But the flat arc is about the Truth the Character Believes. The positive change arc is all about the Lie the Character Believes-which he will spend the entire story overcoming. Over the next three weeks, we’re going to be taking a look at how flat arcs differ from positive change arcs-and how you can use them to create an awesome story. Most of those principles remain true for the flat arc, but with some significant variations. If you’ve hung with me for the last few months, you’re already familiar with the foundational principles of the positive change arc. The difference is that the character is the one changing the world around him, rather the world changing the character, as we find in change arcs. So how exactly does this work? Why do readers enjoy this self-proclaimed “flat” arc-this story of a static character? They enjoy it because it is still a story of change. The protagonist has not overcome a grand inner resistance or anything, he simply gained a new set of skills or assumed a new position, maybe discovered a talent he forgot he had, or a different vocation. The end-result is not “better” or more than the starting point, just different. …the protagonist changes his perspective, learns different skills, or gains a different role.
He will experience little inner conflict and will not change significantly as a person-although he may sometimes change externally (as per Veronica Sicoe):
His commitment to the Truth will be tested to the breaking point-but he will never waver from it. The flat-arc protagonist will be confronted with tremendous opposition.
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