project that hurts the environment, o
company wants the competition out o
maybe she’s. A philanthropist, donate
arts or whatever, and some rival phila
to be #1. Maybe she helps the homele
down property values and some ruthl
developer wants it stopped? (In my to
someone tries to set up a homeless ca
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neighbors get together and sue to stop

to Catholic Charities and thereby runs
Islamic terorrist group?

Or motive: sexual jealousy? Who’s he

someone wants? Does that mate/beau
her budding romance with the detecti
mate/beau? Is she really hot — beauty
up in beauty comtest wants to be #1?
Stepmother syndrome)

Or motive: revenge for past humiliati

a heck of a humiliation, to cause some
her and then to try AGAIN despite tha
bodyguard.

Oh, there IS a second attempt, right?

bodyguard spends all of his time watc
while nothing happens — defending h
— so no action. Plot Summary: “Guy w
happen.”

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 15, 2017 AT 8:05 PM

I finally figured something out. It’s not just any old

a lie that causes the character to turn away from a l
and pursue instead a destructive Want.

So the Lie is: “You don’t need x, and instead you ne

game is to figure out what x and y are for the partic
and what kind of traumatic event caused the charac
Lie of this form.

(According to Cybernetic Transposition theory, if I’

correctly, a “blocker,” or self-defeating habit patter
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form: “x is dangerous or harmful to you, therefore y

so that you can keep safe.”)

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 18, 2017 AT 10:41 PM

Not sure if this is exactly ironic, but for someone wh

alone, the socialite is pretty lively.

It’s almost like her desire to be left alone is really a

deep down inside, she really does want to be aroun
afraid she’ll get hurt by more criticism.

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 18, 2017 AT 11:48 PM

Sounds like conflicting desires.

When we have conflicting desires, I’m not su

really on top of another. That may be more c
you need (how would you convey layered des
dialogue and action?).

What I’m hearing is: She wants to be social (

nature), and she also wants to be alone (beca
criticism). Natural enough.

REPLY

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Hannah Killian says:

MARCH 18, 2017 AT 11:05 PM

Likewise, does the detective want to love again? Do

married again? Yet he chooses not to, so that anoth
die? So, deep down, he wants to be alone, but choos
others so that they won’t get hurt?

A socialite who wants to be around others, but choo

she won’t get hurt. A detective who wants to be alon
be around others in order to prevent them from get
that they won’t have to (hopefully) go through the s
going through.

Does any of that make sense?

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 19, 2017 AT 12:24 AM

I like the symmetry of your second paragrap

push-pull dynamic works very well.

Her Lie: People will hurt you by criticizing y

you must be alone.

He’s got two Lies: #1 Anyone you marry will

stay safe, you must remain unmarried. And:
aren’t guarding will get killed, so to keep eve
must guard them. Both of these together wou
a sort of a yo-yo, trying to get close enough t
not close enough to put her in “danger” of re
tragedy.

If his lie #1 predominates, then you have bot

to be around others, but choosing to stay dis

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Is there some Lie that would make him cling

annoying way? (#2 could be that) Or is he ju
close to her in a reasonable way for the purp
her, and she reacts badly because she’s afraid
her? Hmm … he OUGHT to criticize her on f
she ought to threaten to die, or something. S
the wrong foot. Try writing the scene where
how it turns out.

Their desires to be alone both come from fea

superstition–and those fears will be cured by
story, right? as they learn their Truths: her, t
will criticize, or alternately, that criticism isn
that women don’t die just from being marrie
that he’s not so desperately needed that ever
isn’t guarding them. If that resonates, then t
will be what story events will teach them the

Your characters are both self-sacrificing, and

as wants vs. choices. What if we frame it as (
vs. (destructive) Wants?

You could go another way: His tragedy turns

human race, so he wants to get close to anoth
she’ll get killed. That may be too complicated

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 19, 2017 AT 12:31 AM

She threatens to die (I’ve known wom

or she mentions that her relatives die
something and she thinks she’s got ba

When framing it as neglected Needs v

Wants — please bear in mind that as t
they will abandon the Wants and tend
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and what kind of relationship will tha

end of the story?

Once you get your head filled with all

start writing, you may find that it dev
plan. Editor Harrison Demchick says
an outline that survived the writing p

So it may be time for you to write a co

and see how it goes.

REPLY

Hannah Killian says:

APRIL 6, 2017 AT 11:23 PM

Ok, so I did start writing a scen

but it’s more of a bittersweetne
fluff scene. Basically, she finds
wife’s piano and starts playing
playing and she starts getting a
accidentally knocks over a stac
also notices that by shaving, he
than she thought)
As he’s helping her pick up the
“I’m so sorry,” and he’s like, “D
far too long since it was last pla

To top it off, his mother-in-law

son come in at the last second
also notices that his father has
gotten rid of the small beard he
he looks strange without it. Th
thinks he (the detective) looks
without it. Cue the eyebrow rai
the detective and his mother-in
the detective’s amused smile an
giggles.
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7/11/2018 Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost - Helping Writers Become Authors

Ok, I think I’m getting offtrack

down that I think I’ve figured o
they both learn:

Her: Some criticism is healthy

Him: Failing once does not me

again. Or maybe, failing does n
failure? You are not a failure? S
that.

REPLY

Rod says:
APRIL 7, 2017 AT 1:39 PM

OK, so far so good. I like

“It’s been far too long si
played.” (Is it out of tun

Whose POV is it? How d

feel about someone new
piano? Does his feeling
scene? How does she fee
discovering whose piano
not told?

How do they meet? It’s

meeting, right, because

What is the setup for th

Each one is told about th
How do they feel about
they meet — what are th
are they surprised, do th
attitudes toward each ot
during the first meeting

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Rod says:
APRIL 7, 2017 AT 1:42 PM

If you get stuck, you can

same scene, the last bit
POV of the five-year-old
from the mother-in-law

And heck, from the pian

Rod says:
JUNE 20, 2017 AT 2:35 PM

Hannah, how are you do

Kerry says:
MARCH 19, 2017 AT 6:31 AM

These posts about character arcs are brilliant and I

much, thank you. I’m currently outlining my novel
and I’m left wondering how you outline other chara
posts regarding character arcs e.g. The Lie, The Gh
to the Protagonist although I know the Antagonist h
discussed in previous comments. How do you outli
characters? I have many characters going through m
to my plot, for example, the Proganist’s family and
Another example are minor charachters (eg an obn
seller). Do you try and find wants/needs, lies and g

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them? Sorry if I sound confused, but I suppose I am

right now!

REPLY

Rod says:
MARCH 19, 2017 AT 8:23 AM

Kerry, I believe the overcoming of the Lie is

arc, so a character who will have such an arc
believing the Lie. A character with a negative
end by believing the Lie. A character with no
not necessarily ever believe a Lie.

Rod

REPLY

K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland says:

MARCH 19, 2017 AT 1:09 PM

The short answer is that you can create char

or as few characters as you want to. I talk ab
post: Should All Your Minor Characters Hav

REPLY

Rod says:
APRIL 7, 2017 AT 1:40 PM

I think you meant: “you can create arc

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REPLY

Brian Cummings says:

DECEMBER 20, 2017 AT 12:53 PM

Is constant/repeated failure to accomplish a specifi

protagonist in a dystopian setting might face) a wor
it usually best to go with a singular event?

REPLY

K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland says:

DECEMBER 20, 2017 AT 1:32 PM

Singular events are tidier. If possible, perhap

the long-term failures into one specific event
which the character finally realized or admit

REPLY

Sionnach says:
SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 AT 11:23 PM

These posts are so thought-provoking! I’m going to

of your books.

I’m really confused about my MC’s ghost. I thought

when he was seven, his father dead of a heroin over
was people in his small town either treated the boy
trash. Is that the actual ghost if his Lie is whatever
about him is true? (I think his Truth is that he is ac
person.) In the end, he goes against everything he h

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and gives up a lucrative career to stop a genocide. I

all fits together. It does in my head, but when I star
not sure. The theme is basically defying authority w
wrong.

REPLY

K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland says:

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 AT 1:37 PM

Take a look at what might be inspiring the L

Lie originate? What’s causing it? That will be

REPLY

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I'm K.M. Weiland: a ghter, a writer, a child

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