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A Writer's Guide to Characterization: Archetypes, Heroic Journeys, and Other Elements of Dynamic Character Development Paperback – August 27, 2012
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In the best novels, characters undergo dramatic changes that keep readers turning pages. A Writer's Guide to Characterization shows you how to develop such meaningful character arcs in your own work--stories of transformation that will resonate with readers long after the story ends.
In this comprehensive guide, author Victoria Lynn Schmidt examines cross-cultural archetypes to illustrate how they can make your work more powerful and compelling. Plus, you'll learn how to draw from Jungian psychology to add complexity and believability to your characters.
Schmidt also provides:
• 40 lessons on character development (with examples from well-known films and novels) that you can apply to your own work
• Questionnaires and exercises to help you select male and female archetypes and adapt them to your story
• 15 classic animal archetypes (including the coyote, snake, tiger, and butterfly) you can use to build convincing character profiles
With A Writer's Guide to Characterization, you'll have the information you need to infuse the development of your characters with drama and authenticity.
- Print length218 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateAugust 27, 2012
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.51 x 8.44 inches
- ISBN-101599635577
- ISBN-13978-1599635576
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- Publisher : Penguin Publishing Group; 8.1.2012 edition (August 27, 2012)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 218 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1599635577
- ISBN-13 : 978-1599635576
- Item Weight : 11.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.51 x 8.44 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,308 in Authorship Reference
- #2,358 in Writing Skill Reference (Books)
- #4,156 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)
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Another bonus, is that she also includes the ways these archetypes would interact with one another. Unfortunately, it is only listed as male to male, female to female, and then romantically. Reading them you can pick out ways that siblings might interact as well as a parent to child, but it would be nice if there were more specifics about these interactions when it isn't romantic. And I guess even romantic interactions for homosexual characters could be useful as well for a more well-rounded book.
The character arcs are also interesting. They give another good framework for starting a plot line for your characters.
This book goes in depth for character roles for both your protagonist and supporting characters. Thanks to this book, I have been steered back on track as to how to really flesh out my characters in accordance with their new found roles in my story. I will also say that you will see a lot of fake tool books, this book isn't one of them.
Not sure how your character should react in a scene?
A series of questions and the chart provided will guide you through it. Unlike 45 Master Characters, 'Characterization helps you set what percentages of which archetypes your characters are so you can have multifaceted, consistent characters.
This guide is a must for any writer in any genre!










