Flat Change Arcs and how to use one

This article is part of a series about character development.

In character development, there is a lot of talk of character arcs. But what are they? A character arc is the transformation of a character over the course of a story. There are several types of character arcs. In this post, we will take an in-depth look at flat change arcs. In this arc, a character starts off with a clear understanding of the truth and maintains that truth throughout the story, often influencing those around them. They challenge the “lie” that the world or other characters believe.

When I think of a flat arc, the first character who comes to mind is Sherlock Holmes from Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet. From his initial brilliance to his unwavering pursuit of justice, the journey of Sherlock Holmes is a classic example of a narrative blueprint that captivates audiences and leaves us feeling intellectually stimulated. It’s the ultimate tale of an individual who possesses an unshakeable truth, proving that intellect and morality can prevail against the world’s deceptions.

Step 1: Establish the Character’s “Truth” and the World’s “Lie”

Each successful Flat Arc centers on a character who already understands a Truth and challenges the prevalent Lie in their world.

• The Character’s Truth: This is a deeply held positive belief about themselves or the world. The character could have developed this Truth through experience or innate understanding. This Truth is what allows the character to be whole and happy, and they use it to impact others.
  • Sherlock Holmes begins his tale as a highly intelligent and logical individual with a profound understanding of deductive reasoning and justice. His Truth is that logic and evidence will always reveal the truth, and that justice, however elusive, is attainable through meticulous investigation.
• The World’s Lie: This is a negative or misguided belief held by society or other characters that the protagonist challenges. The Lie often creates the central conflict or mystery that the protagonist must solve.
  • The world in A Study in Scarlet often operates on assumptions, limited perspectives, and the inability of others (like the police) to see beyond surface-level evidence. The Lie is that cases are unsolvable, or that appearances are reliable indicators of reality, leading to misinterpretations and dead ends.

This Lie and Truth work because Holmes’s unwavering adherence to his logical Truth directly contrasts with the world’s tendency to fall for superficial Lies.

Step 2: Define the Internal Conflict: Want vs. Need

The Lie of the world generates the protagonist’s external conflict. This external struggle is the concept that drives both the character’s consistent application of their Truth and the external plot.

• Want (External Goal): This is the visible, external goal the character pursues throughout the story, usually because they are driven to expose the world’s Lie and reveal the Truth.
  • Sherlock wants to solve complex and impossible cases, bringing criminals to justice and showing the power of his deductive method.
• Need (Internal Goal): This is what the world or other characters must discover or accept about themselves or the world to overcome the Lie and become whole. The protagonist acts as a catalyst for this change in others.
  • The world (and specifically characters like Dr. Watson and the police) needs to acknowledge the effectiveness of rigorous logical deduction and the importance of looking beyond conventional methods to find justice.

Step 3: Integrate Character Arcs with Plot Structure

The character’s consistent application of their Truth must tie to the plot structure, with the plot constantly challenging the World’s Lie and demanding choices that move the world toward the Truth. (Note: This example is an abbreviated plot structure for illustrative purposes. For more on plot structures, please see my articles about different plotting methods).

1. The Normal World (Act I): The story starts by establishing the character’s starting point, where they are in their regular life, already believing the Truth. This gives the reader a starting point for the character’s consistent journey. Sherlock’s starting point is his introduction as a brilliant, eccentric, and highly observant consulting detective living at 221B Baker Street, where he demonstrates his powers of deduction to Dr. Watson.
2. The Midpoint (The Turning Point): In the first half of the Second Act, the character encounters the New World, applying their Truth to challenge the World’s Lie. They then reach a Midpoint where the stakes are raised, and the protagonist’s Truth is tested, often by a formidable opponent or a particularly challenging aspect of the Lie. For Sherlock, this occurs as he meticulously investigates the murder of Enoch Drebber, gathering seemingly disparate clues that the police overlook, and formulating a theory that directly contradicts the conventional assumptions of the case.
3. The Third Plot Point (The Victory/Confirmation): This serves as the story’s high moment, a pivotal success where the character’s Truth is overwhelmingly validated, often leading to a breakthrough or a significant step towards dismantling the Lie. For Sherlock, this is when he successfully identifies Jefferson Hope as the murderer and confronts him, demonstrating the undeniable accuracy of his deductions and the power of his method.
4. The Climax: The character’s influence culminates here, as they make the final, critical choice to dismantle the Lie and unequivocally demonstrate the Truth. Sherlock’s climactic moment is when he orchestrates the capture of Jefferson Hope and, through his detailed explanation, reveals the entire, intricate chain of events that led to the murder, exposing the folly of relying on superficial evidence.
5. The Resolution: The story ends by showing the reader the character back in their regular life, having successfully proven the Truth and influenced those around them. The world, or at least key characters like Watson, now has a clearer understanding, or has embraced, the Truth. The new state of the world, with justice served and the effectiveness of Holmes’s methods undeniably proven, provides a sense of satisfying closure, emphasizing the enduring power of his flat arc.

Step 4: Build Change Through Choices

Character influence, and the flat arc itself, is primarily built from a series of clear, tangible choices the character makes to apply their Truth and challenge the Lie. These critical choices anchor the character’s path to the plot structure.

• Choices Reveal Character: At every crossroads, the character’s decision reveals who they are and how consistently they adhere to their Truth.
  • Initially, Sherlock observes and deduces, rather than simply accepting initial explanations. As his arc progresses, he makes choices like meticulously examining crime scenes, disregarding police theories, and conducting unusual experiments, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to logic.
• Consistency is Key: The choices the character makes throughout the arc must be based on the character’s existing traits and their unwavering Truth, even when challenged by the plot. If the choices seem random or only serve the plot, the influence will feel contrived and unrealistic.
  • Sherlock’s choices, driven by his exceptional intellect and dedication to justice, consistently reflect his journey of applying his Truth to unravel the world’s Lies.

Step 5: Foreshadow the Transformation

For a believable arc, avoid making the character change their fundamental Truth. Instead, foreshadow their consistent ability to apply their Truth and influence others. Do not give the character sudden traits that do not suit their established personality or abilities.

• Latent Potential: Writers must begin the story showing the character’s deep-seated belief in their Truth and their potential or desire to apply it to challenge the World’s Lie.
  • Even in his initial interactions with Watson, Sherlock displays an extraordinary capacity for observation and deduction, hinting at his profound understanding of logic and his role in solving complex mysteries.
• Shifting Beliefs: The flat arc is often described as the shifting of ambivalence within other characters or the world, where their belief in the Lie slowly gives way as the protagonist’s Truth gains weight and “outweighs” the negative side.
  • Watson’s initial skepticism and bewilderment regarding Holmes’s methods slowly give way to admiration and understanding, foreshadowing the impact Holmes will have on him and, by extension, the world.

Summary: The Flat Arc Blueprint

Element	Description	Example (A Study in Scarlet)
Start Point (Point A)	Defined by a Truth (positive belief) and an absence of a Flaw (negative behavior).	Truth: Logic and evidence will always reveal the truth, and justice is attainable.
Want	The external goal the character pursues, driven by their desire to expose the world’s Lie.	Wants to solve complex cases and bring criminals to justice.
Need	The internal realization required for the world/others to overcome the Lie and find completeness.	The world needs to acknowledge the effectiveness of rigorous logical deduction.
End Point (Point B)	The Truth is upheld, and the character has successfully influenced the world/others to recognize it.	Truth: Maintains that logic and evidence will always reveal the truth, resulting in a transformation from an “eccentric, brilliant observer” to a “proven master detective who has brought justice to light.”

A Flat Arc is defined by moving from a positive starting belief (Point A) to reinforcing that same positive belief (Point B), while impacting the world around the character. By consciously mapping your character’s journey from a deeply held Truth to influencing the world’s Lie, and by crafting a plot that forces critical choices that accelerate this awakening in others, you can create a dramatic, inspiring, and incredibly impactful flat character arc, just like Conan Doyle did with Sherlock Holmes. Happy writing!