It’s an old argument. Are plot or character more important to a story?
The easy answer? There isn’t one.
I’ve read beautiful novels with compelling characters who don’t do enough. And I’ve read action-packed, well-plotted stories with characters I can’t connect with.
The best plots stem from strong characters. And the best characters grow and change as the plot progresses.
It’s not one or the other. The best books require both.
A character arc is the emotional or psychological journey a character experiences throughout a story. While the plot keeps the story moving, the character arc gives it heart.
Here’s the secret: the strongest character arcs occur when the character’s nature conflicts with their goals.
Let’s take everyone’s favorite scoundrel, for example. Whether you love or loathe the Star Wars franchise, Han Solo’s character arc is one of the best in the industry. He’s a selfish, cocky smuggler who values little more than his ship and filthy lucre. But as the series develops, he makes friends and sacrifices his original goals to save the lives of those he’s grown to love.
Who did this to you?
Very little in the original Star Wars trilogy explains why Han was amoral and self-serving. As he isn’t the main character in that series, not getting all of his backstory is pretty typical. But thanks to the breadth of Star Wars canon, many of my fellow nerds will know that Han grew up impoverished and fell in with a street gang at a very young age. He also had a history of being stabbed in the back by people he trusted.
Understanding where the character started will help you know where the character needs to go.
What are their flaws and fears? What are their false beliefs? What’s their best-case scenario, and what’s their worst nightmare?
Han believes that everyone is out to get him, so he approaches every situation with a chip on his shoulder and little faith. His beliefs drive his actions.
Who do you want to be versus who do you need to be?
In A New Hope, Han thinks he wants to be rich and powerful and own the fastest ship in the galaxy. He initially uses the rebels for his own benefit. But, he develops new friendships with people who are more trustworthy than he’s used to, people who would sacrifice themselves on his account; he begins to value relationships more than money.
In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke goes missing. Han is warned that searching for Luke during a snowstorm is a suicide mission. Not only does Han put himself at risk, he saves Luke from freezing to death by stuffing him into a very stinky Tauntaun.
How did we get here?
Han Solo’s redemption arc is particularly satisfying because it’s believable. Han struggles. His change isn’t immediate. He relapses. He makes bad decisions. His growth isn’t linear.
The moments when he doubts himself and his decision create delightful tension, and that’s when viewers become the most emotionally invested in his character. The story puts Han in situations that challenge everything he believes, pushing him to change.
Han’s arc is ultimately about trust, vulnerability, and transformation—a loner who learns to care deeply and fight for something bigger than himself. And he does it all while shooting first (we know the truth 😉).
Based on the Han Solo Model:
- Focus on flaws, fears, and false beliefs.
- Create conflict between what the character thinks they need and what will actually make them happy.
- Demonstrate the struggle and change.
- Provide a sense of closure—help the reader see that everything the character went through meant something.
Your characters deserve a journey worth rooting for. If you need help figuring out that path, request a sample edit!
