What does your MC want more than anything else in the world? What is the prize at the end of their quest? What is the finish line at the end of the race? What do they hope will be the result of their mission?

All of us have some kind of purpose in life… some direction in which we’re heading. We have things we want to accomplish before we die. Of course, as Christians, we know that our main purpose is to glorify God. And, if you’re like me and write Christian Flat Arc characters, your MC will probably already have that goal.

But what about a specific objective? Not just a generic ambition that could apply to anyone else. What is their Goal?

Everyone needs a direction to go in life—a path to follow. Your MC is going to be on a mission for something. It doesn’t even have to be very big. It just has to be a Goal.

So let’s take a look at a few points that can help us to better understand this important Flat Arc element:

1. Specific

As I mentioned before, this Goal has to be specific to the protagonist and their story. Now, that doesn’t mean that other characters can’t have the same Goal as the MC. But the MC must have a unique outlook on this Goal.

Also, as we’ll talk about in the next few points, they must have a unique way of getting to the Goal and a unique reason behind it.

So if all of the characters in your story are racing to find the same buried treasure, that doesn’t mean they all have to have the same exact Goal. The way they set out to find it, the lengths they’re willing to go to, the resources they have, the reason they want to find it, and what they plan to do with it when they find it… all of these will set the characters apart.

Now, there can be many, many other mini-goals that fit underneath this umbrella of the main Goal. Everything the MC does should be ultimately driven by that Goal. As we’ll see later, the Goal—like the Truth—is almost a part of who they are.

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary’s Goal is to glorify God in her life and to stand strong in her faith. Underneath this main Goal are a lot of smaller goals… to take care of her aging father, to survive their journey, etc.

In “Pendragon,” Artos’ Goal is to protect the Isle of Britannia from the Saxons. And, even more specifically, to protect his loved ones (aka his sister Adria, his village, his cohort, Brotus, and Princess Wenneveria).

2. The Truth

You may have noticed that I’m using slightly different terminology from the Positive Change Arc series. The Want was the MC’s main objective, and the Need was the thing they first needed to accept. But since this is a Flat Arc, their Goal is already aligned with the Truth. There is no choice between two options, as with the Want and the Need. The Flat Arc character already knows what he needs to do.

However, you could include some sort of temptation goal that the antagonist or another character uses to try to lure the MC away from the Truth. Or maybe your bad guy simply offers your MC a shortcut to his specific Goal that would involve him doing something wrong. This could add more conflict between the Truth and the Lie, but it’s not necessary for your story.

So if your MC’s Goal is backed up by the Truth, and the antagonist represents the Lie, then they will already be in opposition to each other. Even if their external Goals are somewhat aligned, the ideologies behind these Goals are completely different.

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary’s Goal—and Truth—clashes with Juliette’s jealousy and deception, Helen’s short temper and bitterness, and the harsh makeup of the world around her.

In “Pendragon,” Artos’ love and loyalty for God and his family, friends, and countrymen directly collide with the Saxons’ bloodthirstiness and Caydern’s selfishness.

3. Conflict

So the MC and the antagonist are already at odds due to the internal conflict behind the Goal. But what about the external conflict? How are they pitted against each other in that respect?

Well, they could have the same external Goal and are competing to get it. Or they might simply have different ideas of how to reach that Goal. Or they might have completely different goals altogether.

But, somehow, some way, they end up fighting against each other. And since their life Goals are on the line, the conflict between them is going to be fierce.

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary and her father’s lives are endangered, then her father’s health, and, ultimately, her testimony is on the brink of ruin. This all happens because of the various antagonistic forces who are trying to reach their goals.

In “Pendragon,” Artos is up against the same type of antagonist. Because of their specific goals (or Wants) to rule Britannia, both Caydern and the Saxons put in danger the things that Artos loves most—and that he vowed he would protect.

4. Backstory

Lastly, the Goal needs to be driven by something. While the Truth is ultimately the reason, the MC needs to have more personal grounds in the Goal. And this is where the Backstory comes in.

Flat Arc characters don’t just randomly wake up one day and decide to go save the world… they don’t even wake up one day and decide to believe the Truth. We all have reasons we do the things we do, and—whether we realize it or not—a lot of those reasons come from personal experiences.

    In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary’s Backstory is her lifelong relationship with her father and her wholesome upbringing.

    In “Pendragon,” Artos’ Goal comes from his Backstory of watching his father care for and protect their family and village. He, in turn, decides to take on this same attitude after his father’s death.

Here are a few more examples of Goals:

1. To find a place where she can be herself (Sophie, “The BFG”)

2. To impress Eve; to bring the plant to the Axiom (Wall-E, “Wall-E”)

3. To find true love; to protect and care for her mother and sisters (Elinor, “Sense & Sensibility”)

4. To kill Frank Miller and his men, or die trying (Will Kane, “High Noon”)

5. To find a place to belong (Paddington, “Paddington”)

Comment below the MC’s Goal in your favorite book or movie!