Tips for Creating Better Characters

Just a selection of short, to-the-point tips on how to make more compelling and believable characters. Enjoy & let me know your thoughts on them in the comments below. Would you add anything to this list? What helps you create more interesting characters when you write?

★ Think about how your character fits into the larger universe and narrative.

★ Develop their goals and ambitions. This is what drives them and their actions through the story and every character (even side characters) have these.

★ Consider giving them some interesting ticks or habits. People are extremely habitual creatures.

★ Consider how their actions make sense on a personal level and in view of what they want.

★ Consider how their weaknesses are connected to their strengths. Usually our flaws are oversteps of our positive attributes. A few examples:

Someone is passionate and driven but can also be reactive and obessesive.

Someone who is laid-back and chill but can also be lazy.

Someone who is hard working but can be easily carried away and consumed by what they do and has a hard time drawing boundaries between their work and personal life.

★ Consider their actions from the point of view of the reader.

★ Think about their actions from the point of view of the other characters. Does this action make sense to them or catch them by surprise?

★ Ask yourself how the arc of this character plays into the bigger narrative and message you are trying to portray through this story. Does it work? Does it make sense?

★ Good characters can make or break a story. Focus heavily on the characters. You don’t want to waste a clever or wonderful story idea by butchering the execution by means of undeveloped or unbelievable characters. They are the heart of the story and the eyes of the reader.