Svrtnsse submitted a new blog post:
Character Agency for Beginners
by Nils Ödlund
If you've been around people interested in the art of storytelling, chances are you've heard someone claim that characters need agency. If you're anything like me you may have a vague impression that it's about giving the character a reason of their own for doing things. That's sort of correct.
I'll try and clear things up a little. What is agency really? What's it good for, and what are some practical examples? How can I tell if my characters have agency?
What Is Character Agency?
There's a number of different definitions of what character agency is. Google it, and you'll find them (along with other articles trying to explain it). Let's look at a few:
Agency is...
Do note that it's not necessarily about making the right things happen. Agency isn't about being successful – it's about doing, or even just about making the decision to do something. It's not about winning;...
Continue reading the Original Blog Post.
Character Agency for Beginners
by Nils Ödlund
If you've been around people interested in the art of storytelling, chances are you've heard someone claim that characters need agency. If you're anything like me you may have a vague impression that it's about giving the character a reason of their own for doing things. That's sort of correct.
I'll try and clear things up a little. What is agency really? What's it good for, and what are some practical examples? How can I tell if my characters have agency?
What Is Character Agency?
There's a number of different definitions of what character agency is. Google it, and you'll find them (along with other articles trying to explain it). Let's look at a few:
Agency is...
- ...an actor's capacity to act in an environment.
- ...a character's ability to make meaningful decisions.
- ...a demonstration of a character's ability to affect the story.
Do note that it's not necessarily about making the right things happen. Agency isn't about being successful – it's about doing, or even just about making the decision to do something. It's not about winning;...
Continue reading the Original Blog Post.