Crafting Compelling Characters: A Writers Guide

People will forget what you did, People will forget what you said but they will never forget the way you made them feel. [Source]

All of the content you consume is because of compelling characters.

Compelling characters stick with you because they make you feel a certain type of way that resonates with your soul.

You watch TikToks of compelling characters for you.

The shows you watch are based around relatable characters to you.

Even the things you buy contribute to how you perceive your own character.

Characters are the basis of ALL compelling media.

This is why its SO important that the characters in your writing are both compelling and relatable.

Characters set the tone for your writing in a way that no prose could touch. A compelling character brings life to your fictional world.

And here’s how to craft ’em.

Understanding Your Characters

As a writer, it is your responsibility to KNOW the ins and outs of your character’s psyche. You need to go beyond what they like to eat and how they sound to others.

You need to REALLY understand them.

What makes them tick?

At the very core of every real-life person are a set of morals and guidelines that they are willing to abide by, in the fictional world this is known as motivations and desires.

A character becomes compelling when we as a reader realize their desires and see how they are motivated to achieve these desires. This is what makes you root for a character.

That’s how you can have reprehensible characters like Joker (specifically in the movie Joker) where you have an individual who kills people just because he can but the way the movie is set up is we understand the struggles of Arthur Fleck (Joker) and hence we end up rooting for a character that by any reasonable standards is completely monstrous.

That’s the power of compelling characterization.

So, understand your character’s desires and show us their motivations to achieve them.

Actionable Tip #1: Get one of your characters you are making to write down what is their deepest desire and what are the motivations for that desire.

Creating Dimensions

A common tip for writers with their characters is that your characters should have at least 3 dimensions.

In terms of characters’ dimensions, it’s ultimately about adding flaws to your characters which makes them more appealing.

It’s the simple but effective traits like a massive strong character being softspoken and gentle, or a confident character coming from a traumatic stifling childhood.

Adding flaws to your characters ultimately shows the reader that this individual is human, that they have a soul, this sort of characterization is SO useful in creating compelling characters.

Actionable Tip #2: What is one of your character’s vulnerabilities or flaws?

People are complex.

There’s no one simple explanation for a person’s actions, that’s why we’re so interesting to watch.

If you put interesting people into interesting situations the resulting scenario is going to be greatly intriguing.

That’s exactly what you’re doing when you add dimensions to your characters and put them together.

Here’s a quick summary of each dimension;

The 1st Dimension

The first dimension is all of the externals of a character, what we see. This includes behaviors, mannerisms, quirks, and habits.

If you fail to move past this dimension your characters feel flat and fake because they have no motivations and thus we don’t relate to them.

The 2nd Dimension

This is the backstory level. This is where all your character’s fears and weaknesses, hatred, and bias are under the mask that they show the world. Everyone has these fears and weaknesses that’s why when you add in these vulnerabilities you create relatability with the character which keeps your readers invested.

The 3rd Dimension

This level is the morality and truth of that individual. Your characters act in their world, not because of their backstory or their internal conflict but rather the deep-down truths they believe about themselves and their world. It’s that moment where a character is so happy with someone that they could squeeze the life out of them with a hug but decide not to, this is because of some truth they believe in that alters their actions

Create 3-dimensional characters if you want to create truly compelling characters for your writing

The Power of Character Arcs

Character growth is the heartbeat of any compelling narrative.

It’s the evolution, the transformation that a character undergoes throughout the story.

Understanding the significance of this growth is paramount to crafting a truly resonant tale.

Characters are not static entities; they should be dynamic and responsive to the challenges presented in your narrative.

Consider the journey your character embarks upon as a crucial element in shaping the overall narrative arc. Whether it’s overcoming personal fears, challenging belief systems, or adapting to unforeseen circumstances, character growth is the emotional core that captivates readers and keeps them invested in the story.

Crafting a character transformation requires finesse and authenticity. Readers should feel the emotional weight of the character’s journey, and for that to happen, the transformation must be both compelling and believable.

Start by establishing a solid foundation for your character’s initial state – their fears, flaws, and aspirations (which you will have done by now).

As the story unfolds, gradually introduces challenges that force the character to confront these aspects.

The key is to make the transformation a natural progression, rooted in the character’s experiences and reactions to the evolving plot. By doing so, you create a narrative that resonates with readers on a deeper, emotional level.

In essence, the power of character arcs lies in their ability to mirror the human experience.

As your characters navigate the highs and lows of their journey, your readers will find reflections of their own growth, making the narrative not just a story but a shared exploration of the human condition.

And that’s all we want from consuming any content. To have a shared human experience.

In Conclusion. . .

As we wrap up our exploration into character development, let’s revisit the key strategies that contribute to crafting truly compelling characters;

Vulnerabilities and Weaknesses: Create relatability through showing faults of your characters
Depth and Dimension: Avoid one-dimensional characters by delving into their backgrounds, motivations, and unique traits.
Authentic Transformation: Ensure character growth is not only significant but also believable. Let their journey be a natural evolution rooted in the challenges they face.

As writers, our ability to breathe life into characters is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Delve deep into the intricacies of character development, treating it as an art form that requires patience, observation, and a profound understanding of human nature.

Challenge yourself to uncover the layers that make each character unique.

Explore your own emotions, fears, and desires. It’s in these intricacies that characters become not just figments of imagination but beings that resonate with readers on a profound level.

The writing process is a journey of discovery, and characters are no exception. Embrace the joy of experimentation and evolution. Let your characters surprise you, taking unexpected turns and revealing facets you hadn’t initially imagined.

So, fellow writers, as you embark on your literary ventures, carry with you the tools to craft characters that resonate, captivate, and linger in the hearts of your readers.

May your characters be more than words on a page; may they be vessels of emotion, conduits of connection, and, ultimately, the soul of your storytelling craft.

Thank you ever so much for your attention. Happy Writing 🙂

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