Writing Plan: Character Arc

Previously, I discussed the story's theme. The next step will be to consider the main and other key characters whose lives will illustrate that theme.

Key characters should change or, best of all, be transformed. In other words, by the end of the story, characters should be very different to their earlier selves. This is particularly the case for the main character. (Other less developed characters may also experience this evolution). This change or transformation is called the character arc. Readers enjoy seeing a character’s evolution through experiences. 

• Character Arc example: In Empire of the Sun, the main character becomes transformed. In the beginning, he is a very sheltered and care-free child from the privileged expatriate classes. However, at the end of the war, he is a more mature and independent young man with a broader perspective on life.
• Character Arc example with detailed review and description: Bliss (1985) 

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Which aspect of your character should change? The most powerful character arcs tend to involve overcoming issues like fears, past trauma, personal flaws, guilt, lack of ethics, errors in thinking and so on. For instance, if you use personal flaws in developing a character arc, you should clearly show that character’s flaws in his or her earlier self. Doing this ensures that subsequent changes can really stand out to an appreciable extent. In that case, take extra time to highlight only the flaws that are relevant to your character's arc and the story's theme. 

• Character Arc Example: In the beginning of My Fair Lady, Professor Higgins, is a snobbish, well respected linguist. Despite his initial contempt for Eliza, a poor 'common flower girl' whose uneducated speech is intolerable to him, he falls in love and can not live without her in the end. Similarly, Eliza is also transformed from being a shy poor girl. She emerges as a powerful character within Professor Higgins' world. In the end, she gives him an ultimatum while earning the support of his family and friends.

• Character Arc Example: In the beginning of Rain Man, Cruise's character is ruthless. He kidnaps his brother because he is upset for not receiving money in his father's will. However, by the end, a sense of family motivates  him instead. 

Build A Relatable Character Arc

When I discussed how to create relatable characters, I spoke about getting readers to understand a character's situational and emotional point of view (POV). Consider the Diary of Ann Frank in which Ann matures considerably by the end of her diary. Although you may not be writing a diary, consider how each character's personal diary might sound and then share not only their actions but also, (if applicable) show how this emotional response (feelings, self perception and so on) changes over time.

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Build a Realistic Character Arc 

As suggested previously, note your character arcs by listing the contrasting earlier and later responses that are relevant to your theme or themes. 

However, be mindful of the need to build a believable character arc. For instance, major changes should not occur more quickly than they can in real life. If you make this error, you run the risk of losing the reader's trust as readers may find your story line and characters over simplified. A better approach will be to show gradual changes in your characters.

For instance, I created a three-column table headed self 1 (before change), self 2 (in transition) and self 3 (after change). 

What's Next?

Now that you know about the character arc, complete it along with the following step(s).

• Character Development

However, before tackling any aspect of the character development which includes the character arc, be clear about the following step(s). This is important since character development will be more meaningful if done within the context of the theme. For instance, if you were writing Set It Off, whose theme may be seen as dealing with how institutional discrimination (specifically, racism and sexism) can push victims deeper into a vicious cycle of marginalization, you should highlight relevant aspects of the protagonists before their change, ie the fact that they started out toeing the line of 'the system'. However, by the end of your arc, you will note that they have become criminals determined to 'take back from the system by force'. You will also note their painful emotional responses like hopeless (that will have been evoked by instances of discrimination and ensuing hardships).

• Write a Theme for your Story

After dealing with character development issues (that include the character arc), use the following steps in your writing plan.

• Write a Synopsis
• Identify your Literary Genre
• Broad (not detailed Story Structure / Outline

CJ,

Once Upon a Writing Block