All fiction requires capturing a reader's interest and one of the best ways to do this is to create sympathetic and empathetic attachments between the reader and your characters. But how can writers ensure they do this effectively every time? Understanding and being able to process your own emotions effectively is a skill that transfers readily to writing. Character arcs are built in part from a character's ability to respond to an emotion in a positive or negative way, and choosing to act accordingly. This, in turn, can shift and redirect the plot. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at a more advanced lesson in character creation, drawing on their own work and that of their favourite authors.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic