Character plot and setting

A character's needs and wants

A character's need is the most essential ingredient in any story. It serves as the driving force in a story and helps to create and push your plot forward. This 'need' drives the story, it is the action. For a story to flow, you must make attaining this need as difficult as possible by introducing conflict and drama into a story (internal and/or external conflicts. At the end of the story, a character's need is either fulfilled or denied. The character needs to have changed from the state they began the story in, which is called the character arc

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Characters

Find quotes from writers that demonstrate to you how important characters are to a story.

• 'Character is destiny. Change, growing from within and forced from without, is the mainspring of character development.' - Rita Mae Brown

I found this quote to be important to me as it is a poetic way of highlighting the importance of characters in a story and how it can bring a story to life, which is something I aspire to do in my own writing.​

• 'The three things that matter most in a story are characters, characters, and characters.' - Bob Gale

This quote is a blunt explanation that personally reminds me of the importance of characters in a story, and how important they are for the plot and the reader.​

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What makes a good character?

A good character is a character that is interesting, realistic, believable, and relatable, though it doesn't always have to be likable. A good character must also connect with the reader, and include motivation, wants, and needs. A good character affects the style of writing as having a strong character arc allows the story to flow, and makes the reader more inclined to continue reading.

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Analyse three character extracts

Character extracts link

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

This extract introduces us to the character of a young boy, describing a character in which he is in the presence of. The text has an ominous tone, as the character appears intimidating to the boy and comes across as highly unusual. Dickens zooms into describing the man's face in particular, which demonstrates his curiosity. The language to describe his appearance comes across as quite blunt and straightforward, which implies the quick judgment that the character makes.

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High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

This extract from High Fidelity is at first glance, a train of thoughts from a man discussing scales of attractiveness amongst him and his peers. It comes across as a comical piece of writing, which drastically differs from the serious and hauntingly peculiar extract from David Copperfield. The sentence structure throughout the extracts is similar to that of a list, as the character is trying to prove his self-worth by boldly stating his comparisons. This style of writing puts the reader into the mind of the character and invites them to explore the train of thoughts and the world that the writer is trying to convey.

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Briggsy by Isla Dewar

The short, snappy sentences throughout this extract are what is most noticeable when reading this text, as they portray an emotional and nostalgic tone that can only be conveyed through brief thoughts. This character is describing their best friend, Briggsy, and does so in a somewhat happy tone, as if they are fond of the memories yet not bitter about not being friends anymore. Her excitement to describe Briggsy shows in the text through the use of exclamation marks and chipper language. This text differs from the other extracts as the character is describing past events and does so using a positive tone.

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Character study questions

Name; Margaret

Age: 73

Where are they from? Cornwall

What is their job? Nurse-retired

Where are they now? In a prison cell in London

Are they comfortable in their surroundings? No

What is the time?11 pm

What is the weather like? Cloudy and misty

What can they hear? Screams and shouts from other inmates

What can they see? Dark grey walls and metal bars

What do they need most? An escape plan

What trouble might they be in? Been convicted and awaiting trial for serious crimes

Best friend? Her late husband

parents still alive? No

Education? Average education at a state school

Last cried? When her husband died

Last, got very angry? An hour ago before being put in prison

Who do they live with? Alone, since the death of her husband

What do they most like about their self? Her intelligence

New year's resolution? To stop smoking (and killing)

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5 minute character study description

Margaret is a 73-year-old woman. She is slim, yet not drastically skinny although her face appears rather gaunt at first glance. She has thin ivory hair in a 1940s-style bob that is neat and always tucked behind her ears, a habit from her adolescence. She is often hunched over, appearing to be non-threatening, with a timid vibe. Her hands are veiny and wrinkly, often clutching a tissue.

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Character study short story

Margaret once led a life of simple normality. A picturesque album of family-filled affection and a sense of community was all that she had known for generations- Margaret Lyson, the sweet elderly woman on the corner of Cherry Avenue, not a single malicious bone in her body. This persona, however, was long gone, now strangled, and drowned in the vicious flowing depths of grief and despair. The old Margaret never wore crimson, her mother always told her it washed her out, yet as she glanced at herself in the reflection of the clouded glass mirror, she had second thoughts. She decided that red was the colour she had missed her entire life. Hot, red blood dripped down every inch of her body, head to toe in an iron-like liquid, born from a lifetime of built-up resentment and constant reminders to bite her tongue and remain as polite as a woman should be. The knife that was once used to prepare meals for her kin for years was now an old friend, an encouraging aid inspiring her to kill, to get revenge over deep dents on her face created from fake smiles and laughter. Margaret had gone through life holding her breath, patiently waiting for the moment she could exhale, let everything go and finally become human. As she strode towards her final victim, she unclenched her white-knuckled fists and embedded her knife deep into the heart of the man, an act she had been waiting to fulfil for far too long. 

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What is Plot?

A plot is the sequence of connected events that make up the narrative in a novel. It builds up to a climax in a story and ends in a resolution. The plot is important as it is one of the main attributes of a successful story.

• ​The plot is driven by the character's need. Once you know the character's need, you should aim towards making this as difficult as possible to attain. The need is either met or denied

• On the way to explore this, you need to explore all the possibilities. Make sure every character in your novel wants something and actively works towards it. Plot each scene's purpose before you start a story.

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 Save the Cat: Introduction to 15 Beats

Beat sheet link

Almost all stories have a similar narrative structure. They follow what is called the 'Save the Cat' beat sheet template. This structure is helpful to understand how a story is written and to write better stories ourselves, by organizing the outline of the story. It helps an audience to understand what they are reading and stay engaged. 

Act 1:

1. Opening image (0% to 1%)- a 'before' snapshot of your hero and their world.

2. Theme stated (5%) - A statement made by a character that hints at what the hero's arc will be- a 'life lesson'.

3. Setup (1-10%)- Exploration of the hero's status quo life and all of its flaws. Introduce supporting characters and the hero's primary goals.

4. Catalyst (10%) An inciting incident that happens to the hero- puts them in a new world or a new way of thinking.

5. Debate (10-20%)- A reaction sequence in which the hero debates what they will do next. This also shows their reluctance to change

Act 2:​

  6. Break into 2 (20%)- The hero decides to head on the journey. This will put the plot in motion.

  7. The B story (22%)- A secondary story that holds the audience's interest while the details of the main plot unfold, commonly a love story.​​

  8. Fun and games (20-50%)- At this beat, the audience should explore the world of the story. The writer can take a break from building tension and concentrate on showing the fun and exciting aspects of the world and the characters they created.

  9. The midpoint (50%)- This is where things are either at their greatest up or down point. The fun and games end and we return to the high stakes of the main story.

  10. The bad guys close in (50-75%)- At this beat, the fun ends, and things will start to escalate quickly. The evil forces re-emerge, closing in on the protagonist and throwing them off balance.

  11. All is lost (75%)- At this point, the antagonist deals with an utter defeat to the hero., which makes it seem impossible for a happy ending to come about. It raises the stakes of the story overall.

  12. Dark Night of the Soul- (75-80%)-  The beat at which the hero recognises their defeat and loses hope. This moment sets everything up for the greatest sacrifice the hero will require to correct all the wrongs.

Act 3

  13. Break into 3 (80%)- This beat is the beginning of the climax. The moment when the heroes find a possible solution to the impossible situation they are in.

  14. Finale (80 to 99%)- This is where it all comes to an end. The bad guys get killed or defeated from least significant to most important. The hero will never go back to who they were.

  15. Final image (99- 100%)- This is a closing image that shows the audience how the hero's world has really changed. The opening image and final image have to show contrast and change.

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The hero's journey 

Every story follows or uses the same tropes that have been used for generations: the Monomyth or Hero's journey. In narratology and comparative mythology the hero's journey is the common template of a broad category of tales that involves a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory and then comes home changed or transformed. 4 main stages make up the hero's journey, which include:

​Call to adventure

• The hero is pushed out of their ordinary world and events lead them to be ripped from normality. They may choose to go on their adventure or be forced by circumstances around them.

Initiation

• This is when the hero crosses the threshold, often with the help of a mentor character. The hero departs their ordinary world and starts facing the challenges that this brings.​

Transformation​

• The hero faces challenges and gains their reward. The challenges the hero faces ramp up a gear and they don't necessarily defeat them all. The hero also faces the 'ordeal' which often tests them to their limits. Once they overcome the ordeal, they receive their reward.

Return​

• The hero returns to their old world, permanently changed by everything they have experienced.

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Plot example from a story: The Maze Runner

Ordinary world - Thomas, the main character is introduced within the first scene of the film in a metal lift, unsure of where he is, and is the first thing he remembers being familiar with, hence this being seen as his 'ordinary world'.

Call to adventure - Thomas discovers the dystopian world in which he has been mysteriously placed and all the other boys that live there decide he is special, and should be given the role of exploring the maze that is surrounding them.

Refusal of the call - Some of the boys are sceptical of Thomas, and encourage him not to become a 'runner' and do not think it is wise for him to explore the maze after only just arriving. At this point, Thomas is also distressed and in denial about his situation, which contributes to his initial refusal.

Crossing the threshold and meeting the mentor - After a heroic act of diving into the maze to help a fellow glader, he finds himself trapped in the maze overnight. Minho, the boy he is trapped with acts as his mentor as he is an experienced runner and knows the ins and outs of the maze.

Tests, allies, enemies - The main enemies at this point are the vicious monsters within the maze, which are a threat to Thomas and prove very difficult to escape from. He is also tested by his ability to run, as the walls of the maze are constantly moving and he has to avoid becoming trapped by them.

Approach - Once Thomas is back in safety, he decides he must devise a plan to find an escape from the maze and discover what is truly going on and why he has been placed here.

Ordeal, death and rebirth - Whilst trying to find a way out, the barriers of the maze unlock themselves, releasing the monsters from within. This monster kills some of the boys in the maze, leading them to get revenge and all take a trek into the maze.

Reward - The boys finally make it through the maze and are faced with a door that no one knows what it leads to.

The road back and resurrection - Thomas and his friends realise that they must break through the barrier to enter a world with some sense of normality, yet realise that things are not quite as they seem and discover their purpose.

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Our character plot using the Hero's journey structure

Call to adventure:

Margaret's husband dies suddenly and she believes he was not treated with sufficient care in the hospital. This sparks extreme rage that she has never felt before, which urges her to get justice for her late husband. She decides to get revenge on the doctors who treated him. (The hero is pushed out of her ordinary world- a world without her husband.)

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Refusal of the call:

Margaret experiences hallucinations of her dead husband, urging her to accept his death, and not do anything bad as a result of heightened anger and grief. She initially considers this intervention, but her rage is too rampant and she decides to go ahead with her plan and do what she believes is right. 

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Meeting the mentor:

She confides in her best friend Mary about her plan, who encourages her to do it, although states she wants no involvement and will only give Margaret advice.

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Crossing the threshold:

Margaret checks herself into the hospital where her husband died and begins faking symptoms of various illnesses, to be provided a hospital room.

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Tests, allies, enemies:

While staying at the hospital, she encounters a young male nurse whom she recognises. She decides that he would be her first victim. She begins to seduce him to gain his trust, while also increasing her fake symptoms to receive pity. Margaret's test is the fact that many of the hospital staff have begun to become suspicious of her 'illness' as all of her health checks have come back as usual. These suspicious doctors enrage Margaret and become her enemies. During one event, she has to knock out a nurse to steal the blood from an ill patient's blood test and pass it off as her blood, which proves to be quite difficult. Throughout all this, Margaret's hallucinations of her dead husband have become worse and she is brutally reminded of the uncomfortable, unfamiliarity of the situation.

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Approach:

Although effectively deceiving most of the hospital staff, some are growing suspicious and Margaret decides she must execute her plan very soon. She gathers her resources (A kitchen knife that she had smuggled from the staff hospital room) and makes a list of all the doctors and nurses she intends to kill.

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Setting the scene

What is the importance of setting the scene?

Setting the scene is a vital attribute of any story in order to help it flow. It gives readers a vivid sense of where and when the events take place whilst it anchors action and dialogue. When readers are able to picture the environment clearly, the story is more immersive and invites the reader to dive into the world you have created. The setting affects the story by contributing to the plot, character development, mood, and theme. It also affects the story by engaging the reader and helping them visualise the events and context in which the narrative is being told.

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Character and setting warm-up describe the room in which your character is in.

A desolate state of being that manifests itself as a direct parallel to my emotional state. Thick, rustic, grey walls surround every inch of me, taunting me with their dull, lifeless stare. The long metal bars protruded from the ground and met the ceiling, forcing me to curiously decipher extraordinary drawings of insanity left by previous offenders on the wall.

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Setting the scene questions

• Real, fictional, or both? Real setting with fictional characters

• Where and When? Cornwall, 1980

• Unusual or unique feature? The old age of the main character 

• Physical landscape? Suburban town, flat with large woods on the outskirts

• Safe or dangerous environment? A safe, low-crime town usually

• Weather/climate? Dull, gloomy, often raining

• Who/what lives there? Hospital patients, prisoners, and husband before he died

• How does the landscape affect them? A rather depressing landscape, bringing the resident's moods down.

• Conflict? Physical conflict, killing spree in hospital.

• Who rules? A harsh, dystopian government that doesn't care about the needs of their people

Zoom in: Standing in the setting, looking around

​Where are they? In a cold, dark prison cell.

Physical landscape? Thick metal bars trapping them in.

Any landmarks or unusual features? The dried blood spread all over the walls of the cell.

Any people or creatures? Other prisoners looking run down and tired, hunched over themselves in despair.

What can you smell? A smell of dampness in the air, almost rotten, accompanied by a strong metallic odor.

What can you hear? Whispers of curiosity from the other prisoners and distant shouts from outside the cell.

What are you doing? Standing in the corner, observing

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How do writers write setting?

• Use sensory details - use all five senses to describe the immediate surroundings to the reader to quickly immerse them into the environment of your story.

• Show, don't tell - Show how the setting changes or interacts with the characters

• Incorporate figurative language - Create a stronger image by using metaphors or similies to compare the setting to something else visual.

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Evaluation of sessions

I found these weeks' sessions extremely helpful in aiding my skills and decisions as a writer as well as allowing me an insight into techniques other writers use in their own work to improve a story. I feel as if I have a greater understanding of the importance of character plot and setting when writing a story and how vital these attributes are when it comes to the structure of my work. An exercise that I found particularly insightful to look at was different methods of structure templates in a story, book, or film, such as the 'Hero's Journey' template and the 'Save the Cat' example. Learning about this allowed me to understand how to pace my work and how to differentiate the many parts of a story. Overall, I found this lesson to be quite hard-hitting as there was much to learn and unfold, however, it has definitely helped make a difference in the way I write.

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Message to my future writer self

To my future writer self,

I hope you are still holding every ounce of ambition and determination that you have always had for writing, if possible with an even stronger grip, as the whiter my knuckles become, the more adoration I feel towards creating art with my words. I am hopeful that I have made my lifelong ambition of telling stories into a career that I love, whether it be poems, articles, or novels. I see no point in accepting average hopes and dreams and I believe that I should strive to accomplish the most elaborate ambitions my mind can produce and keep on challenging myself. I hope that writing has not become a chore, but instead a method of unwinding and expressing my emotions. I would like to convey my gratitude for carrying on writing, as it has been a great source of comfort from the moment I learned how to write down the alphabet, and has since grown into a friend to guide me through the depths of life. Never stop doing what you love, and hold your determination for many years to come.

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Tutor Feedback

Feedback for Character Plot and Setting

Rita Mae Brown - great quote, clearly resonated with you. It is always useful and interesting to read other writer's thoughts on writing and the process/journey +

What makes a good character?

Excellent answer -- good guidance to build on. 

Analysis of three texts:

Effective, purposeful and skillful evaluation of the three pieces, comparing and contrasting well, and sounding like a writer examining techniques and style. Impressive. Keep this up. 

5 minute character study description

Paints a clear picture - I like the style of writing also and especially the word choices. 

to get revenge over deep dents on her face created from fake smiles and laughter  

Dark and powerful stuff! 

Again, really like the writing - has a feel of the Voice Over narrative at the beginning of stories -   leading to the inciting incident -  or a synopsis/short outline for a longer piece -

I would like to see this story developed. What about you? 

Plot example from a story: The Maze Runner

Was this a useful exercise - did it help illustrate the importance off the planning stage? 

perhaps use this to explore your own story - to the end

How do you feel about Margaret's story - will you complete the outline ?

• Unusual or unique feature? The old age of the main character  - perhaps you need to zoom in for this - I think this question could be used to identify local landscape features such as the very old hospital grounds and a statue of a revered (long dead) doctor who haunts the corridors forcing current Drs to commit errors or kill patients 

We also looked at other methods of writing character -- see slides and links for this

quite hard-hitting as there was much to learn and unfold,

Yes, there was a lot here, but we will return to many of the skills, techniques and narrative tools in other sessions - equally you can explore the techniques, etc in individual projects, either for course work or your own independent writing. 

A good evaluation - but more evidence and examples needed to illustrate your reflections: what we did how we did it and impact on you. For instance, did you take anything from your analysis f the three texts into your own writing - did any of the questions - techniques - resonate - which ones ?? 

The message to future you is wonderful, but not what I was asking: telling our future self, to plan using the ______ techniques - how to write characters - what to remember when writing characters annd setting etc 

Look at the aims and objective of the session and tell me if you met them, and if so how, and if not, what do you need to do to develop ideas and understanding further?

Some excellent work in this blog - well done

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