Why am I the best person for this topic?

I have been a developmental editor since 2015, and in that time, I have worked with many writers as they grapple with the concepts of story structure and character arcs. This is an area that I have studied extensively, and I have developed many tools to help writers get their heads around what can be quite a complicated topic.

Session Description:

Save the Cat! Romancing the Beat. Story Engineering. There are many different models out there for determining the structure of a story and controlling the pacing, but they are all essentially the same. However, when we talk about story structure, we tend to look at it in isolation of the characters. This can be a fatal flaw for a story.

While every story is different, there are certain elements that drive a story at its core. These elements will, on a macro level, define the beats of a story. But they also define where the story takes a twist and when decisions are made by the main character(s). The decisions in turn drive the next bit of action for the story.

In this session, we will:

• review the core story beats that can be found in any story, regardless of genre;

• examine how the story structure is driven by the main character’s decisions; and

• explore the different types of character arc and what impact they can have on the story structure.

About Judy L Mohr

Contact Details

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: blackwolfeditorial.com

• Instagram: @JudyLMohr

• Facebook: @BlackWolfEditorial / @JudyLMohr

Kiwi Judy L Mohr is a writer, developmental editor, writing coach, and a science nerd with a keen interested in internet technologies and security. Her knowledge ranges from highly efficient ways to hide the bodies through to how to improve SEO rankings. When she isn’t writing, editing, or doing something for her local writing community, she can be found plotting her next foray into mischief. Follow Judy’s adventures on her personal blog (judylmohr.com) or on Instagram (@JudyLMohr). For editorial advice or writing tidbits, check out the Black Wolf Editor's Blog (blackwolfeditorial.com/blog).