One of the most common criticisms you might hear people say about novels and films is that they had “an unsatisfying character arc.” It’s less common to hear people say “This novel had a great character arc!”… because when it’s done right, it feels completely organic. The reader or viewer just knows that they’ve experienced a good story.
Building an authentic and engaging character arc is essential to a great character-driven story. We’ll take you through the different kinds of character arcs you’ll find throughout literature, how to choose the best one for your character, and how to build a dynamic arc that has readers cheering.
What is a character arc?
A character arc is the trajectory a character takes as they transform from one state of being to another over the course of the story. A common character arc is a common, “everyman” figure turning into a valiant hero. Character arcs can go the other way, too—a well-meaning, downtrodden person can transform into a villain.
While some character arcs can be explosive, some are more subtle: a career-driven businesswoman might decide to start spending more time with her family, or a social media sensation might learn to “look with your eyes, not your phone” (thank you, Emily in Paris). You can also have negative character arcs where the main character is broken down by society, or becomes the thing they fear.
The 5 types of character arcs
Although all character arcs convey a journey of adaptation and change, these arcs can manifest in a range of different ways. Here are five types of dramatic arcs you can incorporate into your story.
![There are five kinds of character arc: [bullet point list] Transformative arcs; Positive arcs; Tragic arcs; Flat arcs; Relationship arcs](/images/academy/1345/image-1@2x.webp)
1. The transformative character arc
A transformational arc occurs when someone in your story undergoes a dramatic transformation from one character archetype to another. We see this most often when an ordinary person turns into a hero.
However, it can go the other way too: an everyman figure can become a villain, or a villain can give up their life of evildoing and become an everyman. A damsel can become a femme fatale, a ruler can become a renegade, and so forth.
2. The positive character arc
The positive character arc is more of an internal journey, and generally subtler than a full transformational arc. These character arcs see the protagonist coming to recognize their inherent weakness, overcoming it, and ultimately inverting that trait into something good.
This might be something like a character who starts out greedy and miserly, and learns the value of generosity. Or, a character who hides from confrontation, even in the face of injustice, learning to stand up for what’s right.
These character arcs are particularly effective, because they show readers that they have the potential to overcome their own weaknesses too.
3. The tragic character arc
Also called the negative character arc, these stories see the main character being taken over by their guiding weakness. It may start as something small, like a constant need for validation, which grows into an explosive need for world domination.
Consider some of the most famous villains: The Joker, Doctor Octopus, Captain Hook, Walter White. None of them were born villains; all of them underwent their own negative character arc, even if it’s one the reader didn’t get to see.
Rather than being inspirational, these stories function as cautionary tales—if you’re not careful, it could happen to you.
4. The static character arc
The static or flat character arc is a process of discovery. In these stories, the character doesn’t change from beginning to end—but they do learn something about the world or the people in it.
It can be challenging to get a reader to invest in someone who doesn’t undergo any growth, which is why it’s important to broaden their understanding, and, through them, the reader’s. A good example of this type of character arc is Sherlock Holmes; he remains the same person throughout all his adventures, but when he and Watson retire for a cuppa Holmes will say something like, “Well, now I know never to use a small child as bait when their mother trained in the armed forces,” or some such.
Static character arcs are a good way to communicate a range of different themes through a serialized story, such as a comic book or TV series. You can also create more dynamic arcs for the other characters to contrast the static character.
5. The relationship arc
Just as individuals have their own internal arcs, so do characters who function in tandem. The obvious place for this is in romance, but you can also create relationship arcs between a parent and child, two estranged siblings, a student and teacher, two work colleagues, an interrogator and their suspect, and so forth.
One of the most popular romantic relationship arcs is “enemies to lovers.” A less well-known but very powerful device is the “disenchantment arc”—a story in which two people’s devotion is slowly eroded by the onslaught of reality.
If you’re writing any kind of story which hinges on the dynamic between two people, consider how their relationship changes from beginning to end.
How to choose the right arc for your character
With so many potential character arcs, how do you know which one your character needs? Choosing the right journey ultimately comes down to one thing: theme.
To determine the best way to approach your characters’ arcs, ask yourself what message your story is trying to communicate. The addictive nature of consumerism? The false economy of greed? The unbreakable bonds of family? Then, ask yourself what needs to happen to your characters in order for the reader to come away with this message.
For example, if your theme is “the addictive nature of consumerism,” you’ll probably have a well-adjusted character who descends into capitalist debauchery. Then, you just have to decide if this character will be devoured by their newfound addiction (a tragic ending), or if they’ll manage to pull themselves out of their downward spiral (an optimistic ending).
Remember that you can have more than one character arc, and these can help show the reader the different facets of your theme (this is where foil characters are really useful). If your story is about two friends falling into this new lifestyle together, you can give one a tragic arc and one an optimistic arc. That way you can say to your reader, these are the two paths your life could take. Which one will you choose?
During your outlining process, you can try mapping out a few different character arcs and seeing which one resonates most truthfully with what you’re trying to say with your story.
How to create a powerful character arc
Ready to start writing great character arcs of your own? Just follow these simple steps.
1. Establish the “ordinary world”
At the start of every effective story, the main character is caught in a state of stasis. The protagonist knows what to expect from themselves and the world around them, and they exist comfortably within their balance of weaknesses and strengths. Life may not be perfect, but it’s good enough that they’re not going out of their way to shake up the status quo.
This step is important because it illustrates the “before” of your character’s “before and after.”
2. Introduce your inciting incident
Once you’ve established your character’s status quo, it’s time to introduce the inciting incident: the moment when their previously predictable path is knocked just slightly off kilter. This will force the character to react.
Keep in mind that most people are resistant to change. The character will want to keep their head down and live the life they’ve always lived, because they were doing more or less okay. Their resistance will stem from their primary weakness, making this stage an extension of the “ordinary world” self. For example, a down-to-earth, scientifically-minded character might encounter something supernatural and react with skepticism or disdain. This creates an internal conflict as the protagonist needs to readjust their worldview.
3. Shatter your character’s preconceptions
In this moment, the character has an experience which goes against the grain of a previously held belief. This is the first real turning point in their character development, because it marks the beginning of their internal change.
An example of a preconception might be if your character grew up believing that their wealth and privilege insulated them from harm. In this moment, the character would come up against a problem that money can’t solve, showing them for the first time that they’re not as insulated as they thought they were.
4. Give them something to fight for
Remember how we said that people don’t like change? In order to keep your protagonist from turning away and burrowing into their safe, stable mediocrity, you’ll need to give them a push forward. This means putting them at the precipice of losing something valuable, or giving them a shot at a prize which is too good to pass up.
Whatever new complication and ensuing reward you throw at your characters, it needs to be more important than the allure of their comfort zone. This encourages them to start pushing back against the weaknesses that shaped who they used to be, which powers the events of the plot.
5. Create a ride-or-die final conflict
At the climax of your character’s arc, there will be a final battle—external or internal—in which your character has to make a choice whether to go back to who they were, or commit to embracing their new life.
In positive character arcs, this will be an opportunity for the character to fall back on their weakness, which they ultimately reject in favor of strength (or love. It’s often love). In a negative change arc, this will be the moment when they have a chance to make things right, but can’t quite bring themselves to take that last step. Whatever choice is made in this moment solidifies the future that lies ahead.
6. Hint at a new age to come
In the novel’s denouement, or closing pages, you’ll show the reader the character evolution that has taken place and hint at where their journey is going to lead them next. This is the end of one chapter of this character’s life and the beginning of the next. In a flat arc, this will be the moment you show how the character has broadened their horizons or gained some insight into the world around them.
This stage is especially important if you’re planning on writing any sort of followup installment in this story world. But even if your novel is a standalone book, the reader should be able to envision what might have happened in the next one.
Examples of effective character arcs
To see how this looks in practice, here are some character arc examples from writers who have given their starring players a satisfying journey.
Pére Francis Reynard in the Chocolat series
Pére Reynard in Joanne Harris’s Chocolat series creates a satisfying positive change arc from the first book’s primary antagonist. In the title novel Chocolat, Reynard is a deeply religious man with a need to control those around him. Through his friendships with those around him he learns compassion, humanity, and forgiveness. Though he never fully loses touch with his faith, he realizes that he can use it in more positive ways and even co-exist with those who might have conflicting beliefs of their own.
Mortimer Folchart in the Inkworld trilogy
One of the most archetypal character arcs in storytelling is the “zero to hero” arc, in which an ordinary person transforms into a heroic figure. Cornelia Funke takes this even further by making her hero Mortimer, or Mo, a loving parent. He begins as a soft-hearted craftsman who, like many before and since (Bilbo Baggins, Harry Potter, the Pevensie siblings), is thrown into extraordinary circumstances.
Mo undergoes a dramatic transformation over the course of the series, but not all the changes are good ones. He becomes courageous, valiant, and resourceful, but he also becomes bloodthirsty and reckless. This is a good example of how you can incorporate positive and negative elements to create a complex and dynamic arc.
Michael Corleone in The Godfather
A famous example of a tragic or negative change arc, Michael Corleone in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (and subsequent film adaptations) undergoes a dramatic character change. He begins as a basically good person trying to build a life away from his family’s criminal activities. However, an attempted assassination pulls him back. Michael is eventually corrupted by the life and descends into his shadow self.
In another example of blending negative and positive elements, Michael manages to become the leader his brothers never could and elevates the Corleone name even more than his predecessors.
Engage your reader through your character’s arc
Even when you’ve developed a satisfying story arc, your novel may fall flat if you can’t get your readers to connect with your characters. Change and revelation is essential for bringing those characters to life. Remember—even flat character arcs result in a lesson or expanded point of view, and that’s what your readers are going to come away with. To convey your story’s message in the most powerful way possible, weave it into your character’s dramatic, dynamic arc.
