Making the Character Downfall Work
They can't always make the right choices
So I’ve got this character.
The more I write them, the more their story evolves in really great and exciting ways.
However.
In order for this character to get the epic arc they deserve… they’re going to have to fail a lot in Book One.
My upcoming novel, Sword of the Ancient, is Book One in a trilogy of books called The Kyrus Saga. I have the saga’s outline planned from start to finish, and some of my main characters have arcs that span the entire trilogy, while also having smaller arcs that work across one book.
This character (let’s just call them Chris) starts off strong. They are capable, intelligent, and passionate. As the story in SOTA progresses, you begin to see their flaws. Maybe they’re a little too passionate. Maybe they aren’t seeing the entire picture. Maybe they’re coping with things in the wrong way.
These cracks get bigger. Other characters start to notice and point them out. Chris ignores the warnings.
And then at the end of the story?
Boom.
Chris’ arc does not end well in Book One. They are left in pieces because the decisions they made throughout the story were consistently wrong, and they didn’t know how to get themselves out of it in the proper way.
As I write, I really want Chris’ mistakes to show. However, I don’t want it to seem like I am ignorant. The choices they make are planned out by me, and those choices have consequences. I don’t want readers to say, “Why would they make that choice? It’s wrong!”
Yes, it’s wrong! That’s the point. Not all the choices made by our main characters are meant to be the right ones. Sometimes they choose poorly, and have to dig themselves out of it.
That’s what Chris will need to endure in Books Two and Three. Chris arc starts off negatively, and there is a threat that if Chris allows the negativity to continue, they will turn into a villain instead of a hero.
Will Chris survive this? Or will they drown in their own hubris?
I guess I’ll need to write it and find out!