Editing Research/Fiction Writing/Story Beats (section)

=== Character arcs ===
Source: K.M. Weiland’s character arc overview: [https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/write-character-arcs/ K.M. Weiland]
Weiland emphasizes Positive Change Arcs, Negative Change Arcs, and Flat Arcs, and frames character evolution as central to fiction.
Core arc concepts:
* '''Lie''' — false belief shaping the protagonist’s choices.
* '''Want''' — external goal, often driven by the lie.
* '''Need''' — deeper truth or internal change required.
* '''Ghost/Wound''' — prior damage that explains the lie.
* '''Truth''' — belief or value that challenges the lie.
* '''Choice''' — climax proves whether the character accepts or rejects the truth.
Revision use:
* Identify the protagonist’s lie in one sentence.
* Identify the truth in one sentence.
* Check whether the midpoint gives evidence the lie is failing.
* Check whether the dark night / low point shows the cost of the lie.
* Check whether the climax forces a choice between want and need.
* For flat arcs, check whether the protagonist changes the world while holding to a truth.
* For negative arcs, check whether choices deepen the lie rather than resolve it.