The Six Stages of Your Hero’s Character Arc

As a writer, you’re probably familiar with the term “character arc,” but
what does a character arc entail? How do you structure this arc? And
what informs the way your character changes, from the start of your
story to the end?

While all characters in a novel can have arcs, it’s the protagonist
whose change should be the most significant. Depending on genre
and plot, your hero’s change might be subtle or life-altering. A
suspense thriller or cozy mystery may show little character growth by
the end, when the bad guy is caught or the mystery solved, whereas
a thoughtful women’s fiction novel or relational drama may
showcase monumental change.

But, in all stories, arcs are about change or transformation. And the
stories with strong arcs show a character starting in what Hollywood
movie consultant Michael Hauge calls identity or persona.

What makes for a great persona is a character who has suffered in

his past and has developed a coping mechanism over time. This is his
face he presents to the world that keeps buried his pain, fear, or hurt.

It’s human nature to deny and avoid painful feelings. But when we
suppress them, it creates problems. We are never truly happy in our
persona. It’s like having a tiny (or big) thorn in our toe that is
festering. We keep our foot in a sock and walk around trying to
ignore it, but it isn’t going to go away on its own. At some point we
have to pull off the sock, look hard at the infection, then extricate
that thorn and flush out the wound.

This gives us a blueprint for the process of crafting a strong character

arc. While we understand coming up with “a wound” for our
protagonist is key, we don’t want to make up any ol’ wound. We need
to develop one that is intrinsically tied in with our premise.

I like to use Hauge’s Six Stage Plot Structure, which not only shows
the key turning points in your plot and where they go, it also aligns
your protagonist’s transformational journey with those specific
events in your story

In other words, your character moves from his persona to his true
essence in stages, gradually and in a believable manner. People don’t
change overnight. Events erode a person’s grasp on his persona until
he can no longer hang on to it. By the end of your story, your
character finds no safe haven in that persona any longer.

Let’s take a look at these six stages of transformation, using the

movie Hostiles as a perfect example.
 ● Stage 1: This is your setup scene at the start of your novel.
Your character is fully in his persona. This is the face he
shows the world, and though it’s helped him cope with life,
it has not brought him happiness.

Shrek is just an angry ogre that wants to be left alone

● Stage 2: At this stage (between the 10% and 25% mark),

your character’s entrenched views begin to be challenged.
He gets a glimpse of his essence, of who he could be, if he
let go of his persona.

Shrek is getting a glimpse at what it would be like to finally be accepted when all of the fairy tale
characters override his land. They accept him as one of their own, their hero. He does reject the call to
adventure at first, but he gets a glimpse of what it would be like to be the hero — to be wanted and
needed.

● Stage 3: Somewhere between the 25% and 50% mark, your

character, still in his persona and moving toward his goal, is
gradually changing due to what he is experiencing and
learning. A mentor or friend might mirror to his the way he
is acting, pointing out how that’s not working for him. Or
something someone says or does makes him stop and
consider how his coping mechanisms aren’t making him
happy. Think of creating a scene in which he takes the first
step toward changing, or that shows he is already
changing without realizing it.
Shrek goes to the castle and demands his land back. He fights off the guards and begins
to get a feeling of acceptance. And when he’s given the task of going to rescue the
princess from the tower, he’s off on the adventure, but he’s still within his original identity
of being the angry ogre who just wants to be left alone.

● Stage 4: This stage comes sometime between the

Midpoint and the Dark Moment (75% mark). Now your
character knows he must embrace his true essence. He is
not there yet, but he fully realizes his persona is failing him.
He must get the courage to be true to himself and face the
truths he hasn’t been able to face. Often this is where the
character backslides into his persona again, where it’s safe.
But it doesn’t work anymore. There is only going forward.

Shrek meets the princess and falls in love with her. He’s committed to her. But then she’s
taken away. He feels rejected. And this is where the hero attempts to go back to their
original identify for a brief moment.

● Stage 5: This is the moment of arrival. As the climax barrels

into him, he fully embraces his true essence, which gives
him all that’s needed to reach his goal. He has everything
to lose, but he goes for it. The final push to “arrive.”

Shrek is now fully committed to the princess, and he’s ready and willing to unite the fairy
tale characters and fight off the evil Farquad.

● Stage 6: At the resolution, your character is now fully in his

essence; he has transformed and sees the world and
 himself in a new, healthier light. He is honest and
transparent about himself.

Shrek leaves the swamp behind to go off into the sunset with his love.

groups of 3/4
15 minutes intro
first pass at the
15 minutes chart
15 minutes serve up idea
15 minutes rework it
5-10 any thoughts?