In any kind of publishing, including self-publishing, creating a character involves crafting a multi-dimensional person who feels real. Some authors’ characters feel a bit stiff, as if they’ve been assembled from a kit. Others are like cardboard cut-outs—the kind you might see for instore promotions; full-sized but flat and thin! You can make sure your characters have depth by working to develop them.
Why are characters so important?
Characters are the heart of any book, but particularly fiction. They bring stories to life, letting readers dive into the narrative, care about what happens, and think about deeper themes. Without great characters, fiction would miss the human touch that makes it relatable and compelling.
How to Develop Your Characters
To develop characters that feel vibrant and real rather than wooden or flat, infuse them with depth, complexity, and authenticity. Here are some strategies to achieve this:
- Start with details: An author should always know more about their characters than is written in the book, so even if it’s not relevant to your scenes, outline your character’s basic information for your own reference. These details include things like name, age, appearance, and background. Think about their family, upbringing, education, and any significant life events. Give them likes and dislikes, things they love more than anything and things they absolutely hate.
- Show, don’t tell: When writing that your character is doing, don’t just list information about your characters. A principle of great writing is to show, not tell. For instance, instead of saying your character grew up at 12 Railway Terrace close to the tracks, write, “each night he fought off sleep, waiting for the 10:45 freight train to rattle his bed as it rumbled past.” Reveal traits and backstory through actions, dialogue, and interactions. Show how they respond to challenges and make decisions.
- Give them flaws and contradictions: Perfect is boring; characters should be imperfect and multifaceted. Think about their strengths and weaknesses, but toss in some contradictions and inconsistencies, too. This makes them relatable. Flaws and internal conflicts add complexity and depth.
- Provide backstory: Kill the ‘cardboard cut-out’ by developing a backstory that gives depth and context to their life experiences. Past relationships, traumas, achievements, and failures all shape who they are. How has their past influenced their present?
- Create complex relationships: Characters should have dynamic relationships with others. Explore the nuances of love, friendship, rivalry, and conflict.
- Show internal conflict: Characters should struggle internally. Doubts, conflicting desires, and inner turmoil make a character Explore their inner world and the choices they must make.
- Give them goals and ambitions: Characters need clear goals and aspirations. Show what they want and why it matters, even if their goals are flawed or misguided.
- Growth and change: Plan their character arc. This is their transformation or inner journey. How will they evolve? What lessons will they learn? Pinpoint key moments that impact their development.
- Use dialogue and voice: Develop a distinct voice. Think about their tone, vocabulary, and speech patterns. Write dialogue that reflects their personality and background. Make it consistent and revealing.
- Reveal vulnerability: Allow your characters to show vulnerability. Fears, insecurities, and moments of doubt make them human and relatable.
- Avoid stereotypes: Create characters that defy stereotypes. Challenge conventional expectations and offer fresh perspectives.
- Give them agency: Characters need agency and autonomy. Let them make choices, take risks, and drive the plot forward.
Tools and Techniques
These tools will help you build your characters:
- Character Interviews: Chat with your character. Ask them in-depth questions about their life, likes, and motivations.
- Character Sheets: Use these to jot down and organize their attributes, history, and personality traits. Think of it as their resume.
- Mind Mapping: Create mind maps showing the web of relationships and connections in their life.
- Writing Prompts: Throw them into different situations with prompts to see how they react. It’s like a character test drive.
By following these steps and tweaking your character as you go, you’ll create rich, believable, and compelling individuals that resonate with readers and bring your story to life.