Have you ever found yourself thinking about a fictional character as if they were a real person? Someone you might meet for lunch or go on wild adventures with? Conversely, have you ever been pulled out of a novel by an odd choice a character makes? One you just don’t believe that character would really make?
There’s a lot that goes into the success (or otherwise) of a character in fiction, but to me, the foundation is authenticity. Does every action, reaction, and decision (good, bad, and catastrophic) feel authentic to that character?
The more you know about your characters, the easier it will be to make authentic choices on their behalf as the story unfolds.
Now, there are any number of character development guides out there that recommend getting to know your characters through superficial prompts like, “How would they buy a loaf of bread?” or “What was their favorite music as a kid?” And while these lines of thinking are fun and can certainly be useful, they don’t really help you get deep into the core of who your characters are and why they behave the way they do.
The way I see it, there are four key things you have to know — and know intimately — about your characters in order to really bring them to life on the page.
My new guide to compelling character development walks through those four items in depth. From uncovering their objectives and limiting beliefs to unraveling their world views and navigating ethical gray areas, this guide provides practical insights — and more than a dozen writing prompts — to help you bring your characters to life in vivid focus.
You can download the full guide here. Want more info first? Keep on reading:
Understanding Objectives
Character motivation is the engine of a story, and great character motivation comes in two parts: internal and external. Part 1 helps you identify and articulate both sets of motivations, providing a roadmap for character-driven storytelling that resonates with readers on a personal level. Three writing exercises will help you develop a deeper understanding of what motivates your characters and propels the narrative forward.
Exploring Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs—false assumptions characters have about themselves—act as formidable barriers to growth and development. (And, in turn, they’re powerful drivers of tension!) Part 2 explores limiting beliefs—what they are, where they come from, and how characters can deal with them. Four writing exercises encourage you to delve into pivotal scenes from your characters’ pasts in order to uncover the roots of these beliefs and explore how they shape your characters' actions and decisions.
Examining World Views
Every character sees the world through a unique lens that is shaped by their experiences and beliefs. Part 3 encourages you to explore these core beliefs and perspectives, with four writing exercises to help you define your characters' world views—and suss out whether those world views are supporting or thwarting them on their journeys.
Navigating Ethics
Unfortunately for fictional characters (and for those of us living in the real world, too) things are rarely black and white. But, like those of us in the real world, every character has boundaries — certain actions or choices they are unwilling to make — that guide them through the gray areas. Part 4 helps you unpack your characters’ moral codes, with three writing exercises designed to explore the complexities of decision-making and challenge your characters to confront their values and beliefs.
Compelling character development is an exercise in psychology as much as imagination, and it can be a daunting process. This new guide, Creating Compelling Characters, makes it manageable and fun.
*This guide was provided to members of the Inkwell at the Pen and Quill levels at no extra cost in April 2024.