THE STATIC ARC
Some stories contain high action or are intensely plot-driven, meaning, there is less emphasis on the character’s internal growth and more on him achieving a specific goal. While these protagonists may not evolve too much, they will be challenged heavily and so must hone their skills, gain knowledge, or apply learned techniques to overcome the forces that stand against them.
THE FAILED ARC
Not all stories end with a happily ever after. Sometimes the protagonist fails, and the story ends in tragedy. This results from a failed arc, where the character was working toward internal growth but was unable to complete the necessary transformation. His fear was too great, and the hero was either unable to change or couldn’t change enough to attain the desired outcome. Often, failed arcs leave the protagonist in a worse position than he started from because salvation was within reach but he lacked the courage to shuck off his emotional shielding and free himself from fear. This is the path taken by many antiheroes.
When it comes to character arcs that involve internal change, emotional trauma becomes especially important. One of two things usually happens within this type of arc: the character starts the story lacking something, feeling an emptiness within that leaves him yearning for something more. This is the unmet need, and the rest of the story becomes about the pursuit of that need by the character chasing a tangible goal that will fill it. Take our character Paul, whose perfect life was ripped apart when his wife left him. His story may include needing to find love again (love and belonging), achieving an important accolade at work (esteem and recognition), or both.
Other times, the character starts the story feeling satisfied and complete, with his needs fully intact. Almost immediately there is a great upheaval, and something is taken from him. The story then becomes about the character regaining what was lost. This could occur with a family vacationing in a foreign country, but civil war breaks out and they must risk a dangerous border crossing to find sanctuary (safety and security). Whatever the circumstance, in a change arc, the protagonist will struggle until he masters his fears, faces his past wounds, and sees the lie for what it really is. This change in his outlook and renewed belief in himself marks the internal growth needed for him to move forward from a position of strength, putting him on the path to reach his goal.
In most works of fiction, the same four dinner guests have a seat at the storytelling table:
An unmet or missing need that creates a deep longing or sense of urgency (Inner Motivation)
A tangible goal that represents the fulfillment of this need (Outer Motivation)
People or forces that oppose the character’s mission (Outer Conflict)
Any fears, flaws, wounds, or misbeliefs that block personal growth and diminish the character’s self-worth (Inner Conflict)
These four pieces make up the core of storytelling. Take one away and what remains is diminished, or the story as a whole may fail to work. The possible exception is a story containing a static arc; in this situation the inner motivation isn’t clearly linked to a specific missing need, and the inner conflict may consist of a weakness that hampers success and must be overcome. Still, at the heart of such stories is a problem to be solved, and the protagonist is driven to solve it.
Understanding the moving pieces of the character arc and the tug-of-war that ensues within the protagonist is often difficult for writers. (For a visual representation of these elements and how they work together in a change arc, see Appendix B.) There are many different ways to approach this, but the following is an example of the successful psychological journey a character might take when moving from dysfunction, sabotaged esteem, and fear to a mind-set of growth, renewed belief in his own worthiness, and hope.
THE JOURNEY OF LETTING GO
At the start of a story, the character is seeking to obtain his goal (outer motivation), which he may be pursuing to either avoid something undesirable or to satisfy a yearning (inner motivation). The pursuit of this objective is difficult or maybe seems impossible. There might be roadblocks in the way and people or forces standing against the character (outer conflict), but the unmet need continues to drive him toward his goal.
As the story progresses, he gradually gains small insights into the things that are holding him back (inner conflict), what he fears and why (the wound and the lie), and how his habits and biases (emotional shielding) are probably not helping. With these baby steps of self-growth, he learns and matures, adapting to his environment and achieving minor successes that increase his confidence. These successes may be akin to false positives, though, because he hasn’t fully rejected the fear and false beliefs that are causing him damage. Still fearful of emotional pain, a lot of his armor remains in place. He also continues to embrace the lie; he doubts whether he really deserves the goal but is cautiously hopeful things will work out.
A point will come when he hits an impasse or suffers a significant setback. This is the black moment, his rock bottom. He sees that he can’t win going forward as he has been—that if he wants success, he must examine his position honestly and take a closer look at some of his internal issues. This means he must confront his emotional pain and challenge the lie he believes.
Depending on the nature of the wounding event, gaining insight can be painful, but it has to be done. The character must eventually awaken to two things. First, he must see his wound in a new light, admitting that it has held him back and kept him from being happy and fulfilled. Then he must view himself differently, in a kinder light, and believe he is worthy of something better and is deserving of happiness.
This self-awareness will change his view of himself, allowing him to replace his disempowering beliefs of unworthiness with empowering beliefs (that he is worthy, has value, and is capable of achieving change). This new, balanced perspective frees him from any feelings of blame, responsibility, and unworthiness, shattering the lie and replacing it with the truth.
Refuting the lie and putting the wounding event into perspective enables him to forgive himself (if necessary) and be free of the fear that has steered his actions. It also changes his misconceptions about the world and how it operates. He is no longer held prisoner by fear; instead, he has hope and is infused with determination. Complete, centered, and embracing his true self, he does what is needed to achieve the goal, even if it means making personal sacrifices.
Let’s return to Paul one last time. His awakening to the truth that he wasn’t to blame for his wife’s rejection frees him on many levels. He no longer feels he must protect himself from the intimacy and depth of loving connections. Recognizing that it is unfair to color every relationship with the fear of rejection and abandonment, he decides to open himself to the possibility of finding love again, believing he deserves the happiness that the right partner will bring.
Paul also sees that the love between him and his children is unconditional and he needn’t fear losing them when he doesn’t give in to their every whim. Life at work has changed too. He’s able to see people more honestly instead of misreading their motives and actions. As a result, morale and productivity in the office have skyrocketed. Now believing that he’s capable of more, Paul stretches himself to take on new challenges, making him feel fulfilled and actualized.
Even if the character in your story is able to move past the wound like Paul, he will still feel fear because he will be stepping out over an abyss of the unknown. But because he believes in himself, the character knows what he must do, and he embraces the challenges ahead. Despite the forces that stand between him and his goal, he is ready to move forward by shedding the negative qualities that are holding him back and either adopting new, positive traits or honing forgotten ones. He may in fact be tested by encountering a situation similar to the wounding event. This will trigger the same fear, but his newfound strength and belief in himself allow him to master it instead of being mastered by it.
Provided your protagonist successfully navigates the change arc and achieves his goa
l, the wounds of the past won’t disappear. That pain will always sting. The difference is that the character, embracing empowering beliefs, has an inner strength he lacked before that will keep him from allowing the hurt to fester. Moving forward in the face of adversity, he will deploy healthy coping strategies and harness positive qualities to stay centered and on the path to wholeness.
POSITIVE COPING PRACTICES THAT FACILITATE HEALING
As you can see, before behavior can shift, a character must want things to be different. Emotional healing begins when a character can change his perspective and see his own value. This is how he starts the process of refuting the lie he has embraced, rejecting disempowering beliefs, and accepting himself for who he is—a work in progress (thereby achieving self-acceptance).
Once this level of awareness comes about, accountability should follow. The character must recognize how bad habits, poor coping methods, and emotional reactiveness have led to heartache and failure. This shift from negative to positive practices doesn’t happen overnight, and the process will vary from one character to another. Here are some of the ways he or she can vanquish self-defeating behaviors and attitudes to move into the healing portion of the character arc.
Step 1: Taking Ownership and Envisioning a New Reality
A critical first step toward positive change involves the character’s willingness to acknowledge that her coping methods to date have done more harm than good. Taking ownership in this way marks a shift in her mind-set, triggering the courage to look within and objectively identify unhealthy patterns that must change. Knowing what problems to target helps lighten the emotional burden so she is able to imagine a future devoid of the pain she currently feels. Visualizing how life can be better helps her chart a course toward a goal that will fill the longing within. Rather than dwell on the negative or be bogged down by past setbacks, the character should instead answer this question: What can I do differently moving forward to bring about this reality?
Step 2: Creating Small, Achievable Goals
Failure can lead to bitter disappointment, and fear is often what keeps people from trying again. Once the character is fully on the path of change, her newfound awareness and shifted outlook allow her to resist the lure of fear and, instead, feel hope. But the ground of this new perspective is shaky. To avoid a relapse when disappointment or failure hits, the character should set smaller, achievable goals that lead her toward a larger one. Each victory will increase her self-esteem, empowering her, and even if she encounters minor setbacks, she should be able to power through them. A chain of small successes will help reinforce that this new, happier future and the goals associated with it are possible.
Step 3: Adopting Good Habits
Depending on your character’s emotional state and layers of shielding, there may be many bad habits to break. A big part of committing to a new course of action is recognizing these problem areas and making an active choice to replace bad habits with good ones. Showing your character taking better care of her health (by eating properly, getting more sleep, improving her hygiene, and exercising) will let readers know she’s actively trying to improve. A character can also move away from toxic friends and influences to make room for loved ones. Another positive change may involve joining a group, connecting with nature, reading, journaling, or pursuing a creative outlet. Seeking education and other forms of self-improvement are also good signs that a shift is taking place in the character’s mind.
Step 4: Packing an Emotional Parachute
Despite your character’s newfound attitude and determination to achieve better results, setbacks may happen. If she isn’t ready for these, it could be easy for her to fall back into the emotional traps of denial or avoidance. Unless you’re intending to show only a temporary improvement, you don’t want her to revert to past negative coping strategies, such as drinking too much, playing the blame game, or becoming emotionally reactive. And unless your story requires a failed arc, she can’t develop a defeatist attitude and give up. When your character does suffer a disappointment, use one of the following setback survival techniques to show her creating some emotional distance to gain perspective:
Identify the Downward Spiral. Patterns are hard to break, so when disappointment comes, your character’s self-esteem and self-worth are likely to be impacted. This can quickly turn into a hopeless whirlpool that will drag her emotions into a dark place. If your character recognizes what’s happening before the train of negativity goes too far, she can make an active decision to take back control.
Focus on the Positive. Instead of your character only dwelling on what went wrong in a situation, show her also looking for what went right. Small successes can be embraced and celebrated, offering perspective. Plus, no matter how awful a setback is, it’s never as bad as it could have been. A character able to recognize that things could have been worse can remain balanced when disappointment comes.
Take a Time-Out. The character can go for a walk, spend time with a friend or loved one, listen to music, meditate, or participate in a hobby that helps her de-stress and change her outlook. If you choose this strategy, just make sure it doesn’t interfere with the story’s forward momentum. Pacing should always be thoughtfully considered, and every scene should contribute to the forward motion of the story.
Give Back. If your character is pessimistic about what happened and there’s a risk of her spiraling into old habits, give her an opportunity to do something nice for someone else, such as holding a ladder for a fixer-upper neighbor, helping a little brother with homework, or giving someone a ride. Assisting others or doing a good turn can provide the mental boost that’s needed to get the character back into a positive frame of mind.
Confide. Sometimes your character just needs a listening ear or a supportive shoulder. Having her reach out instead of shutting down is another way to show she’s dealing with disappointment or failure in a healthy way. Talking with someone about an issue, even if it won’t solve the problem, relieves stress all by itself, because the burden has been shared and the character is no longer bearing it alone.
Adopt Humor. Another method of coping with adversity and struggle is to keep a sense of humor. Joking about a situation or making light of one’s role in it may diffuse some of the character’s frustration and can promote camaraderie with other members of the story’s cast.
Step 5. Make a Plan of Action (And Stick to It)
The character will need to navigate certain steps or stages to best position herself to achieve the overall goal. Have her identify what needs to be done, anticipate potential problems and ways to circumvent them, and then follow through with her plan, even when it gets tough. This commitment will show that she has the goal solidly in her sights. It will also provide her with the ability to make any sacrifices that are necessary to reach her goal.
THE VILLAIN’S JOURNEY
As we’ve mentioned, this journey from brokenness to wholeness is common for people in real life and can be applied to any character in your story. But there’s one cast member for whom the process is especially important.
As the primary source of opposition for the protagonist, the villain (if your story has one) plays a crucial role. He’s the main source of conflict, making the hero’s success that much more difficult to achieve. Sadly, when it comes to character arc, bad guys tend to draw the short straw. How they start the story is often how they end it, with little or no change. Backstory information can be scant or nonexistent; without a clear explanation for his actions, readers are mistakenly led to believe that the villain is simply evil for evil’s sake.
While revealing little background detail can occasionally result in a truly nightmarish villain (Dolores Umbridge, anyone?), the most compelling and fascinating antagonist usually has an equally compelling and fascinating past. So if a villain figures largely into your story, it’s important, as the author, to unearth those formative backstory moments so you can relay this information in a myriad of ways. Even if you choose to only hint
at those details through behavior and action rather than reveal them outright, just knowing them will enable you to create an antagonist who is unique and authentic.
It’s important to note that even if it is not visible, the villain’s character arc will follow the same pattern as the protagonist’s: the wounding event begets an irrational fear that leads to the formation of emotional armor that results in an unmet need, leaving him unfulfilled. However, the process differs for villains in a few critical ways.
Living with Unmet Needs
The first big distinction is that while the protagonist eventually reaches a tipping point where he’s no longer willing to live without his unmet need, the villain doesn’t always get to this place. Why is that?
One common possibility is that the antagonist once made an attempt to face his wounding experience and that attempt was unsuccessful, reinforcing the same pain he first felt. As a result, he became hardened and unwilling to risk that kind of hurt again.
Another likelihood is that the villain has never tried to deal with his excruciating trauma; he may recognize that a need is missing, but to him, living without it is better than facing his past pain or risking experiencing it again. So he muffles the gnawing void by pursuing whatever temporarily eases the hurt. This may result in him rejecting his emotions so he feels nothing for himself or anyone else, thereby enabling him to seek revenge (Howard Payne, Speed) or do truly horrific things without remorse (Jigsaw, Saw franchise).
The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma Page 4