Definition
An arc is the path of change a character, relationship, or story follows over time. A character arc tracks how experience alters what someone wants, believes, or is willing to do.
Example
A cowardly clerk who ends up confronting corruption has completed a character arc.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Announcing growth in narration without showing it through choices.
- Giving every character a full arc when some roles serve the story better as stable forces.