S17:E23: How a Character’s Personality Shapes Arc, Voice, and Goals
Helping Writers Become Authors
Release Date: 09/15/2025
S17:E23: How a Character’s Personality Shapes Arc, Voice, and Goals
Helping Writers Become Authors
What makes a character unforgettable? It’s not just quirks or dialogue. It’s personality. Your characters' personalities shape their arcs, influence their voices, drive their goals, and and connect plot and theme into a cohesive whole. In this episode, we’ll explore why personality is the secret ingredient to compelling storytelling and how you can use it to create characters who resonate with readers long after the final page. You’ll Learn: 3 reasons personality is the foundation of great characters 4 ways personality drives storytelling (arc, voice, conflict, theme) 10...
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S17:E22: Why All Stories Are Myth—and How They Transform Us
Helping Writers Become Authors
Why All Stories Are Myth (and How They Transform the Psyche) What if every story you’ve ever loved—whether it’s Spirited Away, The Lord of the Rings, or Pride & Prejudice—wasn’t just entertainment or even “realistic” fiction, but myth in disguise? In this week’s episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast, we explore the mythic foundation of narrative and why all stories are myth at their core. Together, we’ll look at how archetypal story structure emerges across cultures and genres, why every character in a tale can be seen as an aspect of the psyche, and how...
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S17:E21: What's Happened to Modern Storytelling? (+ 6 Ways Storytelling Can Find Its Soul Again)
Helping Writers Become Authors
Feeling bored at the movies? Learn what's happened to modern storytelling and what it will take to restore the magic and emotional impact.
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S17:E20: Writing Better Character Conflicts With the 5 Conflict Management Styles
Helping Writers Become Authors
Here's how writers can apply the five conflict management styles to create richer, more realistic character conflicts in your fiction.
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S17:E19: The 5 Types of Scene Endings Every Writer Must Master
Helping Writers Become Authors
Discover the 5 types of scene endings—Yes, No, No But, and No And—and why one of them might be weakening your story’s momentum.
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S17:E18: 7 Ways to Watch and Read More Intentionally
Helping Writers Become Authors
If writers don't consume stories with intention, who will? Here are 7 mindful habits to read more intentionally and get more from stories.
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S17:E17: What Makes a Story "Bad"? A Guide to Why Your Narrative Isn't Working
Helping Writers Become Authors
What makes a bad story? The answer may surprise you. Here's what really makes a story fail—and how to fix it.
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S17:E16: Why Intentional Storytelling Matters in an Era of AI and Algorithm-Driven Content
Helping Writers Become Authors
Intentional storytelling means making creative choices with purpose. Here’s why that matters more than ever in an AI-driven content world.
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S17:E15: How to Write Different Character Arcs for the Same Character (Part 2 of 2)
Helping Writers Become Authors
Discover how to honor your character's history while crafting different character arcs for the same character in new stories.
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S17:E14: How to Write Different Character Arcs for the Same Character (Part 1 of 2)
Helping Writers Become Authors
Discover systems that can help you write different character arcs for the same character in your series. Keep stories interesting and unique!
info_outlineWhat makes a character unforgettable? It’s not just quirks or dialogue. It’s personality. Your characters' personalities shape their arcs, influence their voices, drive their goals, and and connect plot and theme into a cohesive whole.
In this episode, we’ll explore why personality is the secret ingredient to compelling storytelling and how you can use it to create characters who resonate with readers long after the final page.
You’ll Learn:
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3 reasons personality is the foundation of great characters
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4 ways personality drives storytelling (arc, voice, conflict, theme)
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10 practical tips for weaving personality into your plot, dialogue, and arcs
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How to use tools like the Enneagram and MBTI to stress-test your character development
Whether you’re outlining your next novel or revising a draft, this episode will help you unlock deeper, more authentic storytelling through the lens of personality.