Character Emotional Development: Transformation and Emotional Maturity

The emotional steadiness your protagonist develops in a story (character emotional development plot) from all that happens to her (dramatic action plot), I call change, maturity, transformation, transcendence (your genre and your story -- action-driven | character-driven -- define the level of character development that fits the underlying meaning of your own individual story).

The lessons she learns in the middle, having suffered greatly and paid dearly, lead to this change at the end of the story. All of the lessons and wisdom and skills and abilities she learns are critical for her ultimate success at the Climax.

Some abilities and skills are external and necessary to complete the dramatic action plot. Others are internal. All of the internal lessons and wisdom gained point directly to emotional maturity as shown by the protagonist's ability to understand and manage at the end those same emotions that continually tripped her up in the beginning and then felled her in the middle of the story.

Characters who have endured trauma, deception, abandonment, betrayal, abuse, pain, loss, sadness either before the story begins or during the story and are left unhealed (backstory wound) typically become emotionally stuck at the time and place of the trauma. For her to achieve her goal, she must first become conscious of her backstory wound and then move towards healing the past in order to successfully move into the future.

The following are some traits that point to emotional immaturity (as shown in the beginning and deepened in the middle of the story) compared to emotional maturity (as shown at the end of the story):

• Own Desires versus Delayed Gratification = Ability to keep long-term commitments
• Blaming versus Responsible = Acceptance of current life circumstances as a result of personal decisions
• Intellect versus Intuition = "See" a solution and research best course of action
• Reactive versus Proactive = Value-based decision-making
• All the Answers versus Open-Minded = Desire to learn and seek counsel
• Rigid versus Adaptable = Willing to be flexible. Open to change
• Self-conscious versus We are All One = Possesses a spirit of humility
• Narrow-minded versus Alternative Views = Open to others' opinions and views
• Critical versus Non-judgemental = Respect for others' right to their beliefs
• Entitled versus Grateful = Appreciative
• Shutdown versus Resilient = Express disappointments, plot a plan, move on
• Erratic Mood Swings versus Emotional Steadiness = Peaceful state of mind
• Uncooperative versus Realistic Optimism = Willingness to seek out opportunities
• Removed and Shutdown versus Approachable = Actively building relationships
• Shaken versus Steady = Secure in who you are
• Intense versus Humor = Not taking oneself too seriously

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Need more help with your story? 

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Character Flaw: Fatal?

You decide or rather the protagonist decides whether her flaw is fatal. Perhaps her flaw has already killed off something important to her. She doesn't yet admit that to herself and isn't conscious of her part in her own demise. That's coming much later. For now, simply identifying her flaw itself can be difficult to pin down.

Prompt #8 provides an opportunity to revisit what you may have already started --a Character Emotional Development Profile. On pages 33 and 34 in the PWWorkbook I've dedicated  to this new story, I've stuck a tab for easy reference. Now, out of the scribbles I jotted down when I started the story,  the character begins to emerge. I knew what she loved as she started the story. Only now do I discover a deeper love, the love she had before inflicted with a backstory wound. Same thing happens with her flaw. Earlier, I'd identified an overt, obvious flaw. Only now do I discover the flaw that developed out of her backstory wound. It's become a mantra to her, a belief that runs her life and is out to destroy her. What has your character revealed? So far....

Today is Prompt #9 for me.

Today, I write.

Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.

If you're following along and wish to comment or ask questions, please use Twitter and be sure to include @plotwhisperer and #pwprompt to catch my attention.

The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to finish every one of your writing projects. This book guides you through each stage of the writing process, from constructing compelling characters to establishing an unforgettable ending. The book also helps you get into the habit of writing creatively every day, with brand-new imaginative prompts for how to write a novel, memoir, screenplay with a plot. 

Join me here everyday as together we write our stories from page one and through all the prompts to the very end.

To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
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