Characters are the beating heart of every story. Their presence is integral to the narrative, breathing life into your stories. They serve as the driving force that moves your story forward, captivating your readers along the way. So, how do you go about creating these characters that will leave an everlasting impact on your story and audience?
You’ll learn a lot about your characters as you write them, so don’t worry about creating the entire character before you start writing. But here are things you can do during the prewriting, writing, and editing phases of the writing process that will let you get to know your characters and allow them to become fully fleshed-out people that your readers will believe.
Before You Start Writing
Know Your Character
When you start working on your character, begin with taking a character questionnaire and answer as many questions as you can. Your questionnaire can include questions such as:
- What do they love doing?
- What do they hate?
- Where are they from?
- How do they dress
- Where did they grow up?
- What is their MBTI?
You can also try answering things that may not relate to your character and your story. Like would this character prefer Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton? The politics don’t matter, but this will know more about your character to let you know who they are by how they answer.
The more you get to know your character before you start writing, the more they will feel like real people in your mind. This makes it easier for you to know how they’ll act and the choices they’ll make when they show up in your story.
What’s the Arc of Your Character?
All characters, from your main character to the least important ones, have an arc. The arc takes your characters through an inner journey, learning and changing as the story unfolds.
Some characters blossom, learning valuable lessons along the way. For instance, Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings begins as frightened and unwilling to take risks or leave home. By the end, his arc takes him through a series of adventures, and he finds that he can’t return home. He also learns he prizes relationships and protects people over his own needs. This is a positive arc.
A negative arc is when your character doesn’t learn a lesson and instead sinks into his mistakes. The main character of Joker begins as a man who seeks acceptance and connection with other people. He’s basically a decent person with many faults. By the end, he snaps and becomes a catalyst for anger and destruction. His need for connection remains the same, but now he’s willing to accept any kind of connection with other humans, even if it means hurting others.
What Do Your Characters Want, and What are Their Flaws?
All characters have deep desires. Usually, these include the very human desire to be loved and accepted. These desires add depth to the characters. They drive their actions, shape their interactions, and influence their development throughout a narrative. Ask yourself the following questions about your characters.
- What do they think they want?
- What do they really want?
- What are their fears?
- What are their flaws?
When your character has a positive arc, they move away from what they think they want and move towards what they really want by facing and overcoming their fears and flaws. Meanwhile, if they have a negative arc, they might go through incidents that move them away from what they really want and make them sink into their fears and flaws.
While Writing
As Ray Bradbury pointed out, once you know what your character wants, “when he or she wakes up in the morning, just follow him or her all day.” Your characters will guide you. Let them surprise you, take unexpected turns, and grow right before your eyes.
When you write, you start a journey of discovery, where every word you write brings you closer to understanding your character’s heart and soul.
Write Scenes
Don’t be afraid to write scenes that don’t end up in your final story. Think of these moments as your playground, a space where creativity knows no bounds. Once you’ve delved deep into your character’s life story, take the time to explore even further. Write scenes about them or monologues from parts of their lives that won’t appear on the page in your story.
This isn’t just busy work; it’s a vital part of getting to know your characters inside and out. Imagine them in different situations, see how they react, and listen to what they say. It’s like spending time with a friend and learning their secrets. This writing uncovers the details that make them truly come to life.
Here’s an extra nugget of wisdom: this additional writing doesn’t have to gather dust in a drawer. You can use it as a special gift for your readers when your book is published. It could be exclusive content on your website, a bonus for newsletter subscribers, or a unique incentive to encourage book sales. Think of it as sharing a hidden part of the journey, offering a deeper connection to the characters as a thank you to your readers.
Use Dialogue to Capture Your Character’s Voice
Try writing some of your initial scenes using dialogue only. Let your characters talk to themselves and others to see how they frame their words. Don’t worry about getting the dialogue perfect. Instead, let your character take over and follow what they do, capturing the essence of their personality, quirks, and views. It’s a bit like eavesdropping on their innermost thoughts and seeing how they interact with the world around them. You’ll learn more about your character through this process, and then you can always circle back to refine and edit.
Developing Your Character During the Editing Process
When you edit your story, you might notice different themes that arise in your writing. The themes of your story will connect with the overall message of your story as well as what the characters want. Take a step back from your story and think about how they all fit together. Whether your character has a positive or negative arc, you can use their scenes to highlight a larger message.
Finding inconsistencies in your characters’ words and actions is common as well. While you might need to make changes in some sections, some inconsistencies can shape the story. For example, if your character has blue eyes at the beginning of the story and brown at the end, that’s a detail you’ll want to change to make it more consistent. But if your character begins by wanting to love and then by the end decides love isn’t important, you may want to highlight this change.
This phase of editing isn’t just about fixing typos or patching plot holes; it’s about tuning into the soul of your story. Think of it as having a chat with your characters, understanding their fears, motivations, and dreams a little better.
Remember that developing characters is a journey that takes time, patience, and heart. It’s about peeling back layers, discovering hidden truths, and letting your characters surprise you.
And hey, if the road feels a bit bumpy or lonely, you’re not alone. Writing is a marathon, not a sprint. If you ever find yourself in need of a cheerleader, an accountability buddy, or just someone to share the progress with, a women writers network, like the Inspired Writer community, is a great place to turn. In our women’s mentorship program, we’re all about supporting each other, sharing insights, and celebrating every milestone.
So, don’t hesitate to reach out and join us. Together, we can bring your characters to life and turn your stories into something truly unforgettable.
