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@theinconceivable1 I don’t think I need to give you a Bible verse because the whole Bible answers the question. To read and think about the Bible means to read and think about sin, murder, rape, war, and eternal punishment to name a few. If you’re going to take that verse to mean you can’t think about evil, then the Bible says you can’t read the Bible!

I think what that verse means is not to think about evil too much, not to immerse yourself in it. Maybe for some authors writing a negative character arc would mean that, if that character fell a long way. But I don’t think you can argue that it’s morally wrong for all authors to write one.

Plus, imagine applying that verse to every aspect of life completely literally. Counselors have to think about the horrible things their patients have done or that have been done to them. Police, judges, and juries have to spend a long time thinking over and analysing heinous crimes. We teach and learn the darkest parts of history because they are true and so we can learn from them, which I’d argue is why we write negative character arcs. I believe that in the end, it’s about intention and not doing something excessively, as well as recognising when a certain topic is dangerous to you as an individual.

Just as a side note, I think these things all apply to the tricky topics that are being discussed on the Story Embers blog as well. I guess negative character arcs kind of work in the same way.

So, what do you think? 🙂