Now, often in the writing community, the term "character arc" is used to refer to any kind of change or growth a character has. And how he does will put a value on a worldview or belief system. Usually, the plot should have stakes, costs, and crises powerful enough that they push the character to his or her limits-they push the character to change or grow (of course, there are a couple of rare exceptions). (This is why it's so important to have a strong antagonistic force.) How the character responds to the struggle creates the character arc. As the antagonistic force is creating more and more conflict, the protagonist struggles to rise to the occasion. As he pursues the goal, he encounters antagonistic forces, which creates conflict. The protagonist should have a want that manifests as a concrete goal (yes, even if he's not typically "goal-driven" at the beginning). That's a simplified definition.įor one, it's really more accurate to say " because of the story." One of the important things to know is that, like theme, a character arc shouldn't be superimposed on a story. What is a Character Arc, Really? And How Does it Work?Įarlier I defined character arc as "how the character grows or changes through a story." Well, I lied. Because character, plot, and theme all interconnect, you'll also be able to write better plots and themes, too. You'll also be able to write stronger antagonists and Influence Characters, as well as better side characters. When you understand the different character arcs, you'll be able to understand your protagonist better and write a stronger story for him or her. While I've discussed character arcs on my blog before, including breaking down these four types, I've been missing an article that focuses solely on them to refer readers and clients to, so. This article will go through each, while also giving examples and variations, and talking about common misconceptions. Any other character arc should be able to-theoretically-fit into one of these four types. At the most basic level, there are four types of character arcs: change positively, change negatively, remain steadfast positively, or remain steadfast negatively. A character arc is how a character grows or changes through a story.
0 kommentar(er)
