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It isn't easy to change someone's core belief, so it's going to take some work on your part. But that's what will make the shift in character so interesting and realistic.
Let's use HUNGER GAMES as an example, since most of you have read it. Katniss' core belief at the beginning is something like: I'm the only one I can depend on.
Katniss had only herself to care for her family when her father died. Without her they would have all died. She learned from her mother's desertion (emotional withdrawal) that she couldn't depend on others. As a consequence she didn't let others in easily. In fact until the Hunger Games, she only let in Gale and Prim. Throughout the games she assumes other's actions are the result of ulterior motives. That is until Rue. And eventually Peeta's motivations cannot be explained away.
By the end of the book I'd say her core belief is more like: I can protect myself and make a difference for others.
Have you identified your character's core? Do you know how it changes throughout your story?
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Yes! I have, but it's hard to move at the right pace and be careful not to change the character too quickly. It's great to identify that core change, but after that, you have to sort of analyze how it's going to happen. I think a lot of this evolves naturally as part of the story, but I've found that sometimes I've had to be careful how I proceed so the character change doesn't appear precipitous or artificial.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point. I think this is tied in with character arc and is what makes the difference b/t a good book and a great book! Great way to point it out.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I started writing without really knowing my character (AGAIN. When will I ever learn?) ... and fail. You need to know basic details like the character's core before you can start writing. Well, I do at least. Otherwise it doesn't work and I wind up having to start all over again.
ReplyDeleteAwesome point and example, Lisa. I hope I do this with the character arc for all my characters, and not just the protagonist. :D
ReplyDelete...and I had to stop reading at 'Katniss.' Hunger Games sits on my TBR pile. I'm sure you had a great point, but I can't look at it :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the Hunger Games example! My character's core does change, but your post makes me want to go back to the manuscript and push the envelope as far as that's concerned. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think this is an important point to bring up. I was conscious of it from the beginning. Not only did I want her to core to change noticeably in this book, but I needed to leave room for it to continue growing over the course of the series.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of working hard to change their core beliefs. That puts it all into perspective nicely for me. In my workplace there is programming that's all about changing people's core beliefs so this rings very true and makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteSome great points, guys! It would be awesome to be able to do it for everyone in the book, after all dynamic characters have more depth than static ones. But in reality not EVERYONE's core belief will change. That's hard to do! Also, you have to do it slowly over time, and as Sarah pointed out, be careful not to force it. AND yes in a series you may have to build that over the entire series OR you could have a different change in each book. E.g, Harry Potter.
ReplyDeleteExcellent points, Lisa. This is where those character worksheets help me out a lot. It helps me flesh out the original core, and then the changes throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteCharacter development is one of the best parts of a great story. I love to watch a character grow and change. Just like people, I believe our characters can!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I think I do this pretty well for my female mc, the male not quite as well. Gotta work on that. Thanks for pointing it out! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope I've got the latest one down. Guess I'll find out after I hear back from my readers.
ReplyDeleteYou've nailed a very important part of this creative process--that character, deep down is a key element to making the story zing.
Good thoughts and good questions, Lisa. You're making me think! :-)
ReplyDeleteI think with my heroine, she goes from not trusting one part of her identity/heritage, to learning to accept that aspect. So, in a way, she ends up with an I'm ok, feel about herself -- to be developed stronger later in the series! :-)
By the way, did you change the fonts? I like the purple, but on my screen it's a little harder to read. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example of finding your character's core. It can definitely make your character arc stronger.
ReplyDeleteI definitely needed this reminder today since I'm working on a new project and still figuring out my character. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and awesome questions, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteMy heroine definitely changes her core belief by the end of her first story (yes - her story looks as though it will take at 3 stories to tell). And it will continue to change as things continue to happen for her and her new-found family. My ONE struggle with this is making sure it doesn't happen *too* fast. I'm working on re-writes and so I'm trying to add a scene or two to slow it down....just a little....regardless of what the muse says. :P
Great post… I thought I did, until I tried to explain it. I love to way you put it—it just makes sense. I see I need to dig deeper—thx!
ReplyDeletehttp://authorsunion.blogspot.com
This is something I both intentionally try to plan, but often end up subconsciously discovering as I write. Perhaps because it's such a complex thing, I often have a hard time verbalizing it in the beginning, but understand it intuitively. Did that make any sense? LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff here, Lisa. Love the core statements.
ReplyDeleteYou've really got me thinking now . . . .
ReplyDeleteAwesome post and great advice! I know how my character is SUPPOSED to change throughout the story but I'm not exactly sure that is what she DOES.
ReplyDeleteGood post. The Hunger Games can be used for tons of examples of great writing
ReplyDeleteAnother good one. So glad I took the time to read the Hunger Games. Even though it's not my usual genre, it was like homework! (The good kind of hw)
ReplyDeleteInteresting question. I've definitely identified Ginny's core in a way I can articulate, but Abigail? Not so much. *ponderponderfret*
ReplyDeleteGreat example with Katniss! And I love it when characters change like that.
ReplyDeleteYou know why? Because sometimes in real life people don't change in that same poetic way, lol.
I agree with you. The change of your character's core belief is vital to your story. Great post!
ReplyDeleteKatniss is so slow to change, interesting that you picked her for a character arc. Hey, that looks like an actual picture of her for the upcoming movie.
ReplyDeleteSuch great points, Lisa. Identifying a character's core beliefs are important, but when those beliefs change, the character becomes so much more interesting. As a reader, I itch to know how that character will turn out in the end.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture! Can't wait for the movie to come out. Lisa, this is a really interesting post. I do have a logline for my wip, but it makes so much sense to have one for my mc, too. Such a simple thing would totally cement her in my own mind, both at the beginning and end of her journey. Great post!
ReplyDeleteBecca @ The Bookshelf Muse
Great post! I'm going to think about this more as I write, as this is a great way of looking at character arc. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a good time at LA--thanks for sharing your fav bits!
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse