A NOVEL APPROACH
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT by Paul Hollis ( TopShelf Columnist ) Twitter @ HollowManSeries | TheHollowManSeries . com
As a writer , you will become a student of human nature . The question of whether the average human being has fixed characteristics or simply acts on impulse using a string of antidotal actions sown together in a random order has long been debated . Are people born with the fixed set of characteristics that make us all societally acceptable ?
The concept of human nature for most of us is traditionally imagined in one of two ways . In creating book characters , we are either attracted to unusual , abhorrent human behaviors , or gravitate to “ neighborhood ” characteristics which are derived from specific cultures and upbringings . Most of us can ’ t really translate deviant behavior to written form and the latter “ neighborhood ” characteristics are generally called stereotypes . So where does that leave us as writers ?
Before we talk about building memorable characters , let me say something about novels . Interesting stories without memorable characters are just that . Interesting . All great storylines are dependent on interactions between enduring characters . Complete characters will find a plot . By that I mean , characters that you don ’ t forget easily . Unforgettable characters can make a novel but plots without these characters can seldom hold up to that scrutiny .
A memorable character is one that a reader really identifies and connects with because of personality , foibles , humor , quirks , or a combination of characteristics . They engage our emotions , and they make us want to keep reading . We identify with characters , we love them , we hate them , we root for them , we get
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mad at them , and we sympathize with them .
So , how do writers create fascinating characters ? Here are a few tips writers should use to create those awesome characters . 1 . Let your characters interact with one another . Dialogue will help to demonstrate a lot about a character ’ s personality . Good dialogue has a purpose and builds toward an end . Your dialogue will feel empty and flat if it stays even or neutral . It evokes how we really talk . We get excited . We get sad . We speak in idioms , slang , and dialects . Conversation reveals personality , values , beliefs , and at the same time . Good dialogue is unexpected . It is punctuated by inner thoughts and character action . What it ’ s not , are pages of talking or ‘ telling ’ your story . 2 . Along with believable dialogue , allow your characters to have inner monologue with their conflicts and let them contradict themselves . Introspection is the easiest and clearest way to develop your characters ’ personalities . Make your characters think . Scenery and dialogue are good , but audiences want to know why ? What makes a character tick ? Make your characters think about their bonds and limitations ; make them challenge their own thoughts , fears and feelings . We see strength and weakness of character in people every day in our regular lives . Take advantage of your knowledge and use what you know . 3 . Complicate a relationship by adding another person , or putting your character in a group environment . People behave differently in groups , the most obvious and horrifying example being a mob which is capable of violence far beyond the natural inclination of most individuals . The mob serves not merely as a shield but as an excuse . The relationships between individuals in a group — whether a clique of three or an organization of thousands — are endlessly varied , shifting and fascinating . 4 . Create a backstory for each character . A character does not want your audience to feel like he or she only exists in the pages of your specific book . To give your character more dimension , let each character come with a back story to show they have a life and some level of existence other than what is apparent in the book . This will make your characters seem much more interesting and have the audience asking questions and trying to connect the dots . Your goal as a writer in character development is to get your audience to believe that there is personality depth beneath the words on the page . columns
5 . Know what makes your characters tick - what they want ; what they will do ; what they can ’ t help doing ; why they can ’ t help doing it . When thinking about what makes them tick , be sure you know what his or her motivation is . To know what your character wants and what lengths he or she will go to get it is to understand what drives the character . A backstory will tell your audience a different side of them at certain points in your story . But , there is more to great characters than backstory . We don ’ t want details for the sake of details . Take the reader inside the head of the character . Show them what makes the character an individual . Don ’ t tell them . 6 . As mentioned above , not only avoid stereotypes but stay away from type characters of any sort . These are the labels placed on characters such as the klutzy type , the nerdy type , the promiscuous type , etc . Type characters usually become static characters by default . That is , these characters do not change over time . They are unaffected by the events around them . However , real people are affected and sometimes changed forever by events , words , car crashes , birthdays , alcohol , drugs , and millions of other acts . We most often see this relating to secondary characters but beware of the effect stereotyped and typed characters can have on the depth of your characters . 7 . Finally , make sure what you choose to tell about your characters will serve a purpose for the rest of the story . You won ’ t get extra credit for knowing a character ’ s shoe size if it has little to do with the story being told . So don ’ t think about your character as a list of traits or a series of boxes to check off . You don ’ t need to know , every little detail about your characters if they do not drive the story , for example , which is her favorite flavor of ice cream . Make that up at the counter , but you better know the character ’ s motivation , in a specific scene that put her on the street , passing the ice cream shop , and the reasons she entered the store .
I hope some of these tips prove of value in creating full characters that grow throughout your novel . Good luck and happy “ charactering ”.
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