Character Arcs: How to Drive Transformation and Growth in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Stories

Explore the secrets of crafting unforgettable character arcs! Discover how flaws, triggers, and mirrored moments create dynamic transformations. Learn to wield the fantastical elements of your world to externalize inner growth. Uncover unique archetype frameworks to make your protagonists resonate. Master this essential skill for gripping science fiction and fantasy tales.

The Flat Character Arc

BLUF: The flat character arc follows a character who already knows their truths and doesn’t change or grow throughout the story, but they change the world around them. You see flat character arcs more often than you realize. After reading the definition above, do any come to mind? Some examples that come to mind are …

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The Transformational Character Arc

BLUF(Bottom Line Up Front): A transformational character arc is one where a character goes from Joe Snuffy to Captain America. Often associated with epic stories and the archetypal hero’s journey story structure. Examples Harry Potter Steve Rogers Bilbo Baggins Luke Skywalker Beginning: In the transformational arc, your character begins as a normal person in a …

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Character Creation: Positive Change Arcs

So, you have your character’s starting point, where to next? One starting point is the character arc. Often, as readers and viewers, we already connect with four of the main story arcs without realization. As you learn more about character arcs, you may realize that you’ve got a favorite. For example, a lot of the …

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