Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development

by K.M. Weiland

Questions to Ask About Your Character’s Arc in the Third Act 1. How does your character react to the Third Plot Point? 2. How has his embrace of the Truth made a mess of his life and, specifically, his pursuit of his plot goal? 3. How can you up the stakes by forcing him into both physical and emotional straits? 4. How do these straits force your character to reconsider whether or not the Truth is the right choice for him? 5. How does he rise from these doubts determined to cling to the Truth? 6. What doubts is the character still experiencing about the Truth? 7. How is his inability to completely reject the Lie keeping him from total happiness and empowerment? 8. How are your character’s attitudes and actions different in the Third Act from how they were in the First? How can you subtly reinforce the difference prior to the Climax? 9. How will your character’s devotion to the Truth be put to the test? What character or situation will you use to try to tempt or bully your protagonist back into serving the Lie? The Third Act is where you get to tie off your story’s loose ends. When it comes to character arcs, those loose ends include testing the character’s devotion to the Truth and showing his final growing pains as he sheds the Lie and moves forward to face his ultimate test in the Climax.