Angela and Mindy, I wholeheartedly agree. Having that bit of hope, no matter how small, is key in giving the character exactly what they need.

I love this saying, Angela: We want to challenge our characters, but not break them to the point hope is utterly lost.

I think writers should have it on a sticky note near their desk!

Yes, I agree – we want to challenge our characters, but not break them to the point hope is utterly lost. I think the key is causing investment that gets them to the point of no return.

Excellent timing then! It’s one of the areas I most often see as needing attention in client manuscripts. In my own writing, I tend to have too many obstacles that yield defeat, so I have to be mindful of this concept, too. Thanks to you and Becca for having me on!

Jan, so thankful you found it helpful. Some of us are far too easy on our characters, while others of us don’t allow them enough small wins along the way. The zigzag is a nice reminder to try and balance them out if possible. Thank you for your comment!

Deborah, I’m cracking up! This is fantastic. I’m going to definitely have that visual in my mind now–a far better one than the arc! Thanks for passing that gem along and thanks for chiming in.

Hi, Mindy! That’s a great approach to thinking about this kind of plotting. Everyone loves an underdog story, so I’d like to think that if we throw our protagonists tons of punches and a couple of wins, the ultimate win really is sweeter 🙂 Thanks for chiming in!