S17:S24: Big vs. Small Character Arcs: Understanding the Degrees of Change in Storytelling

Helping Writers Become Authors

K.M. Weiland

Arts

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 September 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Not every story needs a protagonist who undergoes a massive, life-altering transformation. Some of the most memorable tales hinge on smaller, quieter shifts, or even on characters who remain steadfast throughout.

In this episode, we'll explore the full spectrum of character arcs:

Big arcs that redefine a protagonist's worldview
Small arcs that mirror the subtle growth we experience every day
Flat arcs where characters stay true but still drive change in others

We'll also talk about how to decide which degree of change best fits your story, why arcs that are mismatched to the plot stakes can leave readers unsatisfied, and how aligning your character's inner journey with your plot creates powerful resonance.

Whether you're writing a standalone novel or a long-running series, understanding the difference between big, small, and Flat Arcs will give you more flexibility (and more power) when crafting your characters' journeys.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast. I'm K.M. Weiland, and I am here to take you
0:07.8	deep with story theory, writing techniques, and the incredible wisdom of story. I believe story is the
0:14.9	greatest power on this earth, and that as writers, we carry the torch of wielding that power with responsibility, passion,
0:23.1	and skill. There is no such thing as just a story. Today, it is my honor and my purpose to help you
0:31.2	write your best story, astound the world, and maybe change your life.
0:37.9	Hello and welcome.
0:39.8	You are listening to Season 17, Episode 24.
0:44.5	Not every story needs a protagonist who undergoes a sweeping, life-altering transformation.
0:53.1	Many memorable tales hinge on smaller, quieter shifts in perspective,
0:58.4	or even on characters who stay true to themselves from beginning to end. Now, writers often hear
1:05.2	that character arcs must be dramatic to be meaningful, but the truth is arcs exist on a spectrum. Big character
1:13.1	arcs can redefine a protagonist's entire worldview, while small character arcs can reveal
1:20.4	subtle but powerful growth that shapes the story in more understated ways. Understanding when, to use a big arc, a small arc, or even a
1:30.3	flat arc can help you choose the right level of change for your characters and keep readers
1:36.5	invested from page one. Now, when I share about character arcs, I tend to use sweeping terms
1:44.0	about overcoming the lie the
1:46.4	character believes in pursuit of the thematic truth.
1:50.7	We talk about your character encountering doorways of no return, moments of truth, and
1:56.0	dark nights of the soul.
1:58.5	All of these terms sound epic because they are symbolic. This means they can be applied
2:04.6	in different stories to varying degrees of intensity. Just as in our own lives, some character
2:10.7	arcs will rock the very foundations of the earth, while others may only offer a comparatively tiny realignment of perspective. Because of the earth, while others may only offer a comparatively tiny realignment of perspective,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from K.M. Weiland, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of K.M. Weiland and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.