The Art of Character Development
Writing a story is more than just penning down a plot and its twists and turns. It's about creating characters that the readers will be invested in, that they will root for, and feel for. Character development is possibly the most important aspect of crafting a story that will stick with readers long after the book has been put down. The characters are the heart and soul of any story. So, how do we develop great characters? Here are some tips on the art of character development.
Starting with the Basics
To create great characters, it's important to start with the basics. Every character in a story should have a name, age, gender, background, and personality. It's essential to figure out how your character looks, speaks, thinks, and acts. It's these traits that set up the foundation of their character and set the stage for character development. Create characters that are unique, unexpected, and memorable.
The Importance of Flaws
Creating characters with flaws is essential to feeding the story. Flaws add depth to characters, make them relatable and realistic. Characters who only serve to look perfect on paper become uninteresting and lack depth. Flaws make them stand out, make them interesting, and make them human. By creating flaws, you're also setting them up for character growth, which is an essential part of character development.
What Drives Them?
Every character in the story should have a motive. This drive/goal adds an extra layer of complexity to characters. Not only does it make them interesting, but a unique motive differentiates them from each other. Figuring out what drives your character will provide a sense of direction for the story as well. By understanding their driving force, we can create a plot that will test and challenge it.
Show, Don't Tell
This cannot be stressed enough – show, don't tell. The reader should be allowed to infer the character's personality traits through their actions and reactions. Don't just tell the reader that the character is conflicted, show the reader the conflict through the character's behavior.
Character Relationships
How the characters interact with one another affects the overall story. It's important to establish relationships between the characters to develop the story. The reader will become emotionally invested in these relationships and will root for or against characters based on how they perceive the relationship.
Diversity in Characters
It's important to create characters that represent diverse cultures, races, genders, and sexualities. Including diverse characters make the story more relatable to a wider audience and provides different perspectives.
The Villain
The villain is as important to the story as the protagonist. The villain's motives should be clear to the reader, and they must be three-dimensional. They also have to be challenging to the protagonist and make them grow by testing their moral code.
In Conclusion
Creating great characters is a process that takes time and energy, but it's what sets up a story for success. By starting with the basics, giving the character flaws and motive, showing instead of telling, developing relationships, representing diverse cultures, and creating three-dimensional villains, we can craft a story that will leave a lasting impression with readers. Remember, the characters are the heart and soul of any story, and if we don't take the time to create them, the story won't be memorable.