Do I need a Strong Character Arc in Memoir: Character Arc Explained

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Brenda Smit-James - WRITE YOUR MEMOIR

Күн бұрын

Do I need a strong character arc in memoir? Yes, you certainly do, and this video is character arc explained. Do you want to know how to write a memoir? Then you need to know about character development in writing, the 3 phases of character arc, and how to write a character arc. This memoir masterclass will help you understand what is character arc, the importance of character arc in stories, and character arc in memoir in particular.
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📓 Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Do I need a Strong Character Arc in Memoir: Character Arc Explained
00:28 The Elements that make a Good Character Arc
03:10 The 3 Phases of Character Arc
04:16 The Orientation Phase
04:52 The Disorientation Phase
06:21 The Apex of the Character Arc
07:53 The Reorientation Phase
10:40 Character Arc and your Memoir
Thanks for watching!
Brenda
📚 Write Your Story with Brenda Smit-James Inc.

Пікірлер: 33

@pilarguerrero12874 6 ай бұрын

This explanation makes a lot of sense to me. I started writing a memoir type of piece, something short for a blog, but I got stuck, I knew what to write but I couldn't figure out this idea of arc. Now I think I can complete my writing. Thanks a lot.

@BrendaSmitJames 6 ай бұрын

You are welcome! I'm glad that it was helpful.

@hearttalk-drcharleslee Жыл бұрын

Brilliant! So very clinical in your delivery Brenda! Loved every minute of it. Have been struggling to write my 1st memoir book and your approach to dissecting the elements that go into writing are superb. Would LOVE to have you as my Guest on HEARTtalk. As a surgeon to put pen to paper is totally a new-love experience compared to scalpel to skin! Soooo many questions and would love to tease them out with you over a podcast session. Charles

@BrendaSmitJames Жыл бұрын

That is fabulous, Charles! I'm thrilled that my process is so helpful to you. I would love to connect with you and talk about the opportunity. Please send me your details via this link: brendasmitjames.com/pages/writing-circle

@ASLarson Жыл бұрын

Brenda! Very helpful! My favorite of your videos and insights yet!

@BrendaSmitJames Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@irismorales501 10 ай бұрын

Gracias, I am drawn to your video topics and your manner of presentation. Very engaging, and I come away with ideas for how to enhance my memoir. 😊

@BrendaSmitJames 10 ай бұрын

That is wonderful! Thank you for letting me know.

@kimadams1331 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! This was extremely helpful in developing my character arc. What if I have two character arcs? For example, as a young child, I was abused, silenced, fearful, and felt trapped. Disorientation--the realization of the dysfunction and where it originated (my brother was a sociopath and mother enabled him.) Reorientation--separating from them, finding faith, and beginning trauma recovery. Starting my own family and breaking generational abuse. Second character arc--despite being separated from my mother and brother, I was still sucked in to their dysfunction, even with 1,000 miles separating us. I knew my mother was not safe, but could not do anything about it. Disorientation and apex (major plot twist)--my brother murders our mother and kills himself. Reorientation--working through my PTSD and shock from the murder-suicide compounded with continued work on my childhood trauma. I went back to college, earning a human services degree. I began giving back to the community--working with homeless and at-risk youth, as a CASA, and with foster kids. I ended up fostering and adopting a teenage girl who experienced a lifetime of trauma. What I want to extend to my readers, no fairy tale ending, but show I still struggle with my mental health; however, I am on my way to recovery, finding my voice, and feeling hopeful. I apologize in advance for the long post; I just wanted your opinion on this. Many thanks!

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

Hello Kim, although stories have one apex or climax, there are also other ebbs and flows including other climaxes that build to the ultimate one. We often think of the rising action as one straight line but it should really more look like an upward trend with ebbs and flows on the way up (and likely again on the way down).

@desertforest2221 2 жыл бұрын

Very nice! Thank you. Just what I was looking for. I'm writing about my experience of being homeless (currently editing the 3rd draft).

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Congratulations on editing your third draft.👏

@123gp1833 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this explanation. Very clear.

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks!

@martinjacobson564 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent in every way. So well explained. Thank you

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks! 🤗

@jasoncolap 5 ай бұрын

Wow this was great thank you

@BrendaSmitJames 5 ай бұрын

Thank you! ♥️

@TheCanadiangringa Жыл бұрын

Very helpful. Thanks.

@BrendaSmitJames Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@juliemayr8674 9 ай бұрын

Great video, and so funny because I just finished Esucated 5 mins ago, haha

@BrendaSmitJames 9 ай бұрын

Thank you! Did you enjoy reading Educated?

@juliemayr8674 9 ай бұрын

@@BrendaSmitJames yes! Wow! It was amazing!

@johncbourne7862 2 жыл бұрын

Part of my memoir recalls the brutal and cruel abuse I suffered as a 15 yr Seaman Boy in the Royal New Zealand Navy by certain officers. Should I not be able to covey how I felt about that at the time and affect it had on my life?

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

John, I'm unclear what I might have said in the video on Character Arc that may have caused you to think that you can't convey how you felt about your experiences and how it affected your life. In fact, it sounds like the circumstances of the brutal abuse, your experience of it, how it impacted your life then and how it played out in the rest of your life are integral to your story. Have you watched the video on Interiority which takes us into the thoughts, the mindset, the internal experience of the writer: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/prOEkpyB0LPOo6s.html

@timandersonwildman6138 2 жыл бұрын

I feel like in my memoir, there are multiples orientations/disorientations/reorientations. But I have one apex planned. Any thoughts on that? I like your comments on developing the protagonist. You've confirmed that I'm doing a few things right, and you've given me more ideas too.

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

Stories/memoirs can have more than one storyline happening at the same time e.g. main plot and sub-plots, main theme(s) and sub-themes and so to have more than one orientation/disorientation/reorientation will work too so long as you have a strong main one - and hence one apex as you suggest. The sub story arcs will still need to speak to the main one so that the story keeps moving forward.

@graceterry1574 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoying your talks. How can I separate my family story from my career story across 47 years, I can't imagine doing the two things separately .Help me know what to do please. Thanks from Grace.

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Grace. I am pleased that you are enjoying the videos. I have a video coming out soon on determining the premise of your book. I think that video might be helpful in determining exactly what your book is about. What is the challenge or achievement in your career that you want to share? How did your family support you in this? Or did they? Perhaps the link lies in answering those questions.

@graceterry1574 2 жыл бұрын

@@BrendaSmitJames Hello Brenda, thank you for your prompt reply. I was a nurse for 47 years with only 3 brief breaks to have my children. Working in various positions as well as volunteering in Vanuatu, mostly full-time. For the last 20 years of my long career I taught nursing at tertiary College level as well as studying at University as an extramural student. My husband and children were always supportive. I have been advised to write the nursing part of my

@johncbourne7862 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry Brenda, re my comment 38 minutes ago. Missed the fact that I wanted to convey my feelings towards a particular officer, not just the abuse itself. Are you suggesting I miss that personal 'me moment' and stick to the incidents of abuse, which the Navy would call discipline.

@BrendaSmitJames 2 жыл бұрын

No problem at all, John. I appreciate constructive comments, feedback and questions that viewers are grappling with. They all help me to hone my message and also give material for other videos as I learn which are the questions that viewers are looking for answers to. My next video, to be released on Wednesday, February 2, speaks specifically to how we can write interiority/interior telling at the same time as we are doing scene drive writing. So, look out for that video. To answer your questions directly: yes write about your feelings, your internal struggle, what you had to suppress and perhaps could not express. And draw that thread through to the rest of your life. At the same time, describe the incidents of the abuse ,if that is part of the story you intend telling. I'm hoping that next Wednesday's video will help you more. If not, drop me a note.

@johncbourne7862 2 жыл бұрын

@@BrendaSmitJames Thankyou so much for your prompt response and your insights. You are not only an awesome teacher but an excellent communicator. Look forward to your next video.