| name | arc-progression-check |
| description | Load during ConsistencyAgent post-write review when checking whether the current chapter advances each protagonist's arc relative to the previous chapter. Flags stagnation (2+ chapters without substantive arc movement) and unbacked leaps (sudden psychological shifts without setup). |
Arc Progression Check
Use this skill to verify that character arcs move credibly across chapters.
What Counts As Movement
Arc movement is a pressure event changing the character's relationship to desire, fear, false belief, self-image, or another person.
Small movement counts if it is real:
- A false belief is challenged.
- A defense mechanism fails.
- A desire becomes more costly.
- A fear becomes harder to avoid.
- A relationship forces a new self-understanding.
Problems To Flag
- Stagnation: two or more chapters with no substantive internal pressure or changed stance.
- Unbacked leap: a sudden psychological shift without setup.
- Repeated beat: the character relearns the same lesson in the same way.
- External-only plot: events happen to the character but do not affect the arc.
Findings
- Use
layer: character.
- Use
severity: minor for stagnation or repeated beats.
- Use
severity: major for unbacked leaps that break believability.
Calibration
Do not demand dramatic transformation every chapter. A credible hesitation can be stronger than an instant breakthrough.
