The main character is struggling to achieve some goal, but another character is standing in their way. The main character cannot get around the antagonist no matter how they try. The main character is transformed. Their new form drastically changes their lifestyle / status / role in society. Initially the transformation seems to make the goal even more difficult to achieve, but the experience reveals a new path around the antagonist. This path was always available but not obvious to the character without a change in perspective / lesson learned. The character achieves their goal and adapts to a new normal with a new appreciation for their altered form.


Swap the antagonist out and put “the character thinks X is their goal but they don’t realize Y is their goal and they can reach by achieving Z” and you have like half my stories . . .

Maybe I need to try something new :/