Why Most Screenplays Get It Wrong
“Your character needs an arc.”
If you’ve spent any time reading screenwriting advice, you’ve heard this sentence — often without much explanation of what it actually means in practice.
For beginner and intermediate screenwriters, character arc is one of the most misunderstood ideas in storytelling. It’s frequently reduced to:
- A formula
- A checkbox
- Or a vague demand that characters “change”
The result is predictable: forced transformations, hollow endings, and characters who technically have an arc but don’t feel real.
Let’s slow this down and look at what a character arc actually is — and why most scripts struggle to use it well.
What People Think a Character Arc Is
In a lot of screenwriting advice, character arcs are framed as:
- A flaw the character overcomes
- A lesson they learn
- A before-and-after transformation
This isn’t wrong — but it’s incomplete.
The problem is that these explanations focus on the result of an arc, not its function.
When writers try to reverse-engineer an arc from a vague idea like “they learn to trust people”, it often feels artificial because the story hasn’t earned it.
A Simpler, More Useful Definition
At its core, a character arc is this:
The way a character’s internal view of the world is challenged by the story’s events.
Not all arcs are dramatic transformations.
Not all arcs end in growth.
Some characters refuse to change — and that refusal is the arc.
What matters is that:
- The story puts pressure on how the character sees themselves or the world
- That pressure forces choices
- Those choices have consequences
The arc isn’t the lesson.
The arc is the process.
Change Is Not the Point — Pressure Is
One reason many screenplays feel flat is that the character’s beliefs are never truly tested.
If a character starts the story believing:
“I don’t need anyone else.”
But the plot never actually forces them to confront that belief, the arc remains theoretical.
A working arc requires:
- Situations that contradict the character’s worldview
- Stakes that make avoidance impossible
- Decisions that reveal what the character is really holding onto
Change only happens when the old way of seeing the world stops working.
The Three Most Common Character Arc Mistakes
1. Treating the Arc as Backstory
Backstory explains why a character is the way they are.
An arc shows what happens when that way of being stops working.
If the arc only exists in explanations or dialogue, it’s not an arc — it’s exposition.
2. Saving the Arc for the Ending
Many writers decide how a character “changes” and then wait until the final scene to show it.
But arcs don’t happen at the end.
They happen through decisions across the story.
If nothing shifts in how the character behaves, chooses, or reacts until the climax, the change will feel unearned.
3. Confusing Activity with Change
A character can:
- Go on a journey
- Face obstacles
- Suffer losses
…and still not have an arc.
An arc isn’t about what happens to the character.
It’s about what those events force them to confront internally.
Different Kinds of Character Arcs (And Why They Matter)
Not every story needs the same type of arc.
Positive Change Arc
The character starts with a limited or false belief and moves toward a healthier understanding.
This is common — but not mandatory.
Negative Change Arc
The character embraces a destructive belief, often gaining power or success at a cost.
These arcs can be incredibly effective when handled deliberately.
Flat Arc
The character doesn’t change — but the world around them does.
In these stories, the arc belongs to the environment, not the protagonist.
Understanding which type of arc you’re working with prevents you from forcing growth where it doesn’t belong.
Why Character Arcs Are Hard to Track While Writing
One reason character arcs break down is that they’re invisible.
While writing scenes, it’s easy to lose track of:
- What the character believes at this point in the story
- Whether a scene challenges or reinforces that belief
- How each decision pushes the arc forward (or stalls it)
This is why many writers only notice arc problems after finishing a draft — when fixing them becomes much harder.
Thinking About Arcs as a System, Not a Paragraph
Instead of writing a single paragraph describing your character’s arc, try thinking in terms of:
- Starting worldview
- Points of pressure
- Key decisions
- Moments of resistance
- Final outcome
When you can see these elements across the story, arcs become easier to diagnose and refine.
This is also where visual planning tools can help — not by dictating meaning, but by making patterns visible.
(We’ll explore practical ways to do this in upcoming posts.)
What’s Next
In the next articles, we’ll look at:
- How character arcs interact with story structure
- Why scenes are the real engine of character change
- How to plan arcs without locking yourself into rigid formulas
The goal isn’t to force your characters to “learn lessons.”
It’s to put them under enough pressure that who they are can’t stay the same — whether they grow, break, or double down.
Image by liuzishan on Freepik