Crafting Unforgettable Characters: A Guide to Creating Great Characters in a Novel

Crafting Characters. It's part of what we are learning about in the Be a Better Writer course that we are facilitating this month. So let's talk about this subject a bit more in-depth. 

One of the most vital aspects of any compelling novel is the characters that inhabit its pages. They are the heart and soul of the story, the driving force behind the plot, and the key to engaging readers on a deep and emotional level. Creating great characters requires a combination of creativity, insight, and attention to detail. In this guide, we will explore the essential elements and techniques that go into crafting unforgettable characters in a novel.

1. Understanding the Role of Characters
Characters serve as the conduits through which readers experience the world of your novel. They provide the emotional connection that makes readers care about the events unfolding in the story. Whether it's a protagonist, antagonist, or a supporting character, each role plays a crucial part in driving the narrative forward.
Protagonist:
The protagonist is the central character around whom the story revolves. They are the ones facing challenges, making choices, and undergoing personal growth throughout the narrative. To create a memorable protagonist, consider the following:

• Motivation and Goals: What does your protagonist want? Their motivations and goals should be clear and relatable to the readers. This gives them a reason to invest in the character's journey.
• Flaws and Vulnerabilities: Perfect characters can be uninteresting. Introduce flaws and vulnerabilities that make your protagonist relatable and multidimensional.
• Internal Conflict: Inner struggles and conflicting emotions add depth to a protagonist's character arc. A character who grapples with their own fears, doubts, or ethical dilemmas will resonate with readers.

Antagonist:
The antagonist opposes the protagonist and creates conflict. A well-developed antagonist adds complexity and tension to the story:

• Motivation: Similar to the protagonist, the antagonist should have clear motivations. Understanding their reasons, even if they're misguided, can make them more believable and intriguing.
• Backstory: What events led the antagonist to their current state? A well-crafted backstory can humanize even the most villainous characters.
• Depth: Avoid making the antagonist one-dimensional. Give them qualities that challenge the reader's perceptions and force them to question the line between good and evil.

Supporting Characters:
Supporting characters enrich the story by offering diverse perspectives, relationships, and subplots. Even though they may have less screen time, they should still be thoughtfully developed:

• Distinct Personalities: Ensure that supporting characters have their own distinct personalities, quirks, and voices. Avoid using them solely as plot devices.
• Roles and Relationships: Each supporting character should serve a purpose in the narrative. Whether they're a mentor, friend, or love interest, their interactions with the protagonist should contribute to their development.
• Arcs of Their Own: While not all supporting characters need extensive arcs, consider giving some of them their own moments of growth or change. This can add depth to the overall story.

2. Building Character Backstories
A character's past greatly influences their present actions and decisions. Developing detailed backstories for your characters helps you understand their motivations and shape their behavior:

• Early Life: Explore their childhood, family dynamics, and early experiences. These can shape their worldview and personality traits.
• Defining Moments: What pivotal events have impacted the character's life? A traumatic experience, a significant achievement, or a major decision can all contribute to their development.
• Relationships: How do they interact with family, friends, and enemies? The dynamics they share with others can reveal a lot about their personality and motivations.
• Secrets: Characters often have hidden aspects of their past that can create inner conflict. Revealing these secrets at strategic points can add depth and tension to the story.

3. Creating Compelling Character Traits
Character traits are the building blocks of personality. Crafting traits that resonate with readers helps them connect with the characters on a personal level:

• Positive Traits: These traits make characters likable and relatable. Compassion, humor, courage, and loyalty are just a few examples.
• Negative Traits: Characters should also have flaws that make them realistic. Pride, jealousy, impulsiveness, and self-doubt can create internal conflict and growth opportunities.
• Contradictions: Human beings are complex, and characters should be no different. A character with a mix of traits, even if they seem contradictory, can be more authentic and interesting.
• Change Over Time: As the story progresses, characters should evolve. Their experiences and challenges should lead to shifts in their traits and behaviors.

4. Dialogue and Voice
A character's dialogue is a powerful tool for revealing their personality, relationships, and motivations:

• Distinctive Voices: Each character should have a unique way of speaking, influenced by factors like their background, education, and personality.
• Subtext: Dialogue is an excellent way to convey hidden emotions and motives. Characters might say one thing while meaning another, creating depth and intrigue.
• Show, Don't Tell: Instead of explicitly stating a character's traits, allow their speech patterns, tone, and word choices to demonstrate who they are.

5. Using Character Arcs for Growth
A character arc is the transformation a character undergoes over the course of the story. It's a fundamental aspect of character development:

• Starting Point: Introduce the character's flaws, fears, or limitations early on. This gives them room to grow and change.
• Obstacles: Challenges and conflicts force characters to confront their flaws and make difficult choices. These experiences drive the character arc.
• Growth: As the character faces obstacles, they should evolve and develop new insights. This growth should be earned and believable.
• Resolution: The character's arc should culminate in a resolution that reflects their growth. This can be a change in behavior, mindset, or values.

6. Emotionally Engaging Readers
For characters to resonate with readers, they need to evoke emotions. Emotional connections make the story memorable and impactful:

• Empathy: Create characters with relatable struggles and emotions. When readers empathize with their experiences, they become invested in their journey.
• Vulnerability: Characters who show vulnerability are more human and endearing. Their fears and insecurities make them relatable and evoke empathy.
• Conflict and Decision-Making: Characters facing tough choices and internal conflicts tug at readers' heartstrings. The struggle between what a character wants and what they need can be emotionally compelling.

7. Showcasing Diversity and Inclusion
The real world is diverse, and novels should reflect this diversity:

• Representation: Include characters from various backgrounds, cultures, genders, and experiences. Avoid stereotypes and strive for authentic portrayals.
• Avoid Tokenism: Diverse characters should be fully developed and integral to the story, rather than added for the sake of appearance.
• Sensitivity and Research: If writing about experiences different from your own, do thorough research and consider seeking input from individuals with those experiences.
• 8. Finding Inspiration
  Drawing inspiration for characters can come from various sources:
• Observation: Observe people around you—their behavior, conversations, and idiosyncrasies can provide insights into creating realistic characters.
• Research: Dive into books, articles, documentaries, and interviews related to your characters' backgrounds or professions.
• Personal Experience: Your own experiences and emotions can fuel authentic character development, even if the story is fictional.

9. Iterative Process and Feedback
Creating great characters is an iterative process:

• Feedback: Share your character sketches and ideas with beta readers, writing groups, or mentors. Fresh perspectives can help identify areas for improvement.
• Revision: Be open to revising and refining your characters based on feedback. Characters often evolve as the story takes shape.

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10. Consistency and Growth
Consistency is key when developing characters:

• Character Bibles: Create a reference document detailing each character's traits, backstory, relationships, and arc to maintain consistency throughout the story.
• Evolution: Characters should evolve as the story progresses. Their growth should be organic, reflecting the challenges and experiences they face.

​Creating great characters is an art that requires a blend of creativity, empathy, and attention to detail. When readers connect with characters on an emotional level, they become invested in the story's twists and turns. By understanding their motivations, crafting compelling backstories, and guiding them through meaningful arcs, writers can craft characters that resonate long after the last page is turned. So, embark on the journey of character creation with passion and dedication, and watch as your characters come to life within the pages of your novel.