July 17, 2024
How important is a character arc? Coming up with a great plot is one of the toughest things a writer must do. In fact, one famous writer of historical fiction said she chose that genre because the plots were already done. If you aren’t relying on history, you must rely on your ability to create a compelling plot that will keep your readers wondering what will happen next. One way to do that is to add a character arc.
A character arc is the inner journey of a character. In any good story, the main character changes as they struggle through obstacles, respond to challenges, and pursue their goals despite those challenges. These may not be huge, dramatic changes, but they must be obvious.
Most plots depend on a main character who’s trying to reach a goal. In a mystery, it’s to find the criminal and bring them to justice. In a romance, the character wants to win the heart of their true love—or just find someone they can consider their true love. Horror stories depend on a character who wants to combat evil, and a mythic adventure involves a quest to find something.
Another way to say this is that every story has a character who has a problem and needs a solution. In a well-drawn character arc, the character can’t solve the problem or resolve the conflict until they personally transform, physically, mentally, or both.
Although developing a plot seems complicated, it often comes down to a simple formula. You must introduce a plot twist that shakes up your character’s comfortable existence. This twist could be anything that causes a problem for your character, their friends, or family members.
Your main character may need to raise a lot of money quickly, find a missing child, get married, or return a ring to Mordor. Whatever the stakes are, they require your hero to think fast, develop skills, and be prepared to face many challenges.
Writers generally use one of three formulas to show how their hero rises to the occasion. They are:
Next, we’ll look at each one in detail.
The most common character arc involves a complete transformation. This is the story that forms the common hero’s journey plotline, in which the main character leaves their familiar world and sets out on a quest.
Often, the hero is an unassuming, ordinary person who has not stood out in any way. During the journey, however, they learn to become stronger and more capable. The challenge they face calls on all their reserves and on abilities they didn’t even know they had, like courage, perseverance, and a willingness to sacrifice themselves for some greater good.
Some change arcs depend on a character who believes something about themselves or the world they live in. The plot is driven by their discovery that this belief is based on a lie. Once the hero learns the truth, they are forced to rethink everything.
In a transformation character arc, the hero is never the same after going through their quest or adventure. They may be successful in reaching their goal, but the experience of getting there has changed them.
Consider these well-known characters that use this arc.
A growth arc is less dramatic than a transformational arc. In a growth arc, the hero doesn’t transform completely. Instead, they learn something about the world or about themselves that helps them grow as a person.
A character experiencing a growth arc may learn to view things from a new perspective, learn something important, or step into a new role. A growth arc makes a wonderful plot point because it shows that change doesn’t have to be mythic or heroic.
In the movie Casablanca, Rick Blaine starts as a cynical bar owner who doesn’t care deeply about anyone or anything. One day, a woman from his past reenters his life. Suddenly, Rick has a chance to escape from his go-nowhere existence with the woman he loves. He chooses to give the escape ticket to a resistance fighter who’s being hunted by the Nazis, and who happens to be the woman’s husband. In the end, he stays much the same, but his sacrifice redeems him.
In Emma by Jane Austen, the main character spends so much time meddling in her friends’ relationships that she ignores what would really make them happy. She also ignores the chance for real love and happiness that is right under her nose. When she changes her focus, her friendships improve, and she marries the man who is her perfect match. Emma does not transform totally. She remains the same person, but she has grown in maturity and in her ability to love.
Growth and transformational arcs are positive. A negative arc can also be the basis of a plot. A fall arc is one where the main character dies, ruins their life, becomes corrupt, or otherwise fails because of their bad choices. These choices often damage the lives of others as well.
In the TV show Breaking Bad, Walter White is a sympathetic character at first. He’s a chemistry teacher who’s working two jobs to support his family, and he has just been diagnosed with cancer. At the start, we take his side when he says he’s dealing drugs to support his family. By the end of the series, however, we see him become ruthless, conniving, and murderous. His actions also cause enormous damage to the family he claims to love.
In Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, the lead character begins as a charming, generous young man who cares deeply for others. However, he falls under the influence of an evil older man. By the end of the novel, he has become as selfish and immoral as his mentor.
Some popular writers have created successful careers writing about characters who don’t experience these transformations.
A flat character arc is common in detective and adventure series. Think of characters like Alex Cross, Indiana Jones, Mrs. Marple, Hannah Swensen, and Matthew Scudder. Readers like them because they essentially stay the same in every book.
A flat arc only works when the character has a likeable personality, strong storylines, and some intriguing quirks or hobbies that keep them interesting. If you want to write about a main character who appears in a full series, add some plot twists to their personal story, or introduce a sidekick.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these tips to building strong, interesting characters. At Publishing Xpress, we specialize in working with all types of writers. If you want attentive customer service, fast turnaround, and a professional printer that delivers on time every time, contact us today.
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