Definition
Arc tracking is the revision practice of following each character arc and story arc from beginning to end, checking that the transformation (or deliberate lack of it) feels earned and complete. You read your manuscript with a specific arc in mind, noting every scene where that arc advances, stalls, or contradicts itself. The goal is to verify that your arcs build progressively rather than jumping, stalling, or resolving out of nowhere.
Why It Matters
A character who changes in Chapter 20 without adequate groundwork in Chapters 5 through 19 will feel unconvincing. Arc tracking is how you find the gaps. It's especially important in novels with multiple point-of-view characters, where each character's development has to hold up independently even as the storylines weave together.
Try It Yourself
Pick one character from your current project and read through your manuscript noting only scenes where that character appears. For each scene, write one sentence describing where they are emotionally and what's shifted since their last appearance. Look at your notes in sequence. Can you see a clear progression? If there are jumps or flat stretches, mark them for revision.
Can you see your character arcs at a glance?
Novelium's character tracking lets you visualize how each character changes across every scene. Spot flat stretches, sudden jumps, and unresolved arcs before your readers do.