{"product_id":"the-compass-of-character-isbn-9781440300868","title":"The Compass of Character","description":"Just as a compass provides direction for an explorer, so does motivation provide direction for characters in fiction. The \"compass\" of character motivation is composed of four points: Lack, Yearning, Resistance, and Desire. In \u003ci\u003eThe Compass of Character\u003c\/i\u003e you'll learn to deeply consider the key question \"What does my character want?\" and learn techniques to answer that question by writing realistic and empathetic characters without falling into formulaic, unsatisfying results that only diminish the character. Bestselling author and acclaimed writing instructor David Corbett provides writers with the essentials for building characters with motivations that range from clear to complex by exploring topics such as:  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e   • human yearning\u003cbr\u003e   • pathological maneuvers\u003cbr\u003e   • the pain of life vs. the promise of life\u003cbr\u003e   • backstory and behavior\u003cbr\u003e   • mechanics of growth and transformation\u003cbr\u003e   • dramatizing mistaken desire and misbegotten yearnings\u003cbr\u003e   • moral arguments\u003cbr\u003e The key to fascinating characters is rendering subtle inner states in straightforward external circumstances, which requires a fundamental understanding of the simple building blocks of complex motivation as they manifest themselves in behavior, where complexity of purpose collides with the messy, indifferent world. \u003ci\u003eThe Compass of Character\u003c\/i\u003e is the one book that can guide writers to that end with both instruction and inspiration.“A compass points four ways and so does Corbett, adroitly reconciling the complex interplay of forces in every character’s life so that writers can create true depth on the page. His exercises make that complexity doable, and the examples he provides are remarkably incisive. If you want to know what makes made-up characters feel 100% real, let \u003ci\u003eThe Compass of Character \u003c\/i\u003ebe your guide. David Corbett is the grand master of character development.”  —Donald Maass, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Emotional Craft of Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “With a deft hand, David takes us past writing clichés, charting a new course forward into developing resonant characters in film and print today. His insights have the potential to revolutionize the way writers understand the characters they develop. If you’re serious about your storytelling, don’t miss \u003ci\u003eThe Compass of Character\u003c\/i\u003e.” —Steven James, bestselling author of\u003ci\u003e Story Trumps Structure\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \"You won't find a more thoughtful, more human approach to crafting characters than David Corbett's. Whether you're looking to add nuance and depth to your cast, or to heighten an arc with authentically high stakes, \u003ci\u003eThe Compass of Character \u003c\/i\u003ewill point you steadily north.\" —Jessica Strawser, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eNot That I Could Tell \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “One of the best teachers today. Innovative, pragmatic and applicable. I read David Corbett before writing each novel.” —Robert Dugoni, international bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Corbett takes the obtuse, the dense, the high falutin, and he boils it down to practical advice. Every storyteller is trying to find lucid ways to unpack narrative construction, and he's done it flawlessly here. Corbett is a craft ninja.” —Joshua Mohr, best-selling author of \u003ci\u003eSirens\u003c\/i\u003eDavid Corbett is the award-winning author of the writing guides \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Character\u003c\/i\u003e (“A writer’s bible” – Elizabeth Brundage) and \u003ci\u003eThe Compass of Character\u003c\/i\u003e. He has published six novels, including \u003ci\u003eThe Long-Lost Love Letters of Doc Holliday\u003c\/i\u003e, nominated for the Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery. His short fiction has been selected twice for \u003ci\u003eBest American Mystery Stories\u003c\/i\u003e, and his non-fiction has appeared in the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times, Narrative, Bright Ideas, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eWriter’s Digest\u003c\/i\u003e, where he is a contributing editor\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e He has taught at the UCLA Writer’s Program, Litreactor, and at writing conferences across North America and Mexico, and is a monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, an award-winning blog dedicated to the craft and business of fiction.","brand":"Writer's Digest Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303324307685,"sku":"NP9781440300868","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781440300868.jpg?v=1767738766","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-compass-of-character-isbn-9781440300868","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}