Comments on: Does Every Lead Character Need An Arc?

By: Lois Simenson

Lois Simenson — Sat, 11 May 2019 20:27:18 +0000

I love the Jack Ryan, Jack Reacher, and Harry Bosch characters on film and in novels. As a reader I don’t expect all this character arc’ing I’m told to do in workshop after workshop and blog after blog LOL. I entered my firefighting romance into several contests, and a common note was that I “forgot” to have an arc for my hero, while I arc’ed my heroine to death! And I made him too perfect. So now am wounding him and giving him flaws. Thank you for this post!

By: Top Picks Thursday! For Writers & Readers 03-14-2019 | The Author Chronicles

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:01:53 +0000

[…] Our protagonists are key to keeping readers turning the pages. Antonio del Drago examines the hero archetype and the hero’s journey, Janice Hardy has a practical guide to using character archetypes in your novel, Donald Maass delves into dark protagonists we love (and why), and James Scott Bell wonders if every lead character need an arc. […]

By: Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links – Staci Troilo

Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links – Staci Troilo — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 06:09:19 +0000

[…] Does the Main Character Need an Arc? | Writers Helping Writers […]

By: Cathryn Cade

Cathryn Cade — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 15:09:34 +0000

Thanks so much for this post, Jim! I always learn so much from you. You have such a way of crystallizing the important pieces of a story.

By: James Scott Bell

James Scott Bell — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:02:28 +0000

In reply to Glynis Jolly.

Would depend on the overall plot. If this character is fighting the mental health system, for example, there could be an element of heroism involved. If the character “grows weaker” because of a “tragic flaw” in the classical sense, that’s the mark of a tragedy. From what you’ve written, I’d be careful about letting “mental illness” be the unbidden driver of the story. A lead character needs to demonstrate strength of will as the driver, whether that turns out to be successful or not.

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 20:35:26 +0000

This is a question I’ve discussed with numerous writers over the years, so I’m glad you tackled it here, Jim. The fact is that there are plenty of popular protagonists who don’t undergo significant internal change throughout the story, particularly in certain genres.

By: Sarah Brentyn

Sarah Brentyn — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 16:01:38 +0000

Yes! Thanks for this post, Jim. Agreed 100%. Excellent points, all, and fantastic examples, too. Also, love the negative arc. Makes for interesting reading. 🙂

By: Glynis Jolly

Glynis Jolly — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 15:38:54 +0000

“One of the most important questions you can ask at the beginning of your novel is whether the main character will undergo fundamental change or not. If not, then the story is about the character growing stronger.”

Jim, I am working on a story where the MC doesn’t have an arc. But she also doesn’t grow stronger. My story is a dark drama about a woman who has mental problems and ends up in a mental institution. My MC grows weaker.

What are your thoughts about this?

By: ANGELA ACKERMAN

ANGELA ACKERMAN — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:53:27 +0000

Great post, Jim. I also love the aspect of one character’s level of commitment and values being so strong it changes someone else. Because it’s not about being brave in the face of a threat, it’s about what someone is willing to give up to achieve it. (I was recently reading Sacha’s 10 Steps to Hero and it was a nice reminder of the importance of sacrifice.) Congrats on the new book, by the way!

By: JOHN T. SHEA

JOHN T. SHEA — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:51:01 +0000

Interesting! And stories are often learning experiences, with the protagonist unraveling mysteries and gaining (or sometimes being reminded of) knowledge about the world, others, and himself. Such knowledge typically strengthens the character, but not always.

By: Linda Juliano

Linda Juliano — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:29:01 +0000

Excellent points made. Thank you for sharing this important message.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:32:33 +0000

I completely agree, especially with plot-driven stories. It is very difficult to change a person, even if they go through a major life event. Some great stories show a major character arc, for better or worse, but others don’t need to change in order for their story to be worth telling.