In a guest post on Jane Friedman’s blog, Susan DeFreitas says most writers struggle with plot because they don’t understand their protagonist’s character arc. “Because while a plot full of trouble, twists, suspense, and reveals will keep the reader turning the pages, in the end, it’s not the external events of the story that make a novel feel meaningful—it’s the internal journey that the protagonist has made along the way,” DeFreitas says.
Character arcs can cause trouble for writers, because they are more subtle. Change happens beneath the surface of the plot and emotions are messy and difficult to describe. However, while readers will forget your exact plot points, they are likely to remember how your novel made them feel, and those strong emotions are tied to your character’s development.
To strengthen your understanding of your character’s arc, DeFreitas recommends asking the following questions:
1. What is the internal journey your protagonist makes in this story? Be specific. Your character may “learn something” but that’s not a journey. A character journey starts at one point – lack of confidence, self-loathing – and ends at another – self-reliance, self-love. Make that starting point clear at the beginning of your novel and provide a direction for their growth.
2. How do the major events of this story push my protagonist to grow and change? Your character’s arc will determine the path your plot takes. You’ll have a lot of choices to make as you write, but you can narrow down to the right choices by considering how they affect your character’s arc.
3. Does this character arc intersect in some clear way with the truths of my own life? Use your own struggles, experiences, and observations to support your character’s arc, DeFrieitas recommends. Make the story personal to add emotional power to your scenes.
