Helping Writers Become Authors

How can you apply archetypal character arcs in a practical way to your own stories? Here are five considerations for choosing archetypes.

The final Flat archetype of the Mentor is one of the most significant within human storytelling.

The Flat archetype of the Elder provides crucial guidance for enacting important change in surrounding characters.

The Flat archetype of the Ruler represents the potential period in a person's life in which he or she is in a position of leadership.

We don't often think of the Flat archetype of the Parent with the same enthusiasm as we do the Hero. And yet they are intrinsically linked.

A deeply nuanced archetype that evolves with us for most of our lives, the Flat archetype of the Lover is inherent and integral.

The archetype of the Child is necessarily an archetype of deep vulnerability and surprisingly powerful impact upon other characters.

Flat archetypes are often seen teaching other characters some of the same lessons they just learned in their own previously completed arcs.

Will the character triumph--or succumb in the end to the powerful temptations of either of the Mage's shadow archetypes, the Miser or the Sorcerer?

If the character cannot powerfully transition into the final act of life, the risk is that of sliding into the Crone's shadow archetypes.

Whether this powerful character brings life to the Kingdom depends on if he is in the grip of the King's shadow archetypes of Puppet and Tyrant.

The Queen's shadows have the potential to block her possibility for a positively transformative archetypal character arc.

The Hero's shadow archetypes of Coward and Bully are especially important (and cautionary) due to the pervasiveness of the Hero's Journey.

Out of fear and egoism, the Maiden's shadow archetypes would prevent her from embracing a new perspective and completing her journey.

Each positive character archetype inherently represents a struggle with related shadow archetypes--one passive and one aggressive.

The powerful and mysterious Mage Arc--the final archetypal character arc--turns its attention to questions of power and surrender.

The Crone Arc begins the final act of the "life arcs" by presenting an inevitable and imperative Underworld Journey.

Although the plot in a King Arc can be absolutely epic, it is a fundamentally spiritual arc--more so than any that have preceded it.

The majestic Queen Arc builds upon the lessons learned in the Hero's Journey to create an archetypal character arc that offers a worthy sequel.

The Hero Arc is the story of the conquering champion--the ingenuous but perhaps immodest youth setting out to do a great deed.

As the "youngest" of the archetypal character arcs, the Maiden Arc represents the quintessential coming-of-age story.

For a writer, one of the most exciting explorations of archetype can be found within specific archetypal character arcs--or journeys.

Why are archetypal stories so important and what does this mean for you as a writer attempting to channel these deep patterns of existence?

It is not too simplistic or idealistic a statement to say that storytelling--and therefore story theory--is a quest for meaning.

Pairing the Karpman Drama Triangle and the Empowerment Triangle offers a fantastic tool for creating solid character arcs.