Eva and Katryn dive into character arcs this week, from craft inspirations to the similarities between building our characters and parenting them. Eva reveals her new book title (YAY!) and Katryn unveils a Lord of the Rings-inspired story cartography process for character arcs. Martin Short is also discussed, because why the hell not?

Content/Spoiler Warnings: CW for mention of JKR’s transphobia

Sources:

• Katryn discusses a troubling trend she’s noticing in this episode and her substack.

• Eva and Katryn both recommend Susan Dennard’s craft writing--check out Susan’s Substack!

• Eva has recently learned about James Scott Bell’s Write Your Novel From the Middle

• Katryn discusses her own reasons for not writing characters from outside her racial background, but please read author and co-founder of We Need Diverse Books, Dhonielle Clayton’s words on this, because it gets the point across without nearly as much ambient mumbling and word repetition.

• When it comes to redemption arcs, PLEASE pick up Tae Keller’s Jennifer Chan is Not Alone

• Read Becky Albertalli’s Amelia, If Only, Brynne Weaver’s Butcher and Blackbird, Geneva Rose’s The Perfect Marriage