Do character arcs matter? Here’s an important lesson to remember: No matter how elaborate your plot is, if your reader doesn’t care about who’s living in it, they aren’t going to continue reading.
In order for a reader to become invested in your story, they must care about your characters, and in order for them to read your story to the end, your characters (or at least your protagonist) must have a dynamic arc.
A character arc makes your protagonist believable, moving, and most importantly, relatable. We didn’t root for Walter White in Breaking Bad simply because he was a brilliant chemist. We were drawn into his gradual descent into the drug underworld, which began under the banner of providing for his family but slowly revealed deeper motives. What kept us invested was not just his transformation from mild-mannered teacher to ruthless kingpin, but the unsettling realization that “for his family” became less a sacrifice and more a justification.
In this article, I’ll go over what character arcs are, how they differ from story arcs, and I’ll explore various types of character arcs. Lastly, I’ll give you a Story Weapon to help you write a character with a powerful change from the beginning to the end.
Character arcs trace the internal transformation of a protagonist, revealing how their beliefs are tested and reshaped through conflict. While plot drives external events, character arcs create emotional investment by dramatizing growth, decline, or steadfast conviction.
What is a character arc?
A character arc traces the fundamental shift in a character’s beliefs and worldview from the beginning to the end.
This arc denotes a character’s inner journey that dramatizes their growth, such as from fear to love, or from innocence to wisdom.
Story arc vs. character arc
Story arcs and character arcs happen simultaneously but in different ways.
Story arcs progress outside the character, and provide the obstacles that push characters to change. It’s the “what” and the “how” of any story.
Character arcs happen inside the character. A character’s arc reflects how they are affected (and, for most, are changed) by the plot.
Let’s look at Kendall Roy In Succession. The four seasons of this TV series revolve around the Roy family. Logan Roy, Kendall’s father and the Roy patriarch, tests his children to see who will inherit his billion-dollar empire.
Succession’s story arc moves alongside the company. For Kendall Roy however, it’s more complicated than that. Kendall battles with both the desire for his father’s approval and to grow into his own man beyond the shadow of his last name. He begins the series as an arrogant, insecure and entitled jerk, trying to mimic his father’s “killer instinct.” And as the seasons progress, we watch as he gradually loses himself and everything he valued.
Types of character arcs
In writing a dynamic character arc, the first thing you need to ask is: Will this character change in some fundamental way by the end of the story?
And if your answer is no, then they have a “flat character arc” (which is quite different from having a flat character).
If the change is significant, is it a positive or negative change?
Positive character arcs
This is where a character learns something and grows into a “better” person. This is arguably the most popular character arc. We love to root for characters who change, and are willing to change, for the better.
A good example here is Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender. He starts off as an exiled prince determined to regain his honor by reclaiming his spot in his father’s empire. In order to do so, he sets out to capture the Avatar. But throughout the story, Zuko undergoes different obstacles that challenge his definitions of honor and his self-image. Eventually, he chooses the path of goodness and helps the Avatar defeat his own father, the Fire Lord.
It should be noted that a character doesn’t have to start off as “bad” or “evil” in order to have a positive arc. Take Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter. From Harry’s first year at Hogwarts, we come to know Neville as a loyal and kind friend, even if he isn’t the most apt of wizards. Throughout the series we watch him grow from a timid boy to a selfless warrior by the Second Wizarding War.
Negative character arcs
This is where things take a turn for the worse.
In Breaking Bad, Walter White starts off as a timid, but decent, chemistry teacher – but, as the story progresses and he accumulates money, power, and status as a drug dealer, he transforms into a merciless kingpin.
Again, it’s important to understand that a character doesn’t necessarily have to start as “good” in order to have a negative arc. Think of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. He’s a wretched creature who allowed his obsession with the ring to take over, betrayed his companions and lost any chance at redemption.
“Having a character change […] is not a requirement if it doesn’t fit your character. But transformation, change, seems to be an essential aspect of our humanity, especially at this time in our culture. I think we’re all a little like Melvin (Jack Nicholson) in As Good as it Gets. Melvin may be complex and fastidious as a person, but his dramatic need is expressed toward the end of the film when he says, ‘When I’m with you I want to be a better person.’ I think we all want that. Change, transformation, is a constant of life, and if you can impel some kind of emotional change within your character, it creates an arc of behavior and adds another dimension to who he/she is.”
– Syd Field
Flat or “Static” Character Arcs
As the name suggests, “static” refers to an arc where the character remains unchanged from the beginning to the end.
Characters like Sherlock Holmes and Paddington Bear are examples of characters with flat character arcs. Paddington Bear remains kind and polite throughout every adventure he has, and Sherlock Holmes never falters as the brilliant detective in every case he handles.
A lot of writers confuse “flat-arc characters” and “flat characters,” which makes flat character arcs a little challenging.
Flat characters are one-dimensional. They lack motivation, an internal conflict, and often embody a stereotype.
A flat character arc still follows a well-rounded character, but they are more static. They are steadfast in their beliefs and move through the narrative tackling challenges with great resolve. They have the opportunity to change, but choose not to. A good rule of thumb for this is rather than changing themselves, flat-arc characters change the world around them.
Your story weapon: Make it dynamic
Start with a false belief. At the beginning of your story, your character believes something about the world that isn’t entirely true. Maybe they think more power will give them respect. Maybe they believe love has to be earned. Whatever it is, this belief shapes their outlook, behavior, and the decisions they make.
Press against that belief until it breaks, evolves, or hardens. Then show the slow cracking, reshaping, or reinforcement of what your character holds to be true. That’s your character arc.
Walter White believed he deserved more. Zuko thought honor came from his father. Kendall Roy wanted to become a “killer.” Their stories aren’t compelling because things happened to them. They’re compelling because their beliefs were challenged. The outcome defines their transformation.
✒️ Writing Exercise
List three negative traits of your protagonist at the beginning of the story.
Examples: petty, jealous, angry, distrustful, withdrawn, naive.
Now list three opposite qualities.
Examples: generous, welcoming, patient, trusting, friendly, wise.
Notice how, in six words, you just created the foundation for a very dynamic character arc.
The more you are able to imagine your protagonist embodying these two extremes, the more you will be able to create a narrative that dramatizes their journey towards transformation.
Character arcs are a mirror for human transformation. They require us, as writers, to grapple with the growth and development we undergo throughout our lives. When you’ve done it well, your readers will be invested in your character arcs, and your story will endure.
If you are ready to deepen your understanding of character arcs and learn how to craft meaningful transformation in your own work, join one of my next workshops: The 90-Day Novel, The 90-Day Memoir, Story Day.
