Does Your Character need an Arc?

A character arc is the emotional or psychological transformation a character undergoes over the course of the story. It shows how they change (or don’t) in response to events, conflicts, and self-discov

The Three Main Types of Arcs

1. Positive (Growth) Arc
   • What it is: The character overcomes internal flaws, learns a vital lesson, and becomes stronger or wiser.
   • When to use: Uplifting stories or any narrative where transformation is central.
   • Example: Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Negative (Fall) Arc
   • What it is: The character’s flaws worsen, leading to moral compromise, downfall, or tragedy.
   • When to use: Darker tales, cautionary or tragic narratives.
   • Example: Lady Macbeth – Macbeth by William Shakespeare
3. Flat (Static) Arc
   • What it is: The character remains essentially the same, but their steadfastness changes the world or other characters around them.
   • When to use: Stories about influence, mentorship, or moral exemplars.
   • Example: Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle

Characters Who Typically Have an Arc:

• Protagonists: Almost always. Their internal journey is often the heart of the story.
• Villains or Antagonists: They may grow darker (negative arc) or experience a redemptive turn (positive arc).
• Major Supporting Characters: Like mentors, love interests, or rivals. They may evolve alongside or in contrast to the protagonist.

Characters Who Often Don’t Have an Arc:

• Flat Characters & Static Characters: These characters stay the same throughout the story.
  • They serve a purpose: to support, challenge, or reflect the protagonist.
  • Common types: comic relief, mentors, moral anchors, or trickster figures.

Aligning Character Arc with Story Themes

A theme is the central idea or message of your story. Strong character arcs mirror and reinforce the story’s central themes. Your character’s inner journey should echo the deeper themes of your novel. Their growth, or failure to grow, helps make the story mean something.

Example: Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne’s evolution from an outsider with a wild imagination to a beloved community member aligns with the story’s themes of belonging, self-acceptance, and personal growth.

Brainstorming Your Character’s Arc

1. What flaw, belief, or fear does the character start with? (The Lie)

   (For heroes, the lie is a false belief that holds them back from reaching their true potential. For anti-heroes, the lie is the illusion that achieving their goal will lead to something good.)

2. What will they believe or understand by the end? (The Truth)

   (For heroes, the truth is what they must learn in order to grow. For anti-heroes, the truth is the reality that their goal is self-destructive regardless of intentions, and pursuing it only takes them further from that truth.)

3. What idea or message is your novel exploring? (Your story’s theme)

4. What events will challenge the belief that your character started with?

5. How does your character’s journey reflect the story’s theme through their choices and reactions to challenges?

Can you identify the arc each of your characters follows?

Follow me on Instagram for more practical writing tips and writing-life strategies.

Click this link to grab your free writer tools - Worldbuilding worksheets, Form, Style, & Voice Sheets and more.