When you learn more on UA-cam than school.... Jokes aside I really am glad that this content is available for people because it really helps me understand books, and how to write books, I’ve been taking notes for future reference and I love how it is understandable. Thanks for the content and keep up the great work!
The more I watch your videos the more I realize why Avatar Last Airbender has been my favorite story of all time for over a decade. Azula chooses the wrong thing every time without fail and meets a bitterly sad end in the story and directly opposing her, Zuko eventually stops believing the lie and completes the redemption arc we were all aching for the whole time and it's so very satisfying to see them battle it out in the final episode because of that. I need to go watch the show again LOL 😂
ATLA is indeed the best story of all time (for me). It literally has everything. The best character development, the best pacing, world building, dynamic characters list, a plot that isn't too dark nor too light. There's friendship, family, romance, betrayal, death, redemption, culture, and world issues like war, sexism, poverty, bullying, manipulation, hypnotism, and more. Almost all themes that matter in life are there. It's amazing they have weaved everything in one show.
My character "starts" as good.. she is the hero.. but was a bully as a child because of situations so in the present story she has to remind herself she's not that girl anymore so she is very susceptible to corruption so in book2 she gets corrupted which starts her negative character arc and by the end she needs a redemption arc.. because she is the hero afterall
As someone who brags about being a pessimist and insists that consciously deciding to be pessimistic is the best way to get through life, it has come to my attention that I may have experienced a disillusionment arc, likely caused by my extensive trauma.
So I just decided I 100% now have a disillusionment arc. For years, now, I'm tried to make my MC have a positive character arc but make a sacrifice at the end of the book, but now I realize the reason I've been struggling soooo much with this is because it doesn't reconcile with her or the rest of the novel. So disillusionment it is. She discovers a tinted view of the truth and just can't handle it (then decides she "might as well sacrifice" herself as well). RIP MC 😭😭😭I'm so, so sorry it had to be this way, ilysm
3:22 wow! Thank you for this. I was skeptical that my protagonist was on a negative character arc because there wasn't a lie she accepted, rather she repeatedly learns and accepts harsh truths. She doesn't react to these revelations by changing the world, or herself for the better, ( she explicitly avoids trying to change the world ) but by bending, avoiding, exploiting, and ignoring the rules. She is on a negative character by continually leaning further towards pessimism.
i realized that the only difference between a positive and a negative character arc is whether or not you agree with the opinion that the character arrives to at the end
We all just need to be Westons lol 😍😏 #realisticallyoptimistic Just finished rereading 100 Days Of Sunlight and I was reading it out loud with my husband and booooi let me tell you, it's a challenge reading out load when your throat is so tight from holding back tears from ALL the emotions! @abbieemmons you're a writing genius and I have great respect for you 💛😊
Disillusionment - Eren from AOT (If we kill our enemies out there, will we finally be free?) Corruption - Anakin from Star Wars Fall - Lelouch from Code Geass
Anakin falls into all three - he becomes disillusioned with the attachment-free philosophy of the Jedi Order, is corrupted (very deliberately) by Sidious, and Falls, losing everything - including Padme - as a result of his fear of losing Padme and willingness to do anything, no matter how terrible, if he can gain power over death.
Thank you so much. I’ve never considered writing in any other way than I have since I was 14. Never even knew that there was such thing as a pantser and a plotter. Your outlines and explanations really are helping me so much! Keep up the kind work, it is really bringing the big writing monster to a palatable level to encourage people to put in the work.
I have some counter points to yours (1) a character doesn't have to be in a state of disbelief at the beginning they can be positive at first and naive (2) the character doesn't always have to embrace a lie they have seen the truth and they're acting on that so the character can be evil but still have a point they might be twisted but still right in someway
Abby knows that a single writer is watching the video so she says "friend" but yeah it makes me happy to picture a group of writer friends just watching stuff together. Or like in a class. That sounds adorable
My favourite example of this is Theon Greyjoy, he has all of these steps. He had the potential to be good at the start, and had a fear based choice of going to see his father. Game changing point, when he went to his father's side. This led to his acceptance of a lie, with going to Winterfell and burning the two farm boys. And finally he had his tragic end, being captured and tortured by Ramsay Bolton and he was destroyed.
Im only 11 and working on a dystopian with the main character having a negative character arc. This video helped a lot! I was thinking that the arc I made was a little cartoonish.
This is illuminating thanks. Working on an antagonist that trades one lie for another and feels justified because of it as they think they've changed for the better. This just helped me structure it. Really needed this.
I so appreciate your insights and intelligence brought to the writing task. You are a true creative, not just because of your reflections, but your generosity - these programs take a lot of effort! Thank you.
Hi Abbie. My favorite negative character arcs from modern times are Anakin Skywalker's, Walter White's and from ancient Greek mythology Ajax, who out of false pride committed suicide and he told his beautiful wife, not to deter him from his decision. He said to her, no jewel more precious on a woman than silence. Very dramatic dialogue, if you ask me.
Today I was writing character profile for my new novel and I thought to myself: "It would be so useful if Abbie made negative character arc video". And bam here you are! Wow!!
I heard "brush with truth" and had to share one of my favorite quotes ever. "Most people brush with the truth all the time. The trouble is that most of them can pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and carry on as if nothing had happened." - Winston Churchill
Perfect timing! I was just wishing to myself the past week or so that you would have a negative character arc video, as that is what I’m currently struggling with. Thank you!
Abbie Your videos have really helped me in creating my stories. Lately I've thought that all of my stories have been pointless and there's no point. But everytime I watch your videos I realize my story can matter :) I learn so much from you every time!!
Your way off explaining is great,and mind opening. I can take a three word comment and write three pages of what i perceive from those three words. Listening to your explanations wake up things in my mind. And even though you are teaching about writing books. You can use some or all of you teachings in real life. Or at least you can recognize symptoms in others. My mission is to write books not to try and figure out whats in peoples minds. But it wakes up my mind towards something for a new character and plot. Thanks.
One of my MCs is a stubborn rebel of a teen always teasing the possibility of falling into the negative character arc without following through. It would be a good exercise to see where a negative character arc would lead them.
I don't generally enjoy negative character arc stories although I recognize the value and potential as a storytelling device and I see how it can be used to make antagonist more interesting, I'm also curious to her the authors view on combining negative story arc and a redemption story
one example of a negative character arc that i recently saw was for robbie keene on cobra kai (really awesome show, btw). robbie was already a troubled kid from the start of the show (high school drop out and petty thief, on top of hating his dad for not being around) but in season 2 he had found a mentor figure who became a father figure to him. but then robbie kicked his rival over a balcony and put him in a coma, forcing him to go on the run. in season 3, his father figure turned robbie over to the police so that robbie could get his life back together the legal way, but he saw this as a betrayal and shunned his father figure from then on. while in jail, he was visited by the antagonist who told him that he doesnt belong in jail and encouraged him to embrace his aggression. thus the antagonist became his new father figure and when he was released from jail he soon found himself joining forces with him. how this will turn out for him in season 4 remains to be seen, so we dont have the tragic end just yet. but so far we do have the conflict (robbie wants a father figure to seek guidance from), the fear based choice (rejecting his dad and mentor and seeing them both as failures), the game-changer (meeting the antagonist), and the acceptance of the lie (robbie takes the antagonist's advice to heart and joins his side).
That's right, someone who undergoes a negative arc is a conflicted person. That same conflict is also a great set up for a redemption or for any great positive arc. However, I think that one can also be completely on the good or the bad side and still undergo a negative or positive arc. Although that is something more difficult to achieve and needs a longer story in order to be successful & believable. However, it still aligns with your arguments in the video, as it does indeed need to go from his extreme belief to a conflicted state and then the ultimate change. This video was a great analysis. We've been fans of your channel for a long time now. Keep it up!
Hi Abbie, I'm a big fan of yours. I have recently published my debut novel and I dedicate it to you. You have been the reason why I was able to pull off this novel. You have no clue how I feel saying this but I have goosebumps at the moment. Really really thank you. I don't know what I would have done if I had not come against your videos. Really really fantastic job. Thank you so much. Gratitude.
Girl, I must admit, at first I hated you because I was like, what authortuber runs ads? But I was wrong. You provide so much help for writers. Love you and subscribed now. Keep doing good! 👍
I'm so glad that the corruption story I'm writting starts with an already conflicted character. Now that I watched your video, I'm more confident! Thank you
Please please please could you give more examples. I don’t necessarily mean from a book or a movie (although they are also helpful). Even just giving a brief, random example helps my brain to understand. I often have to rewatch these videos over and over to understand them properly :)
Woah I finally caught up to the current video!! This series is incredible Abbie, it's making the three act story structure make so much more sense! Thank you!
Optimist: The cup is half full. Pessimist: The cup is half empty. Realist: The cup can be refilled. Opportunist: I drank it. Nurse: What happened to my urine speciment? ---- A pessimist sees the dark tunnel. An optimist sees a light at the end of the tunnel. A realist sees a train coming. The engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks.
Great video and good timing too! I'm just about to start planning something new where the protagonist has a negative Character arc, can't wait to see next week's video for some examples. In the meantime this will really help me get some of those plot points sorted.
I write YA books with light romances and positive character arcs. I do not write negative character arcs. But this is still a great video. Abbie is so engaging and fun to listen to.
One of my characters has a negative character arch that’s the complete opposite of how my character ends in the novel like parallel opposite storylines super excited
Michael Corleone from "THE GODFATHER", at least in the first film, is a great example of the corruption arc. I've seen a video from studio binder where they explain how it is written beautifully through the story and script. I recommend anybody trying to write a negative character arc or a corruption arc specifically, to go watch the film and to watch the video by studio binder. It gives amazing insights.
I just realized...we - the authors - are the REAL creator of their destiny, since we make them choose the wrong thing. You might love them as real people, but they're still fictional. And I just shattered many hearts bc of Tessa and Weston...with my sentence before this one😂😂😂 And am I the only one who takes at least 3-page long word.docx notes and prints it off for Autumn? Tell me I'm not alone...xd
Abbie, I've started watching your videos recently, and, honestly, I am reconsidering whether or not to continue producing my own AuthorTube videos, since yours are so awesome and informative!
"Is the truth tragic?" Well, given that life enables suffering where there used to be none, I for one think the truth of the inevitable eventual extinction of all life is a good reason to be optimistic - but somehow most people don't seem to agree with me... 😁
Favorite negative character arcs: Breaking Bad and Macbeth. Shakespeare is the greatest negative arc writer I know. He really liked his tragedy. Quite the trope-hound, that Willy S.
One of my favorite negative arc characters is the one portrayed by Michael Douglas in Falling Down. It’s just one bad turn after another even though he could choose differently.
Got it, Abbie. 😁😉 However there's one remark worth noting. I'd argue that most writers especially in the past would claim they had to or have to embrace their own pessimistic tendencies to be able to write a compelling story (or in some cases truths). - However I do believe more and more see the light and come to the more positive side of the aile... 😉
Secondly there's a plausible arc more than 'the one'. If the negative arc is not spawn from a lie per say but rather the 'de-evolution' of a psykopat. They might and most likely also have a lie based believe system, but not necessarily. Their view of the world however will be disaligned with the rest of the world or they will see things as the rest of the surroundings, but without being able to forego their urges. (Egg. Criminal Minds).
I guess the fall arc is when the protagonist embraces *their* lie while in corruption and disillusionment arcs, the lie they embrace is a *different* one from the one they believed at the start
Honest question here, in the Dark Knight wasn't Harvey Dent that - positive to negative - corruption arc mentioned at the 5:00 mark ? I don't recall him being conflicted with his beliefs.
Hi Abbie, I usually really like your videos and always learn a lot from them, but this time I feel like there's something missing. I think it would be very helpful to explain the topic with some good examples. I'd love to write a story about a main character with a negative arc, but everytime I start to write I feel like the story is to dark and depressing. I have hoped to find some advice on struggles like this, maybe you could make a more in depth video on this topic some day?
I was watching your video and a thought came to my mind.... Do you apply some kind of structure to your videos to make your viewers hooked (just like you do in your books)? Because I ALWAYS feel hooked watching your videos. They not only help me to write, but they also entertain me a lot.
Oh cool, never heard of this before in this professional terms (not a writer myself and don't intend to become one). The first character that comes in mind to me is Dr. Horrible/Billy from Dr Horribles Sing Along Blog. It is only 45 minutes long if I remember correctly, but the main protagonist Dr. Horrible/Billy has a wonderful negativ arc that left me crying so hard
I am between being an optimist and a realist. I like to look on the bright side in most situations but i also realize that the world isn't always sunshine and rainbows.
Something I just though about is that when you have a negative character arc for any of your characters that doesn’t mean they go to the dark side like Dark Vader. They don’t really have to be a villain to have a satisfying negative arc. What really make a negative arc is that the character goes though a transformative journey to believe and accept their lie! You can make them become the villain nothing wrong with that and if that you thing I say go for it but if your story you feel doesn’t need a villain but you want a negative character arc just remember why does the choice the character make effect them. Why does it matter!? Like Abbie says if it doesn’t matter to the character it won’t matter to us! Just make sure of that then your character will be remembered and bonus points if you make the reader feel bad for the character that when though a negative character arc at the end! 😁
I'd like more information on a V-shaped character arc, personally. I'm currently working on a series that's slated to use a V-shaped arc for it's main character, and I'm still on the negative leg of it. The idea is taking a character who's quite accomplished and moral, and taking her down the road of corruption as a result of her attempts to protect her loved ones. The lies she believes 1. If it is my fault things are going bad for others, it is my soul duty to correct this situation through self-sacrifice, and no level of sacrifice is too much. 2. If I know a demon (and there is a demon in this series) is lying to me, I can avoid falling into it's scheme simply by using it's lie as a pointer to see what I should look at and then arrive at my own decisions based on what evidence I can gather independent of that lie. 3. I am the primary target of the enemy's current aggression, and therefore it is my fault my loved ones are being caught in the cross-fire. So, I've crafted a set of lies that actually sound like it makes her an absolute moral paragon, but there is a critical exploitable weakness in that web of lies that drags her into increasingly negative action. But, also due to how grounded in morality that set of lies is, it also gives the possibility for her to eventually drag herself back out of it after the lowest point in the V-shaped arc. Actually, if I compare this to Zuko from Avatar TLAB, I think these lies grounded in morality are a common trait of characters who are to go on a V-shaped arc, and so is self blame and being acted on by an outside force. (In my case, this demon I mentioned. In Zuko's case, his father.)
Ladies and gentlemen, Cpt. Abbie has turned on the “fasten seatbelt” sign so please remain seated, keep the comment section lit and enjoy the show.
When you learn more on UA-cam than school....
Jokes aside I really am glad that this content is available for people because it really helps me understand books, and how to write books, I’ve been taking notes for future reference and I love how it is understandable. Thanks for the content and keep up the great work!
Amen to that!
The more I watch your videos the more I realize why Avatar Last Airbender has been my favorite story of all time for over a decade. Azula chooses the wrong thing every time without fail and meets a bitterly sad end in the story and directly opposing her, Zuko eventually stops believing the lie and completes the redemption arc we were all aching for the whole time and it's so very satisfying to see them battle it out in the final episode because of that.
I need to go watch the show again LOL 😂
Fax
Facts
ATLA is indeed the best story of all time (for me). It literally has everything. The best character development, the best pacing, world building, dynamic characters list, a plot that isn't too dark nor too light. There's friendship, family, romance, betrayal, death, redemption, culture, and world issues like war, sexism, poverty, bullying, manipulation, hypnotism, and more. Almost all themes that matter in life are there. It's amazing they have weaved everything in one show.
I got my friends into ATLA and they said it's one of the best and most well-written shows they'e ever watched. I 100% agree.
Okay, we have the Negative Arc. How about doing a complete negative to a positive arc? Please?! 🥺😁
So the redemption arc?
I would be down for that! There's some characters of mine who start in the negative and ultimately realize the truth.
My character "starts" as good.. she is the hero.. but was a bully as a child because of situations so in the present story she has to remind herself she's not that girl anymore so she is very susceptible to corruption so in book2 she gets corrupted which starts her negative character arc and by the end she needs a redemption arc.. because she is the hero afterall
Zuko
Mine is the positive to negative to positive arc 😂
As someone who brags about being a pessimist and insists that consciously deciding to be pessimistic is the best way to get through life, it has come to my attention that I may have experienced a disillusionment arc, likely caused by my extensive trauma.
I see in this comment the begging game of a redemption arch! Happy for you!!
So I just decided I 100% now have a disillusionment arc. For years, now, I'm tried to make my MC have a positive character arc but make a sacrifice at the end of the book, but now I realize the reason I've been struggling soooo much with this is because it doesn't reconcile with her or the rest of the novel. So disillusionment it is. She discovers a tinted view of the truth and just can't handle it (then decides she "might as well sacrifice" herself as well). RIP MC 😭😭😭I'm so, so sorry it had to be this way, ilysm
3:22 wow! Thank you for this. I was skeptical that my protagonist was on a negative character arc because there wasn't a lie she accepted, rather she repeatedly learns and accepts harsh truths. She doesn't react to these revelations by changing the world, or herself for the better, ( she explicitly avoids trying to change the world ) but by bending, avoiding, exploiting, and ignoring the rules. She is on a negative character by continually leaning further towards pessimism.
"Realistically optimistic" - *Abbie is Dr. Carl confirmed*
I would say i am realistically pessimistic
A optimist realist is me
Great timing! I’m working on a negative character arc for a side character right now. This couldn’t have come at a better time.
i realized that the only difference between a positive and a negative character arc is whether or not you agree with the opinion that the character arrives to at the end
We all just need to be Westons lol 😍😏 #realisticallyoptimistic
Just finished rereading 100 Days Of Sunlight and I was reading it out loud with my husband and booooi let me tell you, it's a challenge reading out load when your throat is so tight from holding back tears from ALL the emotions! @abbieemmons you're a writing genius and I have great respect for you 💛😊
Disillusionment - Eren from AOT (If we kill our enemies out there, will we finally be free?)
Corruption - Anakin from Star Wars
Fall - Lelouch from Code Geass
Eren fits into Fall, aswell
Anakin falls into all three - he becomes disillusioned with the attachment-free philosophy of the Jedi Order, is corrupted (very deliberately) by Sidious, and Falls, losing everything - including Padme - as a result of his fear of losing Padme and willingness to do anything, no matter how terrible, if he can gain power over death.
Thank you so much. I’ve never considered writing in any other way than I have since I was 14. Never even knew that there was such thing as a pantser and a plotter. Your outlines and explanations really are helping me so much! Keep up the kind work, it is really bringing the big writing monster to a palatable level to encourage people to put in the work.
Honestly didn’t know what a negative character arc was. Watched the video and it’s describing my main character’s arc XD
I have some counter points to yours (1) a character doesn't have to be in a state of disbelief at the beginning they can be positive at first and naive (2) the character doesn't always have to embrace a lie they have seen the truth and they're acting on that so the character can be evil but still have a point they might be twisted but still right in someway
I was literally writing out my character arcs and discovered negative arcs. Right on time. Great video Abby!
Abby knows that a single writer is watching the video so she says "friend" but yeah it makes me happy to picture a group of writer friends just watching stuff together. Or like in a class. That sounds adorable
When you realize your MC is an anti-hero with a negative character arc...
My favourite example of this is Theon Greyjoy, he has all of these steps. He had the potential to be good at the start, and had a fear based choice of going to see his father. Game changing point, when he went to his father's side. This led to his acceptance of a lie, with going to Winterfell and burning the two farm boys. And finally he had his tragic end, being captured and tortured by Ramsay Bolton and he was destroyed.
Magical timing!! My protagonist gets a negative character arc... I didn't know how to execute it. Now I do. Thank you!!
Im only 11 and working on a dystopian with the main character having a negative character arc. This video helped a lot! I was thinking that the arc I made was a little cartoonish.
you’re awesome! I’m sure your story will be great! keep writing :)
@@nacholibrefan2 Thank you!
Ooh. Main character with a negative character arc. Now THAT has potential.
@@hedgehogz_rockz9325 Thank you! I’ve been working really hard on it to make sure it has potential
This is illuminating thanks. Working on an antagonist that trades one lie for another and feels justified because of it as they think they've changed for the better. This just helped me structure it. Really needed this.
I so appreciate your insights and intelligence brought to the writing task. You are a true creative, not just because of your reflections, but your generosity - these programs take a lot of effort! Thank you.
Hi Abbie. My favorite negative character arcs from modern times are Anakin Skywalker's, Walter White's and from ancient Greek mythology Ajax, who out of false pride committed suicide and he told his beautiful wife, not to deter him from his decision. He said to her, no jewel more precious on a woman than silence. Very dramatic dialogue, if you ask me.
I wasn’t needing this, but I got SUPER EXCITED to see this video in my notifications! Now I’m going to have to come up with an antagonist...
Today I was writing character profile for my new novel and I thought to myself: "It would be so useful if Abbie made negative character arc video". And bam here you are! Wow!!
Please do "How to analyze stories and Learn from them" next.
I’d honestly kill for this lmao
I heard "brush with truth" and had to share one of my favorite quotes ever. "Most people brush with the truth all the time. The trouble is that most of them can pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and carry on as if nothing had happened." - Winston Churchill
Perfect timing! I was just wishing to myself the past week or so that you would have a negative character arc video, as that is what I’m currently struggling with. Thank you!
Abbie Your videos have really helped me in creating my stories. Lately I've thought that all of my stories have been pointless and there's no point. But everytime I watch your videos I realize my story can matter :) I learn so much from you every time!!
Your way off explaining is great,and mind opening. I can take a three word comment and write three pages of what i perceive from those three words. Listening to your explanations wake up things in my mind. And even though you are teaching about writing books. You can use some or all of you teachings in real life. Or at least you can recognize symptoms in others. My mission is to write books not to try and figure out whats in peoples minds. But it wakes up my mind towards something for a new character and plot. Thanks.
What you described is exactly what my “villain” goes through
I'm just outlining a project with a negative character arc so this is perfect timing!
One of my MCs is a stubborn rebel of a teen always teasing the possibility of falling into the negative character arc without following through. It would be a good exercise to see where a negative character arc would lead them.
I don't generally enjoy negative character arc stories although I recognize the value and potential as a storytelling device and I see how it can be used to make antagonist more interesting, I'm also curious to her the authors view on combining negative story arc and a redemption story
one example of a negative character arc that i recently saw was for robbie keene on cobra kai (really awesome show, btw). robbie was already a troubled kid from the start of the show (high school drop out and petty thief, on top of hating his dad for not being around) but in season 2 he had found a mentor figure who became a father figure to him. but then robbie kicked his rival over a balcony and put him in a coma, forcing him to go on the run. in season 3, his father figure turned robbie over to the police so that robbie could get his life back together the legal way, but he saw this as a betrayal and shunned his father figure from then on. while in jail, he was visited by the antagonist who told him that he doesnt belong in jail and encouraged him to embrace his aggression. thus the antagonist became his new father figure and when he was released from jail he soon found himself joining forces with him.
how this will turn out for him in season 4 remains to be seen, so we dont have the tragic end just yet. but so far we do have the conflict (robbie wants a father figure to seek guidance from), the fear based choice (rejecting his dad and mentor and seeing them both as failures), the game-changer (meeting the antagonist), and the acceptance of the lie (robbie takes the antagonist's advice to heart and joins his side).
Now you got me thinking if I should give my negative character an arc
That's right, someone who undergoes a negative arc is a conflicted person. That same conflict is also a great set up for a redemption or for any great positive arc. However, I think that one can also be completely on the good or the bad side and still undergo a negative or positive arc. Although that is something more difficult to achieve and needs a longer story in order to be successful & believable. However, it still aligns with your arguments in the video, as it does indeed need to go from his extreme belief to a conflicted state and then the ultimate change.
This video was a great analysis. We've been fans of your channel for a long time now.
Keep it up!
Hi Abbie, I'm a big fan of yours. I have recently published my debut novel and I dedicate it to you. You have been the reason why I was able to pull off this novel. You have no clue how I feel saying this but I have goosebumps at the moment. Really really thank you. I don't know what I would have done if I had not come against your videos. Really really fantastic job. Thank you so much. Gratitude.
Girl, I must admit, at first I hated you because I was like, what authortuber runs ads? But I was wrong. You provide so much help for writers. Love you and subscribed now. Keep doing good! 👍
Your positive energy and passion is SO inspiring as a writer!! 😁
I'm so glad that the corruption story I'm writting starts with an already conflicted character. Now that I watched your video, I'm more confident! Thank you
Please please please could you give more examples. I don’t necessarily mean from a book or a movie (although they are also helpful). Even just giving a brief, random example helps my brain to understand. I often have to rewatch these videos over and over to understand them properly :)
I got the “realistically optimistic” reference. Nice Touch! And thanks for the great video!
It rang the bell for me, but I couldn't quite catch it. What was it?
@Miranda Osmelak A good old reference to 100 Days of Sunlight!
@@Spark_is_right_here thank you:)
Woah I finally caught up to the current video!! This series is incredible Abbie, it's making the three act story structure make so much more sense! Thank you!
Ooo, I'm diggin' the soundtrack.
Optimist: The cup is half full.
Pessimist: The cup is half empty.
Realist: The cup can be refilled.
Opportunist: I drank it.
Nurse: What happened to my urine speciment?
----
A pessimist sees the dark tunnel.
An optimist sees a light at the end of the tunnel.
A realist sees a train coming.
The engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks.
Lol
I'VE WAITED FOR THIS SO LONG!!!!! THANK YOU ABBIE!!!!!! 💛💛💛
SAME HERE🎉💛
Is it just me or is that intro lookin even snappier this year??? 🔥🔥 And, Abbiee, your hair is goregeous!!!!! Love!!!
I've been waiting for this video for a really long time! Thank you!
Loved the reference to 100 Days of Sunlight.
Great video and good timing too! I'm just about to start planning something new where the protagonist has a negative Character arc, can't wait to see next week's video for some examples. In the meantime this will really help me get some of those plot points sorted.
You are the most insightful storytelling teacher I have found, keep doing this!
I write YA books with light romances and positive character arcs. I do not write negative character arcs. But this is still a great video. Abbie is so engaging and fun to listen to.
Out of curiosity, why don't you write neg. character arcs?
@@jge8144 I'm not against them, they just wouldn't fit in with what I write.
Oof you know when she says to grab a notebook things get real!
One of my characters has a negative character arch that’s the complete opposite of how my character ends in the novel like parallel opposite storylines super excited
Love Your Work, You Are My New Hero...
Keep up This Good Work, Sweetie!!!
Michael Corleone from "THE GODFATHER", at least in the first film, is a great example of the corruption arc. I've seen a video from studio binder where they explain how it is written beautifully through the story and script. I recommend anybody trying to write a negative character arc or a corruption arc specifically, to go watch the film and to watch the video by studio binder. It gives amazing insights.
This inspired me to think about using this as a the character arc for one of my main character's parents' plots. (Confusing, I know!)
The Witch is an amazing negative character arc
Yes I’ve been waiting for this !!! Thank you Abbie!
Amazing steps. It was exactly what I needed for my main character.
LOVE this. Super helpful and exactly what I needed!
Omg I've always called myself an Optimistic Realist... I'm so thankful I'm not alone! haha
I just realized...we - the authors - are the REAL creator of their destiny, since we make them choose the wrong thing. You might love them as real people, but they're still fictional. And I just shattered many hearts bc of Tessa and Weston...with my sentence before this one😂😂😂
And am I the only one who takes at least 3-page long word.docx notes and prints it off for Autumn? Tell me I'm not alone...xd
Abbie, I've started watching your videos recently, and, honestly, I am reconsidering whether or not to continue producing my own AuthorTube videos, since yours are so awesome and informative!
"Is the truth tragic?" Well, given that life enables suffering where there used to be none, I for one think the truth of the inevitable eventual extinction of all life is a good reason to be optimistic - but somehow most people don't seem to agree with me... 😁
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO FOR FOREVER
Happy New Year sister! I find your vlog useful and sharp. Thank you!
I GOT THE REFERENCE! YEAH WESTON!
Awesome video! Looking forward to seeing those case studies :)
Favorite negative character arcs: Breaking Bad and Macbeth. Shakespeare is the greatest negative arc writer I know. He really liked his tragedy. Quite the trope-hound, that Willy S.
Best channel to discover during Pandemic 🖤
YAS ABBIE! SLAY! Can you do a revision and editing series...and then a publishing / business side of things series! Thanks love ya ! 💕
Awesome! I'm currently writing a one for my game and this will certainly help! Thank you very much!
They're great tips for writing Noir, and Neo-noir. Thank you!
One of my favorite negative arc characters is the one portrayed by Michael Douglas in Falling Down. It’s just one bad turn after another even though he could choose differently.
Incredibly helpful, thank you
Got it, Abbie. 😁😉 However there's one remark worth noting. I'd argue that most writers especially in the past would claim they had to or have to embrace their own pessimistic tendencies to be able to write a compelling story (or in some cases truths). - However I do believe more and more see the light and come to the more positive side of the aile... 😉
Secondly there's a plausible arc more than 'the one'. If the negative arc is not spawn from a lie per say but rather the 'de-evolution' of a psykopat. They might and most likely also have a lie based believe system, but not necessarily. Their view of the world however will be disaligned with the rest of the world or they will see things as the rest of the surroundings, but without being able to forego their urges. (Egg. Criminal Minds).
I guess the fall arc is when the protagonist embraces *their* lie while in corruption and disillusionment arcs, the lie they embrace is a *different* one from the one they believed at the start
Ohh this is so great! Especially because this is the arc I am writing right now!
This video was very helpful! Thank you for making it! Have an amazing day!
Honest question here, in the Dark Knight wasn't Harvey Dent that - positive to negative - corruption arc mentioned at the 5:00 mark ? I don't recall him being conflicted with his beliefs.
I was thinking the same thing.
But that worked didn't it
Today is the first day I don't come from the future and can't click the link on the top
Hi Abbie,
I usually really like your videos and always learn a lot from them, but this time I feel like there's something missing. I think it would be very helpful to explain the topic with some good examples.
I'd love to write a story about a main character with a negative arc, but everytime I start to write I feel like the story is to dark and depressing. I have hoped to find some advice on struggles like this, maybe you could make a more in depth video on this topic some day?
"But can they go from negative to po-"
Proceeds to explain that exact question.
"....... No more questions."
Amazing video! Totally got the reference 🙃💛 And love the new music!!
Whats up with the passive aggressive smile emoji?
@@hedgehogz_rockz9325 hahah nothing is up to be honest! I just like the emoji and used it without knowing what it meant.
This was more thought provoking for my books. Thank you
YAAAS! Abbie finally turned to the dark side!
"Being realistically optimistic" "There's no such thing" 😂 100 Days of Sunlight!
I was watching your video and a thought came to my mind....
Do you apply some kind of structure to your videos to make your viewers hooked (just like you do in your books)?
Because I ALWAYS feel hooked watching your videos. They not only help me to write, but they also entertain me a lot.
Will you be doing a positive character arc video? That one would be really helpful!
Dr. horrible sing along blot follows this really well! 7:14
I love these videos! Im addicted to them.
I'm going to write a Christian/angel story, and I'm going to use the Fall Arc for Lucifer.
Amazing video!
Yeah Abby😀😀😀😀😀.
Great video, could you do a video on how to write a serial novels and also how to find your characters deepest fear.
Thanks👍👍👍💖💖💖💖
Oh cool, never heard of this before in this professional terms (not a writer myself and don't intend to become one). The first character that comes in mind to me is Dr. Horrible/Billy from Dr Horribles Sing Along Blog. It is only 45 minutes long if I remember correctly, but the main protagonist Dr. Horrible/Billy has a wonderful negativ arc that left me crying so hard
I am between being an optimist and a realist. I like to look on the bright side in most situations but i also realize that the world isn't always sunshine and rainbows.
Something I just though about is that when you have a negative character arc for any of your characters that doesn’t mean they go to the dark side like Dark Vader. They don’t really have to be a villain to have a satisfying negative arc. What really make a negative arc is that the character goes though a transformative journey to believe and accept their lie! You can make them become the villain nothing wrong with that and if that you thing I say go for it but if your story you feel doesn’t need a villain but you want a negative character arc just remember why does the choice the character make effect them. Why does it matter!? Like Abbie says if it doesn’t matter to the character it won’t matter to us!
Just make sure of that then your character will be remembered and bonus points if you make the reader feel bad for the character that when though a negative character arc at the end! 😁
I'd like more information on a V-shaped character arc, personally. I'm currently working on a series that's slated to use a V-shaped arc for it's main character, and I'm still on the negative leg of it.
The idea is taking a character who's quite accomplished and moral, and taking her down the road of corruption as a result of her attempts to protect her loved ones.
The lies she believes
1. If it is my fault things are going bad for others, it is my soul duty to correct this situation through self-sacrifice, and no level of sacrifice is too much.
2. If I know a demon (and there is a demon in this series) is lying to me, I can avoid falling into it's scheme simply by using it's lie as a pointer to see what I should look at and then arrive at my own decisions based on what evidence I can gather independent of that lie.
3. I am the primary target of the enemy's current aggression, and therefore it is my fault my loved ones are being caught in the cross-fire.
So, I've crafted a set of lies that actually sound like it makes her an absolute moral paragon, but there is a critical exploitable weakness in that web of lies that drags her into increasingly negative action. But, also due to how grounded in morality that set of lies is, it also gives the possibility for her to eventually drag herself back out of it after the lowest point in the V-shaped arc.
Actually, if I compare this to Zuko from Avatar TLAB, I think these lies grounded in morality are a common trait of characters who are to go on a V-shaped arc, and so is self blame and being acted on by an outside force. (In my case, this demon I mentioned. In Zuko's case, his father.)