Today, we’re starting a new series on Flat Arcs. If you’ve been following my Positive Change Arc series, some of the terms I use in this Flat Arc series might sound familiar to you, but I’ll try to explain them thoroughly for any new readers.
In essence, a Flat Arc is an oxymoron. We defined a Positive Change Arc as a character arc that generally moves upward. However, a Flat Arc (as the “flat” part of the name indicates) is when a character needs little to no development in their story. They start off believing the Truth and then continue to hold to that Truth despite the adversity that comes their way.
However, though the character himself won’t change much during the story, the Flat Arc is still about change. It’s about how the character—through his steadfast belief in the Truth—impacts the supporting characters and the world around them.
The pressure a Flat Arc MC is put under is almost like a stage… everyone is watching them to see what they will do. And when they display the Truth without fear, it makes a difference in the world.
We will be using two examples of Flat Arcs for this series. The first is the movie “Pendragon,” which is about a young man who strives to protect the country of Britain from blood-thirsty Saxon raiders—while facing treachery among his own allies. Despite being caught between powerful enemies on both sides, he still clings to the task God has called him to do.
The second example is probably even less well-known… it’s the Lamplighter Theater audio drama called “The Basket of Flowers.” It’s basically about a young woman who is falsely accused of a crime, and, along with her elderly father, is banished from her home. She continues to face trials and persecution until she is finally stripped of everything she holds dear. Everything, that is, except for her faith in God.
If you haven’t watched/listened to these examples, it would be a good idea to do so as soon as possible. That way you’ll be able to better understand what I’m talking about, and you can avoid spoilers. Also note that the plot examples I’ll be using are from the “Pendragon” golden edition, and “The Basket of Flowers” audio drama, not the book. (The book differs slightly from the audio drama in some ways.)
I will also be attaching a Flat Arc template to next week’s email. You can use it as it is, alter it to fit your needs, or you don’t have to use it at all. It’s simply a guideline that I find helpful when I structure my stories.
In two weeks, we’ll be talking about the Flat Arc protagonist, so stay tuned!
Comment below your thoughts and questions!