Zero To Book: The Character Arc Triangle

Hey there!

If you want to write the kind of novel that keeps people up way past their bedtime, flipping pages feverishly to find out what happens next, then you need to invest time in developing the characters in your story.

• Their deepest desires.

• Their most crippling flaws.

• Their reasons for getting out of bed each morning.

Characters are the beating heart of any story.

So, today, we’ll zoom into our Story Core with a character lens and show you how to propel your plot forward.

The Character Arc

Inside your Story Core, is a character arc.

The arc is how your character progresses from an emotional or psychological starting point A to a changed endpoint Z. It's tempting to get swept up in plot twists and action sequences. But technically speaking, those external events are only there to force your character to grow. Whether it’s "Coming of Age," "Rags to Riches," or "Fall from Grace," the heart of your story is change. And change is what moves your story forward.

So, when readers turn that final page with tears in their eyes and a lump in their throat...

It's because they witnessed your protagonist transform.

And come out the other side reborn.

The Character Arc Triangle

To develop the shape of your character arc, we are going to focus on 3 key players in your story.

• The protagonist

• The antagonist

• The ally

Each one acts as a forcing function to triangulate your protagonist's transformation from flawed to whole.

Let’s take a look at each one.

The Flawed Hero (Protagonist)

This is your main character who undergoes the primary transformation.

They need a serious flaw that holds them back and that they must overcome. Maybe it's a secret addiction that's about to blow up their career. Or a pathological fear of intimacy that dooms every relationship they start. Whatever it is, this flaw needs to cause serious, life-ruining consequences if they don't overcome it.

For example, in Stieg Larsson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," the protagonist Lisbeth Salander's serious flaw is her inability to trust others due to past traumas. This mistrust hinders her relationships, causing her to remain isolated. If she doesn't overcome this flaw, she risks losing the few connections she has and potentially facing her own destruction.

Your character’s external goal forces them to stare down the ugly truth of their flaw and decide if they're going to let it destroy them or do the gut-wrenching work of ripping it out by the roots, even if it nearly kills them.

In Lisbeth's case, her external goal of solving the Harriet Vanger case forces her to confront her trust issues head-on. To succeed in the investigation, she must work closely with journalist Mikael Blomkvist, which requires her to face her flaw and decide whether to remain isolated or learn to collaborate.

This challenge brings up painful memories for Lisbeth and tests her ability to trust, but it's a necessary step for her to succeed in her goal.

The Foe (Antagonist)

This is the character most invested in the same external goal as the protagonist.

Their role is to provide obstacles and contrast to the protagonist.

• In "The Hunger Games," Cato is a ruthless rival tribute who seeks to win the games at any cost, contrasting with Katniss's desire to maintain her humanity.

• In "The Devil Wears Prada," Miranda Priestly is a demanding fashion magazine editor who constantly challenges her assistant Andy's values and ambitions.

• In "The Great Gatsby," Tom Buchanan represents the old-money aristocracy that stands in the way of Jay Gatsby's dream of winning back Daisy.

In many ways, the antagonist is an inverse reflection of what the protagonist could become if they fail to grow. Every roadblock your antagonist throws up, should be designed to jab your hero right where it hurts the most—that tender, wounded place where their flaw festers.

But those obstacles are also an invitation, a chance for your protagonist to show just how far they're willing to go to take back control of their life, even if it means facing the demons that have haunted them for years.

The Friend (Ally)

Your ally is the voice of tough love, the one who refuses to let your hero off the hook when they try to slide back into their old self-destructive patterns.

They know your protagonist's flaw like the back of their hand, because it's probably the same flaw that almost ruined their own life way back when. Now that they've overcome it, they recognize the signs, and they'll be damned if they're going to sit back and watch while their best friend slowly drinks themselves to death or sabotages another golden opportunity because they're too scared to go after what they really want. Your ally's entire mission is to continually force your protagonist to confront their flaw and do something about it, no matter how many times they try to dodge the truth.

This is the person who delivers the big, "get it together" speech right when all hope seems lost, the impassioned plea that finally cracks open your hero's defensive shell and pushes them to charge into the climactic final battle a changed person.

Together, these three characters create a triangle of forces that shape the protagonist's transformation.

The protagonist's flaw and external goal form the foundation, while the antagonist and ally apply pressure from different angles, ultimately leading to the protagonist's growth and the resolution of your story.

Build Your Character Arc In 3 Steps

To get started, grab your 5-Point Story Core:

1. The character

2. Their desire / want

3. The conflict / obstacle

4. The struggle to get what they wan

5. And their success or failure

Then, follow these 3 steps to clarify the forces that will shape your character’s arc.

Step 1: Define your protagonist's flaw (and transformation)

Before you jump into the prompt, read over your Story Core and make any updates or add any ideas you think could influence the story.

Consider:

• Goal

• Setting

• Back story

• Character traits

• Etc.

It’s not critical to make changes, but while you are thinking about your story, it’s helpful to add details that help you clarify the story you want to tell.

When you are ready, add a line below your 5 Story Core elements, and write “Flaw:” Then fill it in. If you’re undecided or you have several thoughts, write them all down. You can always delete what you don’t want later. And if you’re stuck, use the below script to brainstorm ideas for your main character.

Here’s the prompt: