When Should Characters Be Active vs. Reactive?

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Archetypal Character Guided Meditations (Sign Up for Early Bird Access Before 9-22-23 to Get a Discount!): confirmsubscription.com/h/j/3...
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This week's question is from ‪@valharbolovic9608‬ :
"In one of your future videos, could you talk about the action and reaction periods @ the Act Level, please? Is there more reaction than action in Act I? Is there more action than reaction in Act II? What about Act III? If Act I is predominantly reaction, does that make for a passive protagonist?"
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The Secrets of Story Structure (Complete Series) - www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
How to Structure Scenes in Your Story (Complete Series): www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
Action and Reaction: The Building Blocks of Story Structure: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
The Perils of a Passive Protagonist: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
A Reactive Protagonist Doesn’t Have to Be a Passive Protagonist! Discover the Difference: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
How the Perfect Midpoint Moves Your Protagonist From Reaction to Action: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
How to Transform Your Story With a Moment of Truth: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
The Two Halves of the Midpoint: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
The Midpoint as the Swivel Point of Your Story’s Linked Structure: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
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For more on archetypes, check out my book Writing Archetypal Character Arcs: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
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www.kmweiland.com
Historical and speculative novelist K.M. Weiland offers tips and essays about the writing life to help other writers understand the ins and outs of the craft and the psychology behind the inspiration.
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13 сен 2023

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Комментарии : 14

@carlkjellberg5038 9 месяцев назад

I have just been analysing The Dead Poets society. At the beginning of this story the protagonist, Todd Anderson, is definitely passive. As he learns to find his voice passing into the midpoint, he starts to become active. At the end of the story, he is the one who dares to literally stand up for truth and justice by defying principal Nolan and standing on top of his desk

@jennifersantucci1855 9 месяцев назад

This video couldn’t have been more timely! I’ve been working on reversing outlining my draft and noticed how passive my MC was! Going to go through the other videos about action vs reaction vs passive for more info and tips. Thank you!

@valharbolovic9608 9 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for taking my question and answering it! I am much clearer on the subject now :). Best wishes, Val

@AndrewRKenny 8 месяцев назад

I love your blog/website, I'm so glad I found your channel! You have a great way of setting up frameworks to better understand complex or abstract ideas.

@2close2themoon 9 месяцев назад

It does amaze me how watching your videos makes me think of the most simple, basic but VITAL questions. I've always worried that my favorite fanfiction protagonist is passive, even when I'm the one creating the scenarios/plots (as opposed to canon). I have two WIPs, one original fic, and I will make sure I make goals and intentions clear. Thanks.

@AEmiliusLives 9 месяцев назад

I tend to make my protagonists a bit passive 🤔 I'm never sure how to balance that, I feel like a character is either one thing or the other. But I try to compensate it by them taking the reins for the final act 😅

@eddingtonmcclane6963 9 месяцев назад

"Agency" is what clarified the midpoint change for me, Katie. That is, engaging the offense, versus the defense. That aside, I'm waiting with baited breath for my full 6-archetype guided meditation as an official Early Bird. : )

@mageprometheus 9 месяцев назад

Always a pleasure.

@DaltonKevinM 9 месяцев назад

I will admit I've never pants my way to anything close to novel length. But as a panster, what I need to know is what a character yearns for. This isn't a want. A student may want to pass a test. But wants are ephemeral. Yearning is tied to fear. That student fears what failing that test might mean for their future. So, with an initially reactionary character, as in many monomyth like Star Wars or Harry Potter, I have trouble sussing out their true motivations: what they yearn for and what they think it will mean if they can't get it.

@randypurdy4085 9 месяцев назад

My current story is all about an eight-year-old, and she is the main character. I remember being eight, and my life wasn't very reactive at all, it was more passive- listening to my parents, and such. Do you think the main passive character will be a flop? Do have any advice to how I can boost up the life of a passive character? Would appreciate any comments. Thank you