Building Strong Character Arcs: The Secrets No One Tells You
If plot is what happens, character arc is why we care. Ask anyone to name their favorite film and you’ll notice something: they won’t talk about the explosions, or the clever twists — they'll talk about who changed and how they changed.
A great character arc transforms a decent story into something unforgettable. But creating one? It's trickier than it looks. Let's pull back the curtain on building strong, resonant character arcs — with a few real-world lessons no one tells you when you’re first starting out.
1. Your Character Needs a Flaw — A Big, Juicy One
No flaw = no arc. A perfect character is boring because there's nowhere for them to grow. Start with a flaw. Make your character wrong about something fundamental. That way, their transformation isn't just cosmetic — it's earned.
2. Every Step Should Challenge the Flaw
Characters don't change because they feel like it. They change because the plot forces them to. Each major scene should challenge their flaw — either reinforcing it (and causing failure) or pressuring them toward growth (and causing conflict).
3. External Plot and Internal Change Should Be Dance Partners
Strong arcs happen when the external journey and the internal journey are interwoven. Tie external stakes directly to internal stakes: success in the plot must require internal growth, not just cleverness or luck.
4. Growth Costs Something
Real change has a price. Maybe your character loses a dream, a relationship, or their former identity. If their final victory doesn't cost them something painful, the arc won't feel real.
5. It's Okay If They Don’t Change... But Only If That's the Point
Sometimes the tragedy is that the character refuses to grow. If you go this route (like Michael Corleone in The Godfather), make sure the story punishes or underlines that refusal dramatically.
Final Thought
Building strong character arcs isn’t about following a checklist — it's about understanding people. If you can build a character whose journey feels honest, painful, and hard-won — readers will follow them anywhere.