How to Write Character Arcs
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
As an aspiring writer, you understand that crafting powerful storylines with compelling characters is essential for making a lasting impact on your target audience. One of the most critical elements of good storytelling is your development of an engaging character arc. However, designing a character arc can be daunting, even for seasoned writers. I’ve created a comprehensive article to help you craft compelling character arcs for your novel or memoir. Here, I’ll cover what character arcs are, the essential ingredients of a character arc, how to execute character arcs for maximum emotional impact, and the character and action beats expected from a novel outline. We'll also examine common mistakes that writers make when creating character arcs and how to tailor your writing to specific genres.
Understanding Character Arcs
Before we dive too deep, let's take a step back and define what a character arc is. Essentially, a character arc is the transformation that the protagonist (or an important secondary character) goes through as they attempt to overcome the story obstacles set out for them, or in pursuit of their objective. It's the journey that the character takes from who they are at the beginning of the novel to who they end up becoming in the crucible of the story climax, and fully inhabiting by the novel's end.
The Essential Ingredients of Character Arcs
As you develop your character arcs, there are a few essential ingredients that you should keep in mind. First, ensure that your characters have clear motivations for their actions. What do they want to achieve, what is their character objective? What do they stand to lose, otherwise known as the stakes? Second, make sure that your characters face significant obstacles and challenges throughout their journeys, with both internal conflict and external conflict playing a role. This will help create tension that will keep your readers engaged. Finally, ensure that your characters experience growth and transformation as they progress through the story.
Executing Character Arcs for Maximum Emotional Impact
To create character arcs that resonate with your target audience, you must create emotional connections between them and your characters. One way to achieve this is by exploring your character's internal conflicts and emotional states, which are going to be communicated using interiority. Readers will empathize with characters whose struggles they can relate to, and those who have flaws and foibles. Additionally, remember that characters don't exist in a vacuum—they should be affected by their relationships with other characters, all of whom will need some layer of nuance, depending on how often they feature in the story. Finally, make sure that your character's transformation is believable and feels earned. There should be clear cause-and-effect logic between the events in your story and your character's development.
Character and Action Beats in Character Arcs
As your characters progress through the plot, there are specific character and action beats that you should hit to maintain consistency with your character's arc. For example, at the beginning of the story, your character may be reluctant to take on their challenge. Then they’re thrust into the plot by the inciting incident. As they progress, they'll likely experience setbacks and moments of doubt, especially around the midpoint. Finally, at the climax of the novel, your character should face their biggest challenge head-on, leading to their ultimate transformation before the story resolution.
Genre-Specific Character Arcs
While the basic elements of character arcs remain consistent across genres, there are genre-specific expectations for character arcs that you should be aware of. For example, readers of romance novels expect characters to grow emotionally as they come to terms with their feelings for one another. In contrast, in a thriller novel, the main character's arc may involve them overcoming their fear and becoming a hero. It's essential to know these expectations to craft character arcs that will resonate with your audience. You can do this by being very familiar with your chosen genre, and by reading widely within it.
Crafting a compelling character arc is a crucial part of creating a memorable, engaging story. By understanding the essential ingredients of character arcs, executing them for maximum emotional impact, and hitting the proper character and action beats, you can help your readers connect with your characters on an emotional level. Remember, each genre of novel has its expectations for character arcs, so it's crucial to tailor your arcs to your audience's expectations. By following these best practices, you can create character arcs that will resonate with readers long after they've finished your novel.
Click here to purchase Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters, my book on interiority and character creation. Explore your protagonist’s thoughts, feelings, reactions and interpretations, expectations, and inner struggles to create a rich, immersive experience. This guide will empower you to create characters who live and breathe on the page, fostering an unbreakable bond with your audience.