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How to Plot Character Arc

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Update March 2016: 

I created a character arc worksheet to help you develop character arc based on this model. You can download it in three forms here:

 Character Arc Worksheet by illuminara

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I've been sitting on this tutorial for ages. Years, probably, because I wanted it to be that elusive "perfect." But as Craig Benzine likes to say and I've come to realize is absolutely true, "Perfect is the enemy of good."

So here it is, my "secret" recipe for developing and plotting character arc. I guess it's still a little vague because character arc can take so many different forms. I don't believe plot is a formula, but I definitely think you need to hit at least most of these stages in your plot to have a compelling character arc.

Take from it whatever you want and use it however you see fit. Sure, I was going to write this whole long tutorial to go with it, but I don't have the time or motivation to do that right now. This is it, but I hope you can get something out of it.

You DO NOT NEED MY PERMISSION TO USE THIS HOWEVER YOU WANT. You can change it, alter it, take stuff out, add stuff in, share it with anyone online or in real life however you want. Go nuts. If you think it's useful and think other people will also find it useful, PLEASE share it and spread it around as much as you want however you want. I only ask that you don't remove the credit if you leave it unchanged. 

CLICK HERE FOR FREE PRINT-FRIENDLY PDF DOWNLOAD.

(For those curious, this flowchart was made with Scapple, the same people who made Scrivener.) 
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© 2015 - 2024 illuminara
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YankeeRuze's avatar

Ooooh... Thank You! This is going to be very helpful! Good luck with your writing!