Creating Compelling Characters
The inhabitants of your world play a pivotal role in its appeal. As you develop characters, think about the following:
Influence of Background: How do their cultural backgrounds shape them? For example, in The Hate U Give, Starr’s experiences living in a poor neighborhood versus going to a wealthy school inform her actions and decisions.
Intersection with History: How do their lives relate to the world's events? In The Book Thief, the events of World War II profoundly affect Liesel’s family and her destiny.
Unique Challenges: What struggles do they face that are specific to your world? Characters in Dune face environmental hardships that influence their choices and development.
Weaving Conflict and Tension
Conflict drives narrative momentum, making a world feel alive. Consider:
Central Issues: What are the urgent conflicts in your world? In The Lord of the Rings, the struggle against Sauron is a massive narrative force.
Faction Conflicts: How do different groups clash? The political intrigue in House of Cards showcases how factions fight for power.
Personal Struggles: What internal conflicts do characters face that tie into the larger issues? In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout grapples with her understanding of morality against the backdrop of racial injustice.
Embedding conflict within your world creates layers of drama, keeping readers eager to see what happens next.
Creating memorable characters is like cooking a gourmet meal—you need the right ingredients and a touch of seasoning. If you want characters that leap off the page and stay with readers long after they finish your story, you need to invest time and effort in their development. Over the years, I’ve found that this aspect of writing is not only rewarding but also enjoyable. Here, I’ll share five actionable tips that have helped me create characters with distinct voices, motivations, and flaws.
Understand Your Character’s Background
As mentioned above, a character's background is what shapes them. To create realistic and relatable characters, it’s essential to explore their backgrounds. Every character’s history influences their current choices and actions. Ask yourself:
Where did they grow up? A character from a bustling city will likely behave differently than one from a small town.
What was their family life like? This could shape their views on relationships or authority. For instance, someone raised in a strict household might struggle with independence.
What pivotal events influenced their personality? Did they experience trauma, success, or a major failure?
Investing time in your character’s backstory can reveal their motivations, driving your story forward. Consider creating a character profile that includes key details about their upbringing, relationships, and experiences. This guide can help you stay consistent as you write. For example, a character who was bullied in school may exhibit different traits and reactions than one who was popular.
One of the best pieces of writing advice I ever saw was to help develop an interesting character, write out their backstory but don't use it directly in the book. Let pieces of it come up naturally or not at all; this will make them more intriguing.
Define Their Voice
Once you have a robust background, defining your character’s voice is crucial. Their unique way of speaking reflects their experiences and emotions. Focus on:
Speech Patterns: Does your character use formal language, or do they prefer slang? For instance, a college professor might speak differently than a street-smart teenager.
Vocabulary: Are they articulate or do they struggle with words? A character who reads widely may use a rich vocabulary compared to one who has had limited education.
Tone: Is their tone optimistic, sarcastic, serious, or humorous? A character with a sarcastic tone can provide comic relief, while a serious one may add tension.
Try writing dialogue scenes to practice your character’s voice. You’ll find that an authentic voice makes your characters more relatable and engaging. For example, if your character uses specific slang common in their community, it will help readers visualize them more clearly.
Give Them Motivations
What drives your character? Well-rounded characters have clear motivations that influence their decisions. Think about the following:
Goals and Desires: What does your character want most? For example, a detective might be driven by justice while a thief may seek wealth.
Fears: What are they afraid of losing? A character who fears rejection can make choices based on that fear, impacting the story.
Obstacles: What challenges do they face? Identifying obstacles creates tension and conflict. If your character wants love but fears intimacy, this internal struggle makes for a compelling narrative.
Creating a character motivation chart can help track each character’s driving forces. When faced with challenges, ensure their responses align with their established motivations. This authenticity resonates with readers. For instance, if a character who values honesty is tempted to lie, readers will feel the weight of that decision.
Bonus tip: once you know what they want, make sure they don't get it (at least until the end). Once you know what they're afraid of, make them face it. You get the idea.
Embrace Their Flaws
Memorable characters are often defined by their flaws, making them relatable. Everyone has imperfections, and recognizing these in your characters adds depth. Consider:
Personality Traits: Are they overly ambitious, competitive, or perhaps naïve? An ambitious character might push others away while pursuing their goals.
Situational Flaws: In what scenarios do they struggle? For instance, someone who excels at work may falter in personal relationships.
Flaws create opportunities for character growth, allowing readers to connect emotionally. Watching characters confront their weaknesses can evoke empathy. For example, if a perfectionist character learns to embrace mistakes, it creates a satisfying arc.
Allow for Growth and Change
The best characters evolve throughout the story. They learn, adapt, and sometimes even transform their core beliefs. This growth adds richness to your writing. Ask yourself:
What lessons will your character learn?
How do these lessons affect their motivations?
Will they become a better or worse version of themselves?
Map out your characters’ arcs to deepen the narrative and engage readers emotionally. For example, a selfish character who learns the value of friendship can create a powerful journey that readers will root for.
Final Thoughts
Character development is crucial in storytelling and can elevate your narrative. By understanding your characters’ backgrounds, defining their voices, identifying meaningful motivations, embracing their flaws, and allowing them to grow, you can create characters that resonate with readers.
Writing is a journey, both for your characters and yourself as a writer. Use these tips to guide you in crafting characters that are as complex and rich as real life. So grab your pens (or keyboards) and start creating those unforgettable characters!
Click for Part One, Part Two, Part Three, or Part Four. Next month, we'll talk about how to plot your novel.
What are you in the mood for?
Happy Reading!
Always,
Ana
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