Character Development
In short: Character development (the character arc) describes how a character changes over the course of a story – through what they experience, learn or lose.
How to develop a character
From where to where: Get clear on how the character is at the start and how they should be at the end – the distance between is the arc.
Change under pressure: Characters grow through conflict. What challenges them shapes them.
Stasis tells a story too: Some characters don't change – then the very failure to learn is the point.
Related terms: Protagonist · Characterization · Conflict · Motif
Frequently asked questions
What is character development?
The change a character undergoes across a story – their inner journey from starting state to end state.
Does every character have to develop?
No, but the main character usually should show a discernible change – or its absence must carry meaning.