Developing compelling characters takes time. Often trial and error will help authors/writers develop their method. These steps help me; feel free to give them a try.1. Start with a strong foundation: Begin by creating a solid backstory for your characters. Understand their history, upbringing, personality traits, and motivations. This will help you build a well-rounded character with depth.
2. Give them unique qualities: Make your characters memorable by giving them distinct traits, quirks, or habits. This can include physical attributes, such as a scar or a unique fashion sense, as well as personality traits, like being witty or introverted.
3. Create internal conflicts: Develop internal conflicts within your characters that drive their actions and decisions. This can be a struggle between their desires and responsibilities or conflicting emotions and beliefs. Internal conflicts add depth and make characters more relatable.
4. Establish external conflicts: Introduce external conflicts that challenge your characters and push them to grow. This can be a physical obstacle, a difficult relationship, or a societal issue. External conflicts create tension and drive the plot forward.
5. Show their vulnerabilities: Make your characters vulnerable by exposing their fears, insecurities, or weaknesses. This allows readers to empathize with them and creates opportunities for character development.
6. Give them goals and motivations: Every character should have clear goals and motivations that drive their actions and decisions. These goals can be external (e.g., saving a loved one) or internal (e.g., finding self-acceptance). Goals and motivations give characters purpose and make their journey compelling.
7. Show growth and change: Characters should evolve throughout your story. They should learn from their experiences, overcome challenges, and change as a result. This growth adds depth to your characters and keeps readers engaged.
8. Use dialogue effectively: Develop unique voices for your characters through their dialogue. Each character should have their own way of speaking, reflecting their personality, background, or education level. This helps readers distinguish between characters and adds authenticity.
9. Show relationships and interactions: Explore how your characters interact with others. Develop relationships that are dynamic and reflect the characters’ personalities, conflicts, and growth. This can include friendships, romances, or rivalries.
10. Show, don’t tell: Instead of directly telling readers about your characters’ traits, show them through actions, dialogue, and reactions. This allows readers to form their own impressions and creates a more engaging reading experience.
Remember, developing compelling characters takes time and effort. Continuously refine and deepen your characters as you write, and don’t be afraid to take risks and explore new dimensions.
