Growth of Character

Bella and Orie, the two main characters of An Uncharted Destiny, follow character arcs through grief and pain.

There are countless studies showing the more we read, the more empathetic we are. Every "How to Write" book discusses the character's growth as an essential piece in story. Lisa Cron, author of Story Genius, says, "It isn't about the external change...it's about why that change matters to her.” This feels so incredibly true, not just in story, but in life. 

When I lost family members in 2019 and 2020, I quickly realized I was still harboring the grief of losing family members in 2008, I'd never truly processed losing them. The sudden fear of losing those I'd grown close to in the twelve years since was so crushing, I finally reached out for help. Therapy helped me work through those losses, but so did processing that grief in a safe place–like a fantasy novel. 

My main characters both undergo tremendous grief, the loss of family, their way of life, their freedom. When we open in An Uncharted Destiny, Bella is living her life in a state of denial, going through the motions of caring for a young child, but not experiencing anything other than her fear and duty. The book follows her coming out of this pain. 

The growth a character undergoes is so exciting to reflect upon when we finish our novels, both as readers and writers, but have you ever reflected upon the growth you have undergone in your own life? 

Now, five years removed from the decision to process my grief, to work through the pain of loss, I can see how I am a happier person in every facet of my life. Once again, I can enjoy playing the piano, something I shared with my grandmother all through childhood. I laugh at memories of my uncle pushing me down a mountain on a tube when I was too afraid to launch the tube myself. I can watch a John Wayne movie and not break down hearing his laugh, so similar to my own grandfather’s. Coming out of the fog of denial, I’ve found the courage to challenge myself, and to love more deeply, despite my fear.

So I challenge you to take a moment and reflect on your life. What are some trials you have worked through? Have you learned what you needed to grow into the person you want to be? Can you see areas in your life that are more "rough draft" levels, or more complete pieces? Can you recognize the trials you are enduring as potentials to strengthen you into the person you want to become? 

No matter where you are in life, remember to check in with yourself. To find those goals and inner strengths that need a little nudge of nourishment and can help your own inner character growth. Also, don’t forget to reach out for help, if you need it. It’s rare that our characters don’t have some sort of mentor to help them along the way. ;) 

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway, Author