Debate: Should character arcs be planned or discovered?

I was at a writer's workshop last month and the instructor said 70% of successful novelists outline character arcs before writing. But then a guy next to me said his best characters came from just letting them grow naturally. Which side actually works better for most people?

3 comments

3 Comments

terryf6226d ago

Didn't Stephen King say you find out who your characters are as you go?

carr.gavin26d ago

That "70% of successful novelists" stat is interesting, but it kind of misses the point. Planning a character arc can give you a solid road map, so you don't write yourself into a corner. But I've also had characters totally surprise me halfway through a draft, and those moments often turn out to be the best parts. I think it depends on the writer and the story, not just what the numbers say. You've got to try both ways and see which one doesn't feel like pulling teeth.

the_sam12d ago

Something nobody's brought up yet is how your brain chemistry changes between projects. I've written three books and every single one needed a totally different approach. The one I pantsed had this wild twist I never saw coming but the editing took forever. The one I outlined to death was cleaner but felt a little stiff in places. Maybe the real trick is knowing when to switch methods based on what your current story is actually asking for, and that can change even halfway through.