The Art of Character by David Corbett Summary
Overview of The Art of Character
Master storyteller David Corbett's "The Art of Character" unlocks the five cornerstones of unforgettable characters. Why do acclaimed writers consider this their secret weapon? From "Breaking Bad" to "Macbeth," discover how desire and contradiction create characters readers can't forget - and neither will your audience.
Similar books to The Art of Character
Siente el libro a través de la voz del autor
Convierte el conocimiento en ideas atractivas y llenas de ejemplos
Captura ideas clave en un instante para un aprendizaje rápido
Disfruta el libro de una manera divertida y atractiva
Puntos Clave
Beyond the Blank Page: Why Characters Haunt Us
What separates a forgettable character from one who lives in our minds long after we close the book? Consider Tom Ripley, whose layered deceptions and impenetrable void at his core made Patricia Highsmith's creation unforgettable. Or Omar from *The Wire*, simultaneously a shotgun-toting vigilante and tenderly affectionate lover. These contradictions don't just make characters interesting-they make them *real*. Character creation isn't about filling out questionnaires or mapping personality types. It's about understanding the mysterious alchemy between deliberate craft and intuitive discovery, between what we plan and what surprises us on the page. Some writers experience characters as pre-existing beings they simply uncover. Playwright Martin McDonagh described his characters "jabbering" at him incessantly, as if they existed somewhere waiting to be found. Others build characters gradually through persistent refinement, like Michelangelo freeing figures from marble. The truth? Most writers alternate between both approaches-starting with an impression and developing it through scenes that evoke conflict, desire, and vulnerability. This explains those magical moments when characters surprise their creators. After doing the hard work of developing specifics, your unconscious transforms raw material into something organic. Like Geppetto with Pinocchio, you work lovingly until your creation takes on independence. But here's the crucial insight: a character's source is merely a beginning. Becoming wedded to your first impression leads to mere elaboration rather than true development. Characters who truly live must change and surprise you, contradicting initial impressions in credible ways. The dream image needs a story; the real person needs an imagined inner life; the archetype needs flesh and blood.
The Five Elements That Breathe Life Into Fiction
The Body Speaks: Physical and Sensory Details That Reveal Soul
The Invisible Architecture: Mapping Emotional and Psychological Landscapes
The Social Web: Family, Relationships, and Identity in Constellation
The Crucible of Change: Three Essential Questions That Drive Every Story
Your Characters, Your Mirror: Voice, Dialog, and the Writer's Transformation
Modo Resumen Rápido - Lee o escucha el resumen de The Art of Character en 10 minutos
Desglosa las ideas clave de The Art of Character en puntos fáciles de entender para comprender cómo los equipos innovadores crean, colaboran y crecen.
Modo Tarjeta Flash - Las 10 Ideas Principales de The Art of Character en Resumen
Destila The Art of Character en pistas de memoria rápidas que resaltan los principios clave de franqueza, trabajo en equipo y resiliencia creativa.
Modo Divertido - Lecciones de The Art of Character Contadas en Historias de 23 Min
Experimenta The Art of Character a través de narraciones vívidas que convierten las lecciones de innovación en momentos que recordarás y aplicarás.
Modo Personalizar - Lee o escucha el resumen de The Art of Character en 0 minutos
Pregunta lo que quieras, elige la voz y co-crea ideas que realmente resuenen contigo.
Creado por exalumnos de la Universidad de Columbia en San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Creado por exalumnos de la Universidad de Columbia en San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Obtén el resumen de The Art of Character como PDF o EPUB gratis. Imprímelo o léelo sin conexión en cualquier momento.