The Spiral ARC

The Spiral ARC is where PROT falls into a toxic pattern and either can’t get out, or barely escapes. It is a story about depression, self-destructive behavior, or unrelenting grief. It might be codependence, or one-way dependence on someone who doesn’t care for you. It might be an abusive relationship you’re addicted to. It could be addiction as well.

These are not happy stories. These are cautionary tales of people going down dark paths. A SLIGHTLY-POSITIVE ARC is if they realize how bad it’s gotten and they seek help at the end of the story, but even then the progress of the story ARC is down down down and slightly up. A NEGATIVE ARC is if they self-destruct and/or follow through with their insane plans of revenge or destruction or murder or insanity.

The Emotional Arc

alt. CMX: PROT realizes they fucked up and seeks therapy, help, or goes finds themselves somewhere alt. CMX: PROT knows what they’re doing is bad, but they keep doing it anyway and self-destructs

The Stakes

The Triangle(s)

Media

Film & TV

Novels & Literature

Short Stories

Comic Runs/Arcs

All ARCs here