Creating compelling characters is essential for any writer who wants to capture the attention of readers and create a memorable story. Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or screenplay, characters are the heart of your narrative and can make or break the success of your writing. In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks for developing compelling characters and provide examples from bestselling novels to illustrate these concepts.
1. Give Your Characters Depth and Complexity
The most compelling characters are those that are multi-dimensional and complex. They have flaws, strengths, and weaknesses, and their motivations and actions are often contradictory. By giving your characters depth and complexity, you make them feel more like real people and create a greater sense of empathy and connection with your readers.
When you’re developing your characters, consider their backstories, personal beliefs, and values. Think about their relationships with other characters in your story and how those relationships may evolve over time. It’s important to create characters who feel authentic and believable, even if they are placed in a fantastical or imaginary world.
One example of a character with depth and complexity is Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is a teenage boy who struggles with feelings of alienation, depression, and a lack of direction in his life. His conflicted emotions and actions make him a relatable and sympathetic character, despite his often self-destructive behaviour.
2. Create Memorable Character Traits
One of the best ways to make your characters stand out is by giving them memorable and distinct traits. These can be physical characteristics, personality quirks, or unique mannerisms that help readers visualize and remember your characters long after they’ve finished reading your story.
When creating memorable character traits, think about what makes your character unique and how those traits can be woven into the story. Consider how these traits might interact with other characters in the story and how they might contribute to the character’s development over time.
One example of a character with memorable traits is Lisbeth Salander from Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lisbeth has a unique appearance, with piercings, tattoos, and a punk-rock style. Her unconventional personality and fierce independence make her a memorable and compelling character that readers can’t help but root for.
3. Establish Clear Motivations and Goals
Compelling characters have clear motivations and goals that drive their actions and decisions throughout the story. These motivations and goals should be tied to the character’s backstory, personality, and desires, and should create a sense of urgency and tension that propels the plot forward.
When establishing your character’s motivations and goals, consider what they want, why they want it, and how they plan to achieve it. Think about the obstacles and challenges they will face along the way and how these challenges might force the character to change or evolve.
One example of a character with clear motivations and goals is Katniss Everdeen from Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. Katniss is motivated by a desire to protect her family and survive in a brutal and oppressive society. Her goal of winning the Hunger Games is tied to her survival and the hope of creating a better future for herself and her loved ones, making her a compelling and relatable character.
4. Use Character Arcs to Show Growth and Change
A character arc is a journey of growth and change that a character goes through over the course of a story. This can be a positive or negative change, but it should be tied to the character’s experiences and decisions throughout the narrative. By showing a character’s growth and change, you create a sense of progression and development that keeps readers engaged.
When creating a character arc, consider the transformation you want your character to undergo and what events or experiences will trigger this change. Think about the emotional journey your character will go through and how their actions and decisions will contribute to their development.
One example of a character with a compelling arc is Walter White from the television series Breaking Bad. At the beginning of the series, Walter is a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer. His desperation to provide for his family leads him down a path of crime and violence, and his character arc shows his transformation from a sympathetic, relatable protagonist to a ruthless and dangerous criminal.
5. Show Character Relationships and Interactions
The relationships and interactions between characters are an essential part of any story. These relationships can reveal a character’s motivations, values, and beliefs, and can create tension and conflict that drives the plot forward. By showing how characters interact with one another, you can create a sense of depth and realism in your story.
When developing character relationships, consider the dynamics between characters and how these dynamics might change over time. Think about the conflicts and tensions that might arise between characters and how these conflicts might contribute to the overall story.
One example of a story with complex character relationships is J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The relationships between Harry, Ron, and Hermione evolve over the course of the series, as they face increasingly difficult challenges and grow up together. The complex relationships between these characters, as well as the relationships between other characters in the series, create a sense of depth and richness that keeps readers invested in the story.
Conclusion
Developing compelling characters is essential for any writer who wants to create a memorable and engaging story. By giving your characters depth and complexity, creating memorable character traits, establishing clear motivations and goals, using character arcs to show growth and change, and showing character relationships and interactions, you can create characters that feel authentic and relatable to your readers. By using examples from bestselling novels, we’ve explored some of the techniques that writers use to create compelling characters and how you can apply these techniques to your own writing.
