How to Write an Unforgettable Corruption Arc

by L.T. Ellis | Sep 27, 2024 | Character Creation, Writing

How to Write an Unforgettable Corruption Arc

I love watching a once-good character slowly descend into darkness. But it’s also easy to get wrong. Whether you’re writing a novel, a screenplay, or even a D&D campaign, a corruption arc can add depth, tension, and emotional weight to your story. But getting it right can be tricky. So, how do you write a corruption arc that really hits home?

1. Start With a Strong Moral Compass

I’m starting with this because the first time I wrote a corruption arc, this was the part I got wrong. I really just wrote a bad character becoming more bad as the story went on, and ended up with a terribly unsatisfying ending.

If you want to write a convincing corruption arc, your character has to start off with a solid moral code or some kind of guiding principle. The bigger the fall, the more impactful it feels. Think about Walter White in Breaking Bad. He starts as a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher with a pretty clear sense of right and wrong. He’s doing what he can to provide for his family in the face of a terminal cancer diagnosis. He’s sympathetic, relatable.

You want your readers or viewers to be on the character’s side from the beginning. If your character starts off morally gray or already prone to sketchy decisions, their corruption won’t be as compelling because, well, they didn’t have as far to fall.

2. Introduce a Temptation or Dilemma

Corruption doesn’t happen overnight. I mean unless you’re Sauron or Lord Voldemort who both seemed to be evil from birth. It’s usually the result of a slow, steady erosion of values. One of the most effective ways to start this erosion is by introducing a powerful temptation or moral dilemma that makes the character question their beliefs.

The trick here is to make the character’s first questionable decision feel justified — even necessary. You must make them a little delulu. Maybe they tell themselves it’s for the greater good, or maybe they think they can control it. The important thing is that the temptation feels real and convincing, not forced.

3. Escalate the Stakes

Once your character makes their first questionable choice, you have to keep raising the stakes. Each decision should become progressively darker, and each new step should seem like it’s a logical extension of the last one.

A great corruption arc doesn’t just involve one major decision that changes everything — it’s a series of small compromises that lead to a place your character swore they’d never go. This gradual escalation is what keeps your readers hooked. They can see the character sinking deeper, often while the character themselves remains in denial about how far they’ve fallen.

4. Highlight the Internal Struggle

This was another thing I struggled with. A corruption arc is as much about internal conflict as it is about external actions. A lot of the time I found myself so focused on what my character was doing, I wasn’t properly revealing how they internally felt about their actions. The best arcs show us the character’s inner turmoil. They should wrestle with guilt, self-justification, fear, or even excitement as they descend into darkness. This internal battle helps make the character’s transformation more relatable and tragic.

Some ways to handle this is through dialogue, inner monologue, or symbolic imagery that shows how they’re grappling with the changes in their behavior. You want to remind the reader that the person they were at the beginning is still in there — even if they’re being buried by layers of bad choices.

5. Show the Fallout

Oh this is so so so important. No matter the character, there must be consequences. A key part of any corruption arc is showing the damage your character’s choices inflict on their relationships, their environment, and themselves. Friends and loved ones might start to notice the change, or maybe they get swept up in it. The fallout makes the corruption feel real and creates emotional consequences for the character’s actions.

It’s also a good way to contrast who your character used to be with who they are now. Have someone close to them call out the changes, or better yet, mirror the person they used to be, which creates dramatic tension.

6. End With a Consequence (or Redemption)

Finally, you need to decide how the corruption arc will end. Does your character face the consequences of their actions? Do they become fully corrupted, beyond hope? Or do they realize what they’ve done and try to seek redemption?

There’s no right or wrong way to end a corruption arc, but it should feel earned. If they face consequences, it has to be directly tied to the choices they’ve made. If they seek redemption, it should be a struggle that forces them to confront everything they’ve done.

Final Thoughts: Writing a Corruption Arc

For me, a corruption arc is one of the best ways to display the complexities of human nature. Watching a character lose themselves, little by little can be gut-wrenching and relatable. The key is to make each step of their descent feel believable, even inevitable, while keeping their internal struggle front and center. Whether they end in ruin or claw their way back to the light, the journey should be compelling and deeply human.

What are your favorite examples of corruption arcs in stories? Drop them in the comments!

Up Next: 20 Character Death Ideas

6 Things to Avoid in Your First Chapter

by L.T. Ellis | Sep 25, 2024 | Writing

6 Things to Avoid in Your First Chapter

Alright, so you’ve finally decided to start that novel that’s been brewing in the back of your mind forever, huh? That’s very exciting, but if you’re anything like me, the first chapter can feel like an unclimbable mountain. You want to pull readers in, introduce them to your world, and drop some hints about your story without overwhelming (or worse, boring) them.

There’s a lot of pressure to nail that opening, and it’s easy to fall into a few common traps along the way. I’m gonna try to save you some headaches. Here are six things you should avoid in your first chapter:

1. Info-Dumping Your Worldbuilding

Yes, your world is probably awesome. Maybe it’s a medieval kingdom ruled by dragons, or a futuristic society where people live in floating cities. But dumping pages of background info right at the start is a quick way to lose readers. We don’t need to know the entire history of your world or how the economic systems work in the first few paragraphs. Give us just enough to understand where we are, then sprinkle in more details as the story progresses. Trust your readers to pick things up as they go.

2. Introducing Too Many Characters

It’s tempting to roll out the full cast in Chapter One. I mean, for me, there’s so many of my characters I love. I just want to hurry and introduce them all. But trying to keep track of ten different people, each with distinct personalities, goals, and backstories, can be overwhelming for readers. Start small. Give us a couple of key players to focus on and let us get to know them. Once we’re invested, then you can introduce more characters.

3. Starting with a Cliché

How many times have we seen a story start with a character waking up to the sound of their alarm? Or gazing out a window, thinking about how they’re different from everyone else? These openings have been done to death, and while there’s always room to twist a cliché, they often feel stale. Try to find a unique or intriguing way to introduce your story. Maybe your protagonist is fleeing from something or about to lead an army into war.

4. Too Much Internal Monologue

I’ve found myself accidentally doing this a lot. We all love to get inside our characters’ heads, but spending an entire chapter inside someone’s thoughts can drag things down. You want to balance introspection with action. What’s happening around your character? How do their thoughts drive their decisions and interactions with the world? Let them think, sure, but don’t let it become a therapy session. We need to see them doing things, too.

5. Overcomplicating the Plot Right Away

Yes, a good story needs twists, layers, and mystery. But the first chapter is not the place to throw in every plot thread you have in mind. Readers need time to settle into your story before you hit them with multiple timelines, ten different subplots, or a convoluted mystery. Keep it simple at the start. Hook us with something compelling, but save some of the more intricate stuff for later.

6. Lack of a Hook

This one’s important. The first chapter is your chance to grab readers by the collar and make them care. If the opening drags or feels too vague, they might not stick around. You don’t need to open with an explosion (though that could be fun), but you do need something that makes readers want to turn the page. Maybe it’s a big question, a surprising revelation, or a tense situation your character needs to navigate. Whatever it is, give us a reason to keep going.

My Final Thoughts: 6 Things to Avoid in Your First Chapter

Starting a new novel is always an adventure, and the first chapter is your gateway to the journey. It doesn’t have to be perfect from the start (that’s what revisions are for!), but avoiding these common pitfalls can set you up for success. Keep it intriguing, keep it focused, and above all, keep us wanting more. You’ve got this!

Now, go write that first chapter like a boss.

Up Next: 20 Character Death Ideas

Writing a Classic Tavern Scene

by L.T. Ellis | Sep 23, 2024 | Writing

Writing the Classic Tavern Scene:

Ah, the classic tavern scene—an iconic part of many fantasy stories. If you’re a fan of swords and sorcery, you’ve probably encountered this scene countless times. It’s the quintessential meeting place, where rogues, adventurers, and mysterious old men with prophecies gather to drink away their troubles. But how do you write one that stands out?

Let’s break down what makes a tavern scene work, and then we’ll talk about some ways to flip the script and add some spice to it.

Setting the Mood

First things first: ambiance is everything. I’m a big description fan, but specifically using the setting to enhance the plot. Think about the mood you want to establish. Is the tavern warm and cozy, with a fire crackling in the hearth and the smell of roasted meats wafting through the air? Or is it grimy and rough, filled with rowdy patrons, spilled ale, and a sense of danger? Is it a space tavern with laser guns and weird alien mocktails?

The tavern is often a microcosm (I’ve always wanted to use this word LOL) of the world outside it. If your world is a harsh, lawless place, then the tavern might be a lawless place, too. On the other hand, if it’s a sanctuary for weary travelers, then maybe it’s got a friendly innkeeper and a few comfortable chairs by the fireplace. Whatever direction you go, use sensory details to bring it to life.

Characters: Who’s in the Tavern?

The tavern scene is often a great place to introduce characters, and not just your main ones. Use the opportunity to populate the space with colorful side characters—grumpy barmaids, loud drunkards, a mysterious stranger brooding in the corner. Give them little quirks to make them memorable. Maybe the barmaid’s always humming a tune, or the old man at the bar has an eyepatch and claims to have fought pirates (whether that’s true is up for debate).

Dialogue is another key element here. Tavern talk should feel lively and natural, giving the reader a sense of the world and its people. Maybe there’s some gossip that hints at larger events in your world. Maybe there’s a local drunk spinning tall tales that your characters don’t believe—until they find out later he wasn’t lying (Love the trope where the funny poem turns out to be real. Like Demon Pox in Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Angel Series)

A few typical character types you might see in a tavern:

The Brooding Stranger: Someone sitting in the corner, either nursing a drink or scanning the room like they’re waiting for something—or someone.
The Drunk: Whether for comic relief or tragic backstory fodder, this person’s had too much to drink and won’t stop telling their life story.
The Informant: A character who has vital information but may require some coaxing to share it. Often a little shady, but useful.
The Band of Adventurers: Sometimes the tavern isn’t just where your heroes start their journey—maybe they run into another group of adventurers. Are they rivals? Allies? Something in between?

Plot: What Happens Here?

Taverns are ripe for inciting events. Perhaps they overhear something important, or maybe a brawl breaks out and they get dragged into it. Taverns are social places, so it’s easy to work in conflict or drama. Someone could challenge them to a duel, or maybe an assassin quietly slips poison into a drink. Use the scene to push the story forward.

Alternatively, your characters might be there to meet someone (an informant, a contact, or an old friend). It’s a great way to build suspense—let your characters arrive, have them order a drink, wait… and wait… until they realize something’s gone wrong.

One thing to remember: taverns don’t have to be a static pit stop. You can throw in action or tension even in what seems like a routine situation.

Tropes: Leaning In vs. Subverting

We all love the classic tropes—there’s a reason the “adventurers meet in a tavern” scene endures. It’s familiar, it works, and it often feels like a natural starting point for a quest. But tropes can become predictable, so consider how you might lean into them, twist them, or subvert them entirely.

For instance, the classic “mysterious old man with a quest” is fun, but what if the old man turns out to be a fraud? Or what if the quest is a wild goose chase, a distraction from something far more important?

Or what if the tavern itself is more than it seems? Maybe it’s a front for a thieves’ guild, or the bartender is an undercover spy. Perhaps the tavern is enchanted, and once the characters enter, they can’t leave until they’ve solved a puzzle or answered a riddle. There’s a lot of room to play with expectation here.

Spicing Up the Tavern Scene: Flip the Script

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about ways to invert or spice up the scene. Here are a few ideas to make your tavern scene feel fresh:

The Tavern Isn’t What It Seems: Maybe it’s not a tavern at all. It could be a magical illusion, a trap, or even the inside of a creature (weird, but hey, this is fantasy). Or perhaps the tavern exists between worlds—people from different timelines or dimensions all show up here, leading to some truly bizarre interactions.
A Tavern Without Alcohol: Imagine a fantasy tavern where, due to a strict local law or some magical prohibition, no alcohol is served. Maybe they only serve tea or enchanted water that shows people visions instead of getting them drunk. How would that change the interactions and the overall vibe?
Role Reversal: Instead of your characters being the ones seeking information, what if they’re the ones everyone is watching? Maybe they’ve unknowingly walked into a tavern filled with bounty hunters, and there’s a price on their heads. Suddenly, they’re not the ones casually observing—they’re being observed.
Tavern in a Weird Location: The typical fantasy tavern is in a bustling town or village. But what if the tavern is somewhere unexpected—like deep in the wilderness, floating on a sky island, or even underground in a forgotten ruin? The setting alone could make for a unique scene.
The Tavern as a Living Entity: What if the tavern itself is alive, enchanted by some ancient magic? Maybe it changes its layout depending on who enters, or perhaps it has a personality and “likes” or “dislikes” certain patrons. Your characters might need to bargain with the tavern itself just to get a drink or a room for the night.

Final Thoughts on Writing a Tavern Scene

The tavern scene is a beloved staple of fantasy writing, but it doesn’t have to be formulaic. By focusing on the details—setting, characters, plot—and finding ways to twist or subvert classic tropes, you can create a memorable tavern scene that’s anything but ordinary. So next time your adventurers walk through those creaky wooden doors, ask yourself: What’s going to make this scene stand out?

And remember, the best thing about a tavern is that anything can happen. The ale’s cold, the fire’s warm, and the possibilities are endless.