Writing is creative. But, the most creative and innovative story will fall flat if the characters are flat. It is easy to see a character arc within a single book, but what becomes more challenging is when your character is going over a series, or trilogy, of books. This is particularly relevant if your main character remains the same over the series, and thus needs to have some type of consistent development.
Character Arc Key One: Consistency
The first key in developing a successful series character arc is consistency. If your character spends the first book changing from a book-worm into a warrior, and gaining confidence, then the second book should not have him retrograding back to near book-worm status. While the third book really should not have him losing his sword skill either.
I read one series where the main character’s development was very disappointing. He was a book worm who developed into a warrior in the first book, remained a warrior in the second until a moderately serious injury at the end of the second book. The third book had him basically lose all his sword skill, supposedly due to the injury. While in both the third and fourth book he was the equivalent of a slightly crazy book-worm and seemed to have completely forgotten his warrior training. For this series, I enjoyed book one and two because of their character development, and hated book three and four because of the lack of character development for the main character.
Character Arc Key Two: Changing Traits
One thing I noticed is that a character arc, particularly over a series, does not always have to focus on the same trait. The traits can be related, but they do not have to be the same. The main character may need to gain the ability for independent thinking and action in the first book, but carry it too far in the second and need to learn interdependence. At the same time, the third book may need them to learn to be vulnerable as their independence has grown to make them unapproachable by others.
You can also work out your character arc to reflect the main themes of your story. If the first part of your story is mostly fighting, then independence and skill will need developing. Then, if most of your second story is something different (survival for example), then maybe that initial total independent attitude needs to change. Alternatively, an independent character may be unable to trust and be vulnerable depending on the source of their independence. A good character arc for them, particularly over several books, may involve a spice of romance and the development needed to foster intimacy and trust in a constant relationship. 
Another example could be that you have a character who is considered a coward. That could be for many reasons, including that they were bullied/beaten for trying to stand up for themselves, they are unskilled in weapons, or any other reason you can think of. Developing this character may need to start by developing the skills they need to resist bullies, then the righteous necessity for standing up for bullies, and then the final character build to where they need to be – a slightly unassuming character who will take no nonsense from anyone.
Character Arc Key Three: The Dissatisfying Arc
Sometimes, a character arc is not to good traits but rather to bad ones. It is not your hero only who needs a character arc, leaving the character arc out of your villain can really make a story fall flat. Every villain has a story, maybe they were once the hero, but then what brought prosperity in their time is now considered oppression? Maybe they sincerely believe they are doing the best for their people, but their advisors, councillors, or others are grasping and greedy, and thus the people believe the “head” is the tyrant when in reality it is the others?
Even if the villains character arc is never described in your stories, writing it out and understanding it for yourself will enable you to make a more 3D villain. Does your villain want world domination? Maybe it’s not because of the power, but because he’s sincerely convinced that he could bring world peace if only he had control?
Is your villain a notorious robber? Maybe he believes that the rich grind down the poor too much and he must be the one who restores balance (aka Robin Hood)?
It does not matter how wrong the premise actually is, if the villain believes that it will better or improve something (even if only his own pocketbook). The reason I call this the “dissatisfying arc” is because it describes someone’s descent into villainy, rather than their improvement.
Character Arc Key Four: Every Character Needs a Flaw
Even the best of the best characters needs a flaw of some kind, that is not fixed in their character development. They could jump to conclusions, run off with only half the information, or trust everyone no matter how many times it is proved that they shouldn’t be that trusting. Every normal person has at least one flaw, if not several, and while your character arc can develop out-of some flaws, one flaw at least needs to remain so that your hero does not become “larger than life” and completely unbelievable.
Along the same line, every villain needs a virtue or redeeming quality. Maybe your notorious robber gives gifts to poor children, or your tyrant likes puppies and will go to any length to save one? Give them one relatable and redeeming quality.
After all, no human hero is perfect, and no human villain is 100% bad.
Character Arc Key Five: Write It Out
If you spend time developing your plot arc, then also spend some time plotting your character arc. This is particularly relevant if you are creating a multi-book character that will need to have consistent development. Whether your development is confidence, trust, or vulnerability in the right circumstances, note how it will be developed and portrayed as the story progresses.
Writing out your character arc will make sure that your story has a satisfying character. Which is just as important as a satisfying plot and conclusion!
On Writing a Book Series:
Having read many series, and books in series, I have a few reader pet peeves that have arisen.
Splitting one story into three books (unless it is an epic like Lord of the Rings) is not the same as writing a trilogy with the same character. There should be some passage of time between books with the same character it can be as little as a month, or several years.
Books in a series or trilogy should also be developed so that someone who picks up book 2, without book 1, can still understand it. They don’t have to know the in’s and out’s of book one, but they should also not be at sea with book 2 if they didn’t read book one. Again, a split epic like Lord of the Rings is an exception.
Finally, each book should have a satisfying conclusion, not a cliffhanger. I consider Cliffhangers permissible in the “preview of next book in series” section. Again, the only exception is if one is creating an epic of Tolkien proportions, and that the reader who picks up the book is aware of the style of story that it is.
I have seen “trilogies” where each book might have been 15k long, were consecutive, ended on cliffhangers, and were completely incomprehensible if you did not read them in order. If the books had been combined they would have made one nice novel that would not have had the reader frustration of the split books. Remember, keeping one’s readers happy is very important 🙂
Back To You:
Do you ever get frustrated with character development? What tips or tricks would you offer for someone feeling overwhelmed by the character arc?
Leave a comment, I enjoy hearing from you!
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