This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the 555th episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast. I hope you enjoyed this week's episode, Arcotypal Character Arks Part 22. How to use archetypal character

arcs in your stories.

And so we find ourselves almost at the end

of a six-month journey through the possibilities of archetypal character

arcs. If you've stuck with me through what is by far the longest series I have ever

shared, then I hope, like me, you are enthralled and excited

by the possibilities that archetypes offer for bringing depth, resonance, and yes, structure to your stories.

But now what?

Now that you've studied the six possible positive change arcs within the archetypal life

cycle, as well as the possible shadow devolutions and flat resting periods,

what do you do now?

How can you apply these archetypal character arcs in a practical way to your own stories.

As with all of story theory, just by learning about archetypes, you have already osmotically collected tools and references

that will likely show up naturally and instinctively in your writing.

Indeed, learning the specifics of archetypes only

enhances what is already instinctive since this intuitive understanding is

the entire essence end point of archetype.

From there, you can, of course, use these archetypes and their arcs to actively plan, plot, and write your stories.

The structural beat sheets I provided

for each of the positive change journeys

are a good place to get started

if you're wanting to apply any particular arc to your

...