Character Arcs

People hate changes. We all talk about it, but few take action, or when external events push us, we push back to sustain homeostasis.

BACKSTORY = WOUND + LIE FIRST SCENE = DRAMATIZED STASIS UNTIL INCITING INCIDENT

CHECKLIST

Protagonist is not getting what they want because…

  1. They want the wrong thing
  2. They want the right thing, but for the wrong reasons
  3. The way in which they go about getting it is wrong

1ST Part of the Character Arc: GHOST

What happened to them to cause them to believe in this lie? Humans will focus on one aspect of survival to the point where we sacrifice other elements. Worse, we’re blind to our self-destructive behaviour. He rationalize our actions and convince ourselves - rightly or wrongly - the end justifies the means. The ghost is a wound, the traumatic event

2ND Part of the Character Arc: LIE

The LIE the character believes can take many forms. It leaves them incomplete on the inside.

BELIEFS (3 Parts)

Part One: I’m not enough but that’s OK

Part Two: The thing that’s missing

Part Three: Unhealthy Ways of Holding On to It

SYMPTOMS of LIE

3RD Part of the Character Arc: STASIS

PREEXISTING PROBLEM ⇒ FIRST SCENE GOAL Further enslaves protagonist to their lie. They are chasing the anti-theme.

But what they really need is…

FORMULA

[CHAR] wants to be [GOAL STATE] They use [METHOD/MECHANISM] to do it because of [BELIEFS] (TRAUMA/GHOSTS) That belief is based on a [LIE] created by [BACKSTORY WOUND] But what they really need is [CHANGE]

QUESTIONS

  1. How is the lie holding the character back?
  2. How is the lie making the character unhappy? unfulfilled?
  3. What truth does your character need to disprove the lie?
  4. How will they learn this truth?
  5. What does character want more than anything?
  6. Is the thing they want their plot goal?
  7. Do they believe the thing they want will solve their personal problem?
  8. Is the thing they want holding them back from the thing he needs?
  9. Why does your character believe the lie?
  10. Is there a notable event in his past that traumatised them?
  11. Why does character nourish tie?
  12. How well they benefit from the truth?
  13. What misconceptions does your protagonist have about themselves or the world?
  14. What are they lacking as a result? (emotion, mental. relationship, spiritual)
  15. How is the interior lie reflected in exterior?
  16. That are the symptoms of the lie?