What Is a Flat Arc?

So far, we’ve discussed the positive change arc. To recap, this arc is based on a character who grows and wins.

We also covered the negative change arc, or tragedy. This arc follows a character who refuses or fails to grow and loses in the end.

And now we’re going to explore a third arc. It’s powerful but many times misunderstood:

The flat arc.

This arc isn’t about a character changing. They hold the truth. It’s about the character changing the world we live in.

In a flat arc, the character already holds the truth. They don’t need to change, but others do.

Instead of spending the story learning what they need, they are teaching. They have to prove their truth in the face of obstacles and opposition.

They’re tested, tempted, and seriously knocked down. But they stay strong. And in the end, it’s the world around them that changes, or at least they die trying.

So instead of:

“I need to grow in order to succeed,” it’s “I know what’s right, and I’ll fight to the death to prove it.”

How The Flat Arc Works: Similar Structure, Different Focus

Just like in the other arcs, the character has a want and faces obstacles. There’s still a midpoint. There’s still a climax. But they know what they need from the get-go and are offering it to the world.

The central tension in a flat arc doesn’t come from learning the truth, it comes from standing by it, especially when everyone around them doubts it.

There will be times during the story when they question themselves, but that’s okay. That moment of internal doubt helps make their truth stronger, making it earned and satisfying.

Two Sides of the Flat Arc: Hope vs. Tragedy

Erin Brockovich and Don’t Look Up are two powerful examples of flat arcs. They show what the author’s themes can create.

Example 1: Erin Brockovich — Truth Wins

CHARACTER: Erin is a struggling single mom. She believes that ordinary people deserve justice, no matter how big the system they’re up against.

WANT: To hold a giant power company accountable for poisoning people’s water—and prove her own worth in the process.

TRUTH THEY HOLD: She already believes in justice and standing up for the voiceless. That’s her truth from page one.

MIDPOINT (The Challenge to the truth): Erin uncovers proof of wrongdoing. The stakes are real: lawyers, money, resistance.

She’s tested. Her team doubts her. Her personal life suffers.

But Erin holds firm. The lesson isn’t for her; it’s for those around her.

OBSTACLES: Legal pushback, financial pressure, dismissal, and underestimation.

CLIMAX & STAKES: She wins, not because she changed, but because she stayed true. Truth, integrity, and moral action overpower greed.

Example 2: Don’t Look Up — Truth Fails

CHARACTER: Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky are scientists who discover a comet that will destroy Earth.

WANT: To get the world to listen and act before it’s too late.

TRUTH THEY HOLD: The comet is real. Science matters. Action is urgent.

They already know this truth at the start.

MIDPOINT (The challenge to the truth): Their message is ridiculed and ignored by politicians, media, and the public.

Randall struggles with doubt but recommits.

OBSTACLES: Political corruption, misinformation, media spectacle, public apathy, and ignorance.

CLIMAX & STAKES: The comet strikes, destroying Earth.

Though tragic, Randall and Kate hold true to their convictions. The world fails to catch up.

Why This Matters

These stories show the flat arc’s flexibility:

Erin Brockovich is an inspirational flat arc where truth and persistence change the world for the better.

Don’t Look Up is a tragic flat arc where truth is ignored and defeated by ignorance and fear.

Both arcs feature characters who don’t change internally; they lead by example. But the world’s response shapes whether the ending feels hopeful or devastating.

MY STORYLINE – FLAT ARC

CHARACTER: (Who are they? What truth or value do they already believe that others around them don’t?) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WANT: (What do they want externally? What’s the big goal they’re fighting for?) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TRUTH THEY HOLD (Instead of Need: What do they know about themselves or the world that gives them strength?) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MIDPOINT (The challenge to the truth: What moment offers the greatest doubt? How does the world push back?) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OBSTACLES: (What challenges and people try to convince them they’re wrong?) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CLIMAX & STAKES: (How do they prove the truth? What changes in the world around them as a result?) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Final Thought

The flat arc is less about personal transformation and more about transformation through example.

• Your character becomes the compass for the story.
• They don’t grow; they lead.

Next time, we’ll compare all three arcs side by side and help you decide which one is right for your story.

In the meantime, ask yourself:

Does your character need to change?

Or do they already know the truth and need the world to catch up?

Happy writing!

M.C. Convery