Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes — How To Write Character Arcs

characters writing craft

I want to write well rounded characters that go through changes — meaningful transformations. How do I write character arcs in a story? These are 12 aspects of writing character arcs:

Story Arc vs Character Arc
Idea to STORY: The Character Method
Lies and Truth
Bliss and Fears
Wants and Needs
Wounds and Powers
Conflicts and Obstacles
Emotional Arcs
Life Arcs (aka Archetypes)
Paired Character Arcs
Multiple Character Arcs
Flat Arc Characters

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and your writing process
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1. Story Arc vs Character Arc

The story arc and character arc are two key components of a successful fiction narrative.

The story arc is mainly concerned with providing the structure for the plot.
The character arcs gives readers insight into the motivations and struggles of individual characters.

Character arcs are essential in creating psychological depth and realism in stories. They can be used to develop characters, build tension, create suspense, and add emotional resonance to a story line. Character arcs show us how characters respond to different situations and how their lives are changed by them. They also help to make characters relatable by showing us their inner struggles and thoughts as well as external circumstances that shape their decisions.

In order for a story’s character arcs to be effective, they must work together in harmony with the overall story arc.

The main plot should have an impact on each of the individual characters — their goals, fears, relationships, attitudes — and these changes should drive them forward until they reach their final destination. The combination of conflicts both within individual characters’ minds and between characters will give readers something to root for along with a meaningful emotional journey for each character involved.

Individual character arcs should also intersect at important points throughout the main plot which will increase reader engagement with both plot and characterization.

You can use varying levels of difficulty for each character arc including challenges faced both internally (such as personal doubts or beliefs) or externally (like overcoming obstacles from others or nature).

Allowing characters to confront challenges realistically — to struggle against both internal and external forces —will keep readers invested in seeing how they will grow throughout the narrative arc while offering deeper insights into assigned roles they play within the larger context of the plot.

Ultimately, as the author, you need to find the balance between your story’s overall narrative arch and its individual character arcs. This will bring greater depth to your stories while engaging readers on multiple levels simultaneously.

A well-crafted story with meaningful emotional journeys built around compelling conflicts is one that readers will remember long after turning its final page.

2. Idea to STORY: The Character Method

As you develop your idea into a story, you can use the “Character Method” to make the connection between the character arc and the story arc.

Think of this as three snapshot images of a main character in your story, and ask your character:

Before - who were you before?
After - who did you become?
Turning Point - what happened to make you change?

Picture each of those key points as a scene, an image of the character, before, after, and at the turning point. See it as three snapshots, freeze-frames from a movie, and describe your character (and perhaps other characters that appear) in each of those three snapshots.

When you use this method to develop your idea into a story you will have a key character arc built in as the heart of the story.

Granted, this is a very high level view of a character arc.

Exactly how do we find these three snapshots and how do we make the connection between them into a satisfying character arc?

Keep reading!

In the next sections we will explore the lies the characters tells themselves, the truth they need to discover, the bliss the character wants to achieve, the fears that are holding them back, their wants and needs, wounds and powers, and the conflicts and obstacles to the character’s transformation from the “before” to the “after” snapshot.

3. Lies and Truth

The lies a character tells themselves and believes about the world and their situation can be thought of as obstacles that must be overcome in order for them to make the necessary changes in their character arc.

These lies often stem from an individual’s own beliefs, prejudices, and ideologies held close to the heart but are not necessarily true or beneficial. In many cases, these lies prevent characters from reaching their goals and growing as individuals.

I call these lies the character’s “wrongviews” — what they get wrong in their worldview and in their (lack of) understanding of the situation in the story.

On the other hand, the truth is often an elusive concept that has to be discovered by each character throughout their journey.

This truth can come in many forms.

Internal truths from friendship to trust in oneself.
External truths such as seeing the reality of a situation (maybe through a major reveal or plot twist.)

Discovering the truth will ultimately lead a character out of darkness and into a new understanding of themselves and the world around them.

This discovery process is integral to developing a meaningful character arc. Without it, characters may remain stagnant throughout the narrative, never experiencing growth or change.

In a character-driven story, you may find that this truth is the same as the theme of the story.

In order for readers to identify with characters on an emotional level, as the writer, you should look to create conflicts between what is false (the lies) and what is right (the truth).

This contrast helps readers understand why certain choices are made by characters as they strive towards personal transformation throughout the story arc.

Include moments when characters are forced to challenge their own beliefs while facing difficult situations such as loss or failure in order to promote emotional investment into their respective arcs.

4. Bliss and Fears

At the heart of any character arc is the conflict between their bliss and their fears.

Bliss, in this context, refers to what a character loves and holds most dear — their dreams, passions, desires and true calling in life. This can be seen as representing a character’s potential when they are free to choose what they do.

However, characters often face obstacles that prevent them from fully realizing their bliss. These obstacles come in the form of fears — fears of failure, fear of success, fear of change, fear of the unknown and so on. These fears act as an inner resistance that stands in the way for characters as they pursue their goals and strive for personal growth throughout a narrative.

In order to create believable and compelling arcs for characters, as the author, you must ensure that these fears are well-developed and compelling enough to provide an internal struggle for each character within their stories.

Ask yourself ‘What is keeping the protagonist from achieving his/her goal?’

This will help you understand why your character is motivated to seek out their bliss in spite of whatever external conflicts may be presented along with it.

It is through this pursuit of one’s bliss that genuine transformation can occur throughout a story arc — something Joseph Campbell famously referred to as “following your bliss”.

As readers witness characters overcoming their own internal struggles while experiencing both successes and failures along the way they are able to connect with them on an emotional level — making stories more memorable long after turning its final page.

5. Wants and Needs

It can be helpful to think about what your character WANTS versus what your character actually NEEDS, and show how the transformation brings your central character from focusing on these “wants” (in the “before” snapshot) to recognizing and making a commitment to the real “needs” (in the “turning point” snapshot), and how the character is at the end when those needs are met (in the “after” snapshot).

(And, of course, in a downbeat story, the character may not actually end up having their needs met, but at least they “died trying’.)

At the heart of any character arc lies a conflict between what the character wants and needs. A character’s wants can be seen as their ambitions, desires and goals they strive to achieve while their needs represent what is essential for personal growth and transformation throughout a story arc.

6. Wounds and Powers

What has happened to your characters in the past or will happen to them in this story that leaves mental wounds (and are there physical wounds that go along with the mental ones)?

What are their powers — their strength at their mental and spiritual core that lets them get through problems and heal wounds? Are these powers evident or hidden? Will they be developed through what happens to this character in the story?

Consider writing a short backstory as an exercise, where the character receives their wound(s) and develops or demonstrate their power(s).

By understanding and exploring both elements within characters' lives, you can craft stories where readers feel empowered alongside them as they strive towards self-actualization — providing hope even in spite of difficult situations or losses faced along the way.

7. Conflicts and Obstacles

Step back and think about what other characters are needed in order to make this happen (who will help, hinder, or in some way challenge and push your central character go through this transformation). They don’t need to have names yet, just what their role will be during the story, and how they will affect and interact with your central character.

For example, in the story of the frog prince, this other character is “The Princess,” and her role is to kiss the frog so that he becomes a prince.

Next think about what story elements (action, victories, defeats, betrayals, twists, turns, etc.) are needed to make your central character go through this transformation.

Conflicts can take on both internal and external forms which shape or challenge a character’s perspective and beliefs.

Internal conflicts may stem from a moral dilemma, an internal struggle between two competing desires, or simply uncertainty about taking a specific action.
External conflicts can range from physical threats and dangers to fights against social injustice or oppression. In both cases, readers often find themselves rooting for their favorite characters as they battle each other’s demons in pursuit of self-actualization — providing us with hope even when faced with difficult situations or losses along the way.

In addition to providing different types of conflicts, you need to consider who will help and hinder their protagonist on their journey towards self-development.

As much as our characters have to fight off against external pressures, they also usually require some form of support in order to overcome their inner struggles.

These helpers come in many forms; sometimes it’s an inspiring mentor figure or compassionate friend that helps them open up emotionally, while other times it’s an adversary that pushes them out of their comfort zone and forces them to stand up for themselves in order to grow stronger.

8. Emotional Arcs

These are the 6 emotional arcs (proposed by Kurt Vonnegut and even scientifically investigated in a 2016 study by the Computational Story Lab at the University of Vermont, where the researchers analyzed the emotional impact of more than 1,000 stories).

Rise - like “Rocky” - a “rags to riches” story where the emotion (and the character) starts at a low point (things are not good) and rises to a triumphant finish.
Fall - like “Romeo & Juliet” - where the story and the character starts at an emotional high and ends at the low point where all is lost.
Fall-Rise - like “Die Hard” - someone gets in trouble and digs their way out.
Rise-Fall - like “Icarus” - an initial positive sweep of emotion, but with an undercurrent that this may be too good to be true, and/or that the character is too cocky, too proud, too reckless, so that something will go wrong — until the bad turn happens, and the bottom drops out.
Rise-Fall-Rise - like “Cinderella” - a roller coaster of emotions, going from a low point to triumph, then a bad turn and what seems like it may turn into a tragedy, with another major turn that leads to eventual triumph.
Fall-Rise-Fall - like “Oedipus” - starts like the Fall-Rise (“Die Hard”) pattern, however, there is a seed of the eventual fall present from the beginning.

Read more about emotional arcs in this article:

How to Write Fiction With Emotional Impact — The 6 Emotional Arcs

9. Life Arcs (aka Archetypes)

K.M. Weiland defines 6 archetypes that are also aligned with different life stages from the youngest (Maiden) to oldest (Mage).

Check out K. M. Weiland's excellent book Writing Archetypal Character Arcs:

The First Act—or the first thirty years—is represented by the youthful arcs of the Maiden and the Hero and can be thought of thematically as a time of Individuation.
The Second Act—roughly years thirty to sixty—is represented by the mature arcs of the Queen and the King and can be thought of thematically as a time of Integration.
The Third Act—roughly years sixty to ninety—is represented by the elder arcs of the Crone and the Mage and can be thought of thematically as a time of Transcendence.

"The arcs are alternately characterized as feminine and masculine. This is primarily indicating the ebb and flow between integration and individuation, among other qualities. Together, all six life arcs create a progression that can be found in any human life (provided we complete our early arcs in order to reach the later arcs with a proper foundation). In short, although I will use feminine pronouns for the feminine arcs and masculine pronouns for the masculine arcs, the protagonists of these stories can be of any gender.

– K. M. Weiland

MAIDEN

ACT I in the Life Arc: Initiation, coming-of-age, learning who they will become and what they are willing to risk to become that person

Arc: Innocent to Individuation (from Protected World to Real World)
Antagonist - the “Predator” and/or the “Too-Good Mother”
Theme: Growing into potential, power, and responsibility.

HERO

ACT I in the Life Arc: Quest, conquering champion — the ingenuous but perhaps immodest youth setting out to do a great deed.

Arc: Individual to Protector (from Normal World to Adventure World)
Antagonist - the “Dragon”
Theme: Reconcile the need for power and the need for love.

QUEEN

ACT II in the Life Arc: Battle. The Queen is who the Hero has become after returning from the Quest. And then what happens …? The Queen must defend what has been gained.

Arc: Protector to Leader (from Domestic World to Monarchic World)
Antagonist - the “Invader/Tyrant”
Theme: Power in relationships.

KING

ACT II in the Life Arc: An Awakening. Surrendering and sacrificing to safeguard the kingdom.

Arc: Leader to Elder (from Regal World to Preternatural World)
Antagonist - the “Cataclysm”
Theme: Sacrificing a King for a Kingdom.

CRONE

ACT III in the Life Arc: A Pilgrimage. Portal to the deep wisdom of elderhood.

Arc: Elder to Sage (from Uncanny World to Underworld World)
Antagonist - the “Death Blight”
Theme: Choosing descent and return.

MAGE

ACT III in the Life Arc: A Mission.Transcending beyond all worldly attachments. Accepting mortality.

Arc: Sage to Saint (from Liminal World to Yonder World)
Antagonist - the “Evil”
Theme: Surrendering all power, even life. Giving up attachments — Transcending.

10. Paired Character Arcs

So, you have the character arc for a key character. You have those three snapshots with their “before”, their “after”, and turning point. You know the lies they tell themselves, the truth they need to discover, the bliss they wants to achieve, the fears that are holding them back, their wants and needs, wounds and powers, and the conflicts and obstacles to the character’s transformation.

Now, for extra credit, take another main character and ask the same questions. The interplay between two character transformations will enrich your story.

When writing a story with two characters going through their own transformation, it’s important to consider how their arcs intertwine and interact. The struggles each character faces should be juxtaposed against one another in order to create both meaningful conflicts and moments of support. This allows readers to see the dynamic between both characters and better appreciate the growth each of them goes through as they navigate the story.

For example, let’s take a look at another classic fairy tale — this time “Beauty and the Beast”.

Here, Belle and the Beast are both suffering from deep emotional wounds that keep them isolated from the world around them — while she is emotionally cast out by her peers due to her intelligence and ambition, he is cursed with an outward form that repels all those who see him.

Through their interactions with each other, they are able to slowly heal one another. Belle helps break down his walls as he teaches her what it means to truly love someone for who they are on the inside instead of judging appearances from afar. By exploring both of these characters’ individual arcs simultaneously, readers are provided with a deeper level of insight into how these two wounded people come together in order to find redemption — ultimately providing us with a narrative arc full of hope and resilience.

Although this type of pairing between two characters can provide readers with an abundance of emotion and suspense, authors should always be careful not to make either character feel overshadowed or insignificant.

Each character must have their own motivations, goals, fears, flaws etc., which need to be expressed throughout the story in order for readers to fully connect with them on an emotional level and understand why they do things do things the way they do.

There needs to be enough room for each character’s arc to evolve independently in order for us to understand where they come from as individuals — before being thrown together by fate or otherwise — as well as where our protagonists find themselves when we reach our climax or resolution.

11. Multiple Character Arcs

When crafting stories with multiple characters going through their own transformation, it’s important to ensure each arc is unique in order to maintain a level of interest and suspense.

This can be accomplished by exploring each character’s individual motives and goals, as well as how their past experiences (internal and external) shape the choices they make and their outlook on the world.

Writing with the intention to create interplay between all of these arcs will add an extra layer of depth that readers can appreciate.

Take for example the Duffer Brothers' Stranger Things (check out their MasterClass course for a fantastic and fascinating behind-the-scenes deep-dive into how they conceived, pitched, and developed this monster hit).

In this series, we follow three parallel character arcs; kids, teens and adults.

Each group faces obstacles of varying magnitude throughout their journeys — from navigating friendships during adolescence to confronting supernatural forces in adulthood. It’s not only these conflicts that draw us in but also how their stories intersect and intertwine at certain points during their character transformations.

Another aspect of multiple character arcs worth considering is how individual characters affect one another’s overall transformation over time, creating powerful relationships between them all.

Whether it’s two opposing forces coming together after a long battle or two estranged friends finally reconnecting after years apart — these moments provide readers insight into both characters’ backstories while serving as a reminder that no matter our differences, we are still capable of unifying under a common cause if given enough time and compassion.

12. Flat Arc Characters

Flat Arc characters can be just as deep and memorable as those who undergo an arc transformation. Although they don’t necessarily change over the course of the story, they can still provide a sense of grounding or stability that helps to shape the narrative and add dimension to the overall journey.

When crafting these characters, you can create a strong backstory to serve as a powerful source for character motivation.

Having this depth in their history helps to make them more three-dimensional and relatable — allowing readers to invest in their stories without having to go through any major changes along the way.

Additionally, flat arc characters should also have distinct personalities that draw readers in — from being optimistic and encouraging during hard times or providing much needed comic relief when things get too heavy — these unique qualities make us want to keep following their stories even if there’s no immediate payoff at stake for them.

This is K.M. Weiland's list of flat arc characters:

Child - the wide-eyed and wise innocent, fresh eyes on the world, untapped potential, purity
Lover - passionate, romantic love for the sake of love
Parent - a stable character, solid, supporting, nurturing, but can also be over-protective
Ruler - the leader, in charge, authority figure
Elder - withdrawn from the world, may be grumpy, grieving, but there’s wisdom to be learned from this character if you take the time to listen (which might take some patience)
Mentor - a guide, wise counselor, open, caring, but also challenging in order to help other characters along in their journey

Resources

MY FAVORITE ALL-PURPOSE RESOURCE

The Writer's Treasure Chest - everything in one place, curated, organized, this is a great reference for all things writing craft, with tons of prompts, plot/character generators and other tools to inspire you to write a great story with great character arcs.

As you write your character arcs, here are some articles that will be helpful as you work on all the aspects of the writing craft and your writing process:

FREE COURSE, GUIDE AND WORKBOOK

Do you want to write fiction faster, while practicing your craft and your writing process to consistently get better? Check out this link to the "Write Fiction Faster ... and better" guide and workbook, which comes with a companion course with 23 bite-sized video lessons and 4 worksheets.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a character arc?

A character arc is the transformation a character goes through in a story, from their beginning state to their conclusion. It can also refer to how characters learn and grow as part of the plot and how they come to terms with certain choices or events in life. flat arc characters are those who don’t go through any major changes over the course of a story but still remain important in developing relationships, engaging readers, and advancing the plot. This type of character may have a distinct personality that sets them apart from other characters and makes them memorable despite not undergoing any transformational journey themselves.

2. How do I develop my characters' arcs?

When developing a character’s arc, it is important to establish their core beliefs and motivations within their backstory. This will help them appear more three-dimensional and make readers want to follow their story even if there is no immediate payoff for them. Additionally, give your characters distinct personalities that will draw the reader in. Finally, make sure they remain consistent throughout each scene and avoid any drastic shifts away from what has already been established about them unless absolutely necessary.

3. What are flat arc characters and how do they differ from normal character arcs?

Flat arc characters are those who don’t go through any major changes over the course of a story but still remain important in developing relationships, engaging readers, and advancing the plot. This type of character may have a distinct personality that sets them apart from other characters and makes them memorable despite not undergoing any transformational journey themselves. A normal character arc is a transformation a character goes through in a story, from their beginning state to their conclusion. It can also refer to how characters learn and grow as part of the plot and how they come to terms with certain choices or events in life. The difference between flat arc characters and normal character arcs is that while flat arc characters are consistent throughout each scene without going through any major transformations themselves, normal character arcs involve an active participation within each plot point along our main conflict arc timeline which often results in transformation for the protagonist.

4. How can I make sure that my characters remain consistent throughout the story?

It is important for authors to make sure that characters remain consistent throughout each scene by keeping in mind their initial motivations and core beliefs. Authors should also avoid making any drastic shifts away from their established personalities unless absolutely necessary, such as if the character is faced with a difficult decision or unexpected obstacle. This will help ensure that readers become familiar with the character and engage fully with them even if they don’t undergo any transformational journey themselves.

5. Are there any tips to help me keep track of each character’s development while writing their arc?

Yes, one way to keep track of each character’s development is to create a list of key moments for them throughout the story. This list will serve as a rough outline for their arc and can be updated with new information or events as you write. Additionally, it can be helpful to write character sketches or profiles which include description of their physical appearance, personality traits, motivations, goals and fears before starting on the story itself. Finally, you could also create timelines that show how your characters have evolved over time in order to more easily visualize their journey from beginning to end.

6. Can all of my characters undergo an arc transformation or should some remain static (flat)?

It is not necessary for all of your characters to undergo a transformational arc. In fact, having some flat arc characters can be beneficial as they add dimension to the story and relationships between characters without necessarily being a part of any overarching plot development. While most stories focus on one main character that goes through an arc transformation, it’s also important to have other characters who remain static (flat) as they will still be integral in developing relationships, engaging readers and advancing the plot. Overall, the decision of which characters should remain static or transform over the course of the story depends entirely on what type of story you are creating and how complex you want it to be.

7. How much detail should I include in order to create memorable, three-dimensional flat arc characters?

When writing flat arc characters, it’s important to include enough detail to make them three-dimensional and memorable. This can be done by providing details about their physical appearance, personality traits, motivations, goals and fears. Having a clear understanding of these elements will help ensure that the characters remain consistent throughout each scene without undergoing any major transformations themselves. Additionally, adding small character interactions and individual moments for your flat arc characters will help provide context for their role in the story without necessarily advancing the plot or changing the character in any significant way. These moments should also convey their personality while further engaging readers with each character’s journey. Finally, keeping an eye on how static characters interact with those who undergo transformation is critical as this creates interesting dynamics within your story while continuing to advance its narrative momentum.

8. Does the main protagonist have to go through an arc transformation for the story to be successful?

No, the main protagonist does not have to go through an arc transformation for the story to be successful. However, having characters undergo a transformational journey can add depth and complexity to the story and engage readers in a more meaningful way. The key is for authors to create memorable and multi-dimensional characters with clear motivations, goals, fears and personality traits as this will provide readers with insight into their inner workings even if they do not go through any major changes in their character arc. Additionally, adding smaller journeys or transformations for minor characters can help shape relationships within the story while still driving forward plot development regardless of whether or not the main protagonist undergoes an arc transformation.

9. Is it okay if a character’s motivations change during the course of the story but their overall personality remains unchanged?

Yes, it is definitely okay if a character’s motivations change during the course of the story but their overall personality remains unchanged. This can be used to great effect by raising stakes, adding tension and creating more engaging conflicts between characters as they adjust to different motivations and goals. Ultimately, this type of transformation can take place over a long period of time or in a single moment depending on what kind of arc you want to portray for your character. It’s important to remember that while characters may experience inner growth without changing their core personality traits, this should not be used too often as it can lessen the impact each individual arc has within the story. As such, make sure that each arc transformation works with what you are trying to accomplish with your story - whether that be having characters undergo major changes or simply illustrating subtle shifts in order for them reach their goals or find resolution at the end.

10. What are some common mistakes authors make when crafting their character arcs?

One of the most common mistakes authors make when crafting their character arcs is focusing too heavily on the external events of the story rather than on each individual character’s arc. This can lead to flat, one-dimensional characters that lack depth or complexity and whose motivations become unclear over time. Additionally, some authors may make the mistake of having characters undergo sudden shifts in their attitudes and personalities which can be jarring and difficult for readers to accept without any prior clues or hints at what was coming next. Finally, many authors fail to give enough thought to how each character’s journey fits into the overall narrative structure, resulting in stories with a meandering plotline that fails to engage readers as strongly as it could have otherwise. Characters are key elements of successful storytelling - so pay close attention when crafting your character arcs!

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