Explanations on how to progress a story
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1 Character Development
1.1 Internal Conflict
📖 A character’s inner struggle with their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.
1.1.1 Internal conflict creates tension and suspense that keeps the audience engaged. A well-developed internal conflict can make a character more relatable and sympathetic, as the audience can understand the character’s struggles and cheer for them to overcome their obstacles.
- Belief:
- Internal conflict is essential for a good story.
- Rationale:
- Internal conflict provides depth and complexity to a character, and it allows the audience to connect with the character on a personal level.
1.1.2 Internal conflict can be used to drive the plot of a story. A character’s internal conflict can lead them to make difficult decisions, which can have far-reaching consequences.
- Belief:
- Internal conflict can drive the plot.
- Rationale:
- Internal conflict can provide a clear goal for the character and create a sense of urgency.
1.1.3 Internal conflict can reveal a character’s true nature. When a character is faced with a difficult decision, their internal conflict can reveal their values, beliefs, and motivations.
- Belief:
- Internal conflict can reveal a character’s true nature.
- Rationale:
- Internal conflict can show the audience what a character is made of and what they are willing to fight for.
1.1.4 Internal conflict can be used to create a more realistic and believable character. People in real life often struggle with internal conflict, so it can make a character more relatable and authentic.
- Belief:
- Internal conflict can create a more realistic character.
- Rationale:
- Internal conflict can show that a character is complex and has flaws, which can make them more interesting and engaging.
1.1.5 Internal conflict can be used to explore important themes and ideas. A story that deals with internal conflict can explore themes such as good vs. evil, free will, and the nature of humanity.
- Belief:
- Internal conflict can explore important themes.
- Rationale:
- Internal conflict can provide a framework for exploring complex ideas and issues.
1.2 External Conflict
📖 A character’s struggle with the outside world, including other characters, society, or nature.
1.2.2 The external conflict should be believable and relatable to the reader. If the reader cannot connect with the protagonist’s struggle, they will not be invested in the story.
- Belief:
- The external conflict should be believable and relatable.
- Rationale:
- Believability and relatability help the reader to connect with the story and the characters, making them more invested in the outcome.
1.2.3 The external conflict should be resolved in a satisfying way. The reader should feel that the protagonist has overcome their challenges and achieved their goals.
- Belief:
- The external conflict should be resolved in a satisfying way.
- Rationale:
- A satisfying resolution provides closure for the reader and leaves them feeling satisfied with the story.
1.2.4 The external conflict can be used to develop the protagonist’s character. As the protagonist overcomes challenges, they will learn and grow, becoming a more complex and well-rounded character.
- Belief:
- The external conflict can be used to develop the protagonist’s character.
- Rationale:
- Conflict can be a catalyst for growth and change, allowing the protagonist to learn from their experiences and become a better person.
1.3 Character Arc
📖 The journey a character takes throughout the story, resulting in a significant change or transformation.
1.3.1 All good characters go through a crucible, a moment of intense heat, pressure, and suffering that forces them to face their inner demons and emerge stronger and wiser on the other side.
- Belief:
- The crucible is a powerful tool for character development, as it reveals the true nature of a person.
- Rationale:
- Suffering can teach us valuable lessons about ourselves and the world around us, and it can help us to grow and become stronger individuals.
1.3.2 Characters are not static beings; they change and grow over the course of a story. This is known as a character arc.
- Belief:
- Character arcs are essential for creating believable and engaging characters.
- Rationale:
- A character who remains the same throughout a story is not interesting or relatable. Readers want to see characters grow and change, and they want to be part of that journey.
1.3.3 The best character arcs are driven by internal conflict. This conflict can be anything from a simple desire to a complex moral dilemma.
- Belief:
- Internal conflict is essential for creating compelling characters.
- Rationale:
- Characters who are struggling with something are more interesting and relatable than characters who are simply going through the motions. Internal conflict gives characters depth and makes readers care about their journey.
1.3.4 Character arcs should be resolved by the end of the story. This does not mean that the character must achieve their goal, but they should come to a new understanding of themselves and the world around them.
- Belief:
- Character arcs should have a satisfying conclusion.
- Rationale:
- Readers want to feel like the time they spent reading about a character was worthwhile. A well-resolved character arc gives readers a sense of closure and satisfaction.
1.3.5 Character arcs can be used to teach readers important lessons about life and the human condition.
- Belief:
- Stories can be a powerful tool for education and enlightenment.
- Rationale:
- Stories can help us to understand ourselves and the world around us. They can teach us important lessons about life, love, loss, and redemption. A well-written character arc can stay with readers long after they have finished the story.
1.4 Motivation
📖 The reason or reasons why a character thinks, feels, or acts the way they do.
1.4.1 Characters with strong motivations are more compelling. When readers or viewers understand why a character is doing what they’re doing, they’re more likely to root for them and invest in their journey.
- Belief:
- Audiences are more drawn to stories with characters who have clear motivations.
- Rationale:
- Strong motivations give characters a sense of purpose and drive their actions, making them more relatable and engaging.
1.4.2 Motivations should be believable and consistent. Readers or viewers need to be able to understand why a character is motivated to do something, and their motivations should be consistent with their personality and backstory.
- Belief:
- Audiences need to be able to relate to the motivations of characters.
- Rationale:
- Unbelievable or inconsistent motivations can break the suspension of disbelief and make it difficult for audiences to connect with the characters.
1.4.3 Characters can have multiple motivations. A character’s motivations don’t have to be simple or singular. They can have complex and conflicting motivations that drive their actions in different ways.
- Belief:
- Characters can be complex and have multiple layers of motivation.
- Rationale:
- Multiple motivations can create more interesting and well-rounded characters who are capable of surprising and engaging audiences.
1.4.4 Motivations can change over time. As characters grow and change, their motivations may also change. This can be a natural part of the character development process, and it can lead to new and unexpected plot twists.
- Belief:
- Characters can change and evolve over the course of a story.
- Rationale:
- Changing motivations can keep characters fresh and interesting, and it can also add new layers of depth and complexity to the story.
1.4.5 Motivations should be used to drive the plot. The motivations of your characters should be the driving force behind the plot. Their actions and decisions should be motivated by their desires and goals.
- Belief:
- The plot should be driven by the motivations of the characters.
- Rationale:
- A strong plot is built on believable motivations that drive the characters’ actions and create conflict and suspense.
1.5 Backstory
📖 The events and experiences that shape a character’s personality and motivations.
1.5.1 When developing character backstories, focus on past events and experiences that significantly influenced the character’s personality and beliefs.
- Belief:
- Character backstories should be rooted in events that leave deep imprints on the character’s psyche.
- Rationale:
- Such events provide the foundation for the character’s motivations, values, and decision-making.
1.5.2 In crafting character backstories, explore the interplay between nature and nurture. Consider how the character’s innate qualities interact with their external environment to shape their identity.
- Belief:
- Character development is a complex interplay between genetics and experience.
- Rationale:
- Understanding this dynamic helps create well-rounded and authentic characters.
1.5.3 When writing character backstories, pay attention to the emotional impact of past events. Focus on moments that evoked strong feelings within the character, as emotions play a crucial role in shaping personality.
- Belief:
- Emotions are powerful forces that leave lasting imprints on character development.
- Rationale:
- Exploring the emotional consequences of past events adds depth and relatability to characters.
1.5.4 Avoid creating overly simplistic or predictable backstories for characters. Life experiences are often complex and unexpected. Embrace the messiness and contradictions of human existence when crafting character backstories.
- Belief:
- Human experiences are nuanced and rarely fit neatly into conventional narratives.
- Rationale:
- Complex backstories make characters more realistic and engaging.
1.5.5 When developing character backstories, consider the potential for redemption and change. While past events shape a character, they do not have to define their future. Leave room for growth, resilience, and the possibility of overcoming adversity.
- Belief:
- Characters have the capacity to evolve and transform throughout their的故事.
- Rationale:
- Exploring the potential for change adds depth and hope to character development.