Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Writing Arc


 
Okay, right away I have to say I have trouble with the writing arc. I've read Christopher Vogler’s The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers and I've taken a class and it sounds great, but I can't do it.

I get the beginning and the journey idea, but I write murder and romance so there are two journeys - right?

Or maybe more - the heroine's journey to solve the murder; the hero and heroine's journey to find romance and their true goals and maybe even the villain's journey to meet his goals. Argh!

I posted to Google and found all these other arcs

The 3 Types of Character Arc – Change, Growth and Fall by Veronica Sicoe http://www.veronicasicoe.com/blog/2013/04/the-3-types-of-character-arc-change-growth-and-fall/

The Crucial Story Arc by Darcy Pattison http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/the-crucial-story-arc/

The Narrative Arc – What is the Narrative Arc in Literature http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/the-crucial-story-arc/



And I’m sure there are lots more. So what’s a writer to do? Which Arc do you follow, or do you?

My attempt is to decide on my characters, what their goals are and the obstructions to getting to those goals. I usually start with the differences between h/h and how that can cause conflict. Then throw in my villain and how he can block the journey and at the same time help the h/h grow and realize their true goals. I begin with the inciting incident. Then the search for the killer, and the h/h’s search to find each other. Throw in a couple of plot points and some twists that turn the story around. Then the h/h need to make some critical choices. The murder is solved, they et the villain and then one more thing is revealed that separates the h/h. And that is solved and we have a happy ending.

Okay so it’s not Vogler. What do you do? Do you follow a specific journey? I’d love to here how it works for you.

8 comments:

  1. My process is closer to yours, I think. In my opinion, this type of arc works better for the hero's journey.

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    1. I agree and I'm glad I'm not alone in the way I write. Thanks Lily.

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  2. I probably tend to follow this arc as it more resembles the short story arc I use. The rest seems to be in my head.

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    1. Hey, Vicki,
      That makes sense to me. I think a lot of it is in my head, too.

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  3. Hello Beverley, a very useful article. All the best with your writings.

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  4. Thanks Joanne, and thanks for dropping by.

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  5. I find Vogler too esoteric for my taste. Usually I have 4 arcs. External, hero internal, Heroine internal, and the Antagonist - usually he may be driving the external arc, but he has his own. IMHO.

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  6. I agree with you, Nancy. I like your 4 arcs. They work with my general structure.

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