6 Tips for Writing Great Characters
Creating compelling characters is one of the most important elements of writing a great story. Whether you’re writing a novel, screenplay, or comic book, your characters should be vivid, believable, and engaging. Here are 6 tips for writing great characters:
1. Develop characters who reflect your interests.
The best characters are often based on people you know or have encountered in your life. Think about the people who have made an impression on you and use them as inspiration for your characters. Consider their physical characteristics, mannerisms, and motivations. By creating characters who reflect your interests, you’ll be able to bring them to life more easily.
2. Reveal their physical world through detail.
When writing a character, it’s important to provide the reader with enough detail to make them feel like they’re in the character’s shoes. Describe their physical environment, the way they dress, and the way they interact with other characters. This will help the reader to connect with the character and understand their motivations.
3. Give them the right skills.
Your characters should have the skills and abilities that are necessary for them to accomplish their goals. If your character is a detective, for example, they should have the investigative skills necessary to solve the case. Consider what skills your character needs and make sure they have them.
4. Create memorable characters.
Your characters should be memorable and stand out from the crowd. Give them unique characteristics, quirks, and mannerisms that make them stand out. Consider their backstory and how it has shaped them into the person they are today.
5. Give the reader access to their inner conflict.
Your characters should have inner conflicts that they must overcome. These conflicts should be revealed to the reader through dialogue and action. This will help the reader to connect with the character and understand their motivations.
6. Subvert your reader’s expectations.
Surprise your reader by subverting their expectations. Have your characters act in unexpected ways or take unexpected paths. This will keep the reader engaged and make them want to find out what happens next.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to create memorable characters that your readers will love. With a little bit of effort, you can create characters that are vivid, believable, and engaging.
