Creating Deep Characters
Writing Deep, Inspiring Characters
Every story starts with an idea that sends us off to our computers, where our fingers struggle to keep up with our brains. For any writer, having that spark ignite a fire under our creative minds is as exhilarating as a cool wind in your face on a hot day. But somewhere midway through the process of writing a manuscript, the initial thrill falls to questions and doubts. We begin to wonder if the story is delivering as once envisioned. One of the things many writers grapple with is the question: Are my characters unique, distinct, and deep enough to inspire the reaction I’m trying to evoke from my reader? At that stage, probably not. But that’s ok, because it’s part of a process that I call layering.
The purpose of the first draft or first layer is to get your story out from beginning to end in rough form like a sketch is to an illustrator. It’s what I call the ugly copy because, like my face in the morning, it needs a lot of help. One of the prime areas is character development. Therefore, we recommend you do the following:
1- Identify those characters that need a bit more because, in the current stage, they are one-dimensional, specifically the main characters (protagonists and antagonists). The main characters should be realistic, showcasing both sides of their personality. Remember, no one is all good or all bad. This is a common mistake!
2- Note the type of reactions the characters should inspire. For example, a writer may want their main character to be the hero, so they wish to see him as strong, articulate, and fearless.
3- List the traits that will create the desired perception of the character. For this we encourage our writers to pull from their own experiences. You may not believe it, but if you stop and look around, you are sitting in a pool of good material to use. Think about neighbors, people you see at the store, people you watch on television, family, friends, and enemies. For example, use their quirky, sweet, endearing, or annoying attributes and apply them to the book’s characters in how they talk, think, and their actions.
4- Read through the manuscript with the above information completed and add the details that will develop these characters more dynamically. You will pay specific attention to dialogue, descriptions, and actions – all must correlate with how you want the character to be seen by the reader.
For example, suppose you have an antagonist you want the reader to despise; ask yourself if how you’ve written him will entice that reaction from your reader. If not, think about little things that someone does that are offensive, and list them, again pulling from your life. If you sit there and say, “I got nothing,” then get up and go to the store or anywhere in public and watch. I guarantee you will find someone with an annoying characteristic.
But in addition to finding inspiration for deepening our characters, we must also understand that other than a select few, most individuals are a mix of positive and negative. I recently had this comment with one of our fictional writers, who wrote his protagonists as if sugar wouldn’t melt in their mouths. When we do that, we make them unrealistic, and readers will have a difficult time connecting with them. No one wants that for their protagonists. Yes, you want them to be the ones the reader is pulling for, but also to see them as real, to connect with them. Therefore, you should give them likable characteristics, with some quirks or habits that make them seem real. Or have them fail, but how they come back supports their overriding positive character.
Think about some of your favorite characters on television, movies, or books and recall what you like about them, but what imperfections the writers gave them to make them real. Were they amazing at crime fighting but cranky and irritable in an understandable way? Did they have huge hearts and care about others but had a problem with rule-following, live unconventionally, or were protective of their private lives. Each of the characters you loved in stories was dynamic, showcasing the many sides people possess in real life. Yours must do the same.
Again, we do this through a process I call layering: Once you do the “ugly copy,” when you go back through using the steps above, you will tweak the characters in what they say, how they say it, and what they do to set them apart and create a specific reaction from the reader. Each time you do this, you will be adding another layer to create a deep, meaningful character that will stay with your reader.
If you have any questions, please reach out. We are always happy to hear from writers and more than excited to lend some advice.
Happy Writing!