Character Changes and Story Arcs

How Characters Change

Writing Realistic Characters with Character Arcs

Dynamic Characters

• Undergo some sort of internal or external change
• The change can be positive or negative

Why do characters change?

• Their experiences alter their perception of the world.

• The world is changing around them and they need to adapt.

• They travel to a NEW world and need to adapt.

• They're growing older.

Static Characters

• Do not undergo any sort of internal or external change

Why would characters NOT change?

• They've reached a mental, physical, or emotional peak or plateau.

• The story has not required them to change.

• They actively resist change.

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Multiple Choice

An internal change is...

• a change that is visible only to the character themselves, and to the narrator who has access to their thoughts and feelings.

• a change that can be seen by all of the other characters.

• when a character does not change at all.

• none of these.

Multiple Choice

An external change is...

• not a change at all.

• a change in emotion or thought process.

• visible to other characters, and to the narrator who has access to the character’s appearance, and behavior.

• none of these.

Common Character Changes

that you can use in your novel!

• The way they think or feel about a person/group of people

• Their occupation

• A trait or set of traits they possess

• Status

• Level of knowledge

• Level of ability

Open Ended

What are some ways you are going to show character changes in your novel?

Kurt Vonnegut, "The Shapes of Stories"

https://live.myvrspot.com/iframe?v=fMWVhMzQwMGJmNThiNTA2NDdjOTA3OWRlZmY2MTFjZDI

Open Ended

What does the shape of your story look like so far?