Define The Arcs

Use The Arcs section in Plot Foundations to track the story’s external movement and the character’s internal change.

Open The Arcs

1. Open your story.
2. Go to the Plotting area.
3. Select the Foundations tab.
4. Scroll to The Arcs.

Work in the two arc areas

The Arcs is split into:

• External Arc (The Plot)
• Internal Arc (The Character)

These two arcs are meant to help you brainstorm how your external plot events influence the inner journey of your character. If you already wrote a draft of the story, this can also help you review your manuscript to audit the dual arcs.

Fill in the external arc

Use External Arc (The Plot) to record the external setup and change happening in the story. Your story world can change, adapt, or reflect the consequences of the story conflict. This section helps you brainstorm that change.

• The Goal / Want of the protagonist.
• Antagonist / Obstacle that is getting in the way of the protagonist’s goal.
• External Stakes: what happens if the protagonist fails to achieve their goal.
• Story World Change: how the events of the plot change the story world (setting, social structure, magic system, government, etc.) and the main characters’ situations.

Fill in the internal arc

Use Internal Arc (The Character) to record the internal, emotional, and/or psychological evolution of your protagonist:

• The Need is the inner need or truth that is lacking in the protagonist, and if they finally get it, they will feel more whole.
• Wound / Ghost / Misbelief is the trauma or lie that is keeping your character from the peace or wholeness they could have otherwise. The Need above should counteract this Wound/Misbelief.
• Internal Stakes: what happens emotionally if the protagonist doesn’t find The Need.
• Character Change: how has the character evolved emotionally or psychologically because of this internal arc? If they found The Need, how has that changed their inner turmoil? If they didn’t, have they stayed the same or regressed?

If you need to define the story’s core conflict first, scroll up in the Plot Foundations page to complete The Premise section.

If you need the turning points next, continue to Foundational Plot Events.