By Forris Day Jr.
There are tons of books out there on how to create and develop characters for your stories. Most are really good, some are great. With that being said, and after reading “Crafting the Character Arc: A Practical Guide to Character Creation and Development” by Jennie Jarvis, I asked myself what makes this book any different than all the others? I’ll share what I learned so that you can make an informed decision.
The book does not cover much of anything that hasn’t been covered in other character development books, but what it does do, that makes it shine, is simplify the process. The book is aimed at writers who may be new to character development so if you are a pro you probably will not get much from it. If you are a novice writer there is a goldmine here. I say that because of its simplicity in the way it is written. Nothing to dog you down as you learn. Simple explanations for a simple concept of character arcs (or journeys as they are sometimes called)
Part One of this relatively short book discuses what characters are. The Protagonist and the Antagonist are your main characters generally and after reading this you will understand how to use them better. Jarvis uses characters from well known movies, books and games to help you realize the difference. In Part Two she discuses and breaks down each part of the character arc. The character arc is made up of several stages and each one has an in depth section where it is discussed. She has included many visuals that really teach the concept making it easy to digest. In Part Three you will learn how to use the character arc in your stories. The book wraps with an appendix that lists all the movies, books and games she discusses with a short descriptions of each and also includes a glossary of some words and such that writers use that most folks don’t. Check it out.
I recommend this book to anyone who may just be learning to write novels, screenplays, plays, games or any writing that involves characters. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are this little book holds a great deal of information that will make you shine when you put words to paper. It’s simple and straightforward and that’s what I like most about it. It’s a book that you will refer back to so keep it handy on your bookshelf so that you don’t have to search for it when you need it most. Whether your’e just learning the craft of writing or you are a seasoned writer it is certainly worth checking out. You never know what you may learn.
Rating: 7.5/10 – “Create memorable characters”
Purchase “Crafting the Character Arc” (Several formats available)
