Have you ever noticed how some characters seem so real and interesting that you can’t stop thinking about them? That’s the power of character development — the skill of creating personalities that bring your stories to life.
Character development goes beyond just giving a main character a cool name. It’s about shaping individuals with depth, unique traits, and imperfections. These are the kinds of characters who readers can’t help but cheer for or dislike. When done well, you’ll have readers hooked from the start.
Here, we will explore creating compelling characters who resonate with readers and make your storytelling even more powerful. Let’s dive right in.
Understanding Character Development
Character development is the art of crafting characters readers can relate to and empathize with. Think of it as building the soul of your story.
Characters with rich backstories, distinct traits, and palpable goals make readers care deeply about what happens to them.
Key Elements of Character Development
Understanding who your characters are at their core and why they do what they do is key.
Goal, Motivation and Conflict
A good place to start is goal, motivation, and conflict.
- Goals: What does your character want or need? Goals drive their actions and decisions. Frodo’s mission to destroy the One Ring is a classic example, but generally, it goes deeper than that. You also want to look at internal goals. What does Frodo really want? Is that what he needs?
- Motive: Why did Frodo want to destroy the ring? This internal motive, related to his internal goal, will reveal what keeps him going through the darkest parts of his journey.
- Conflict: Conflict is motive, interrupted. The character can lose faith or face external obstacles, and the actions of other characters often disrupt their motivation. The key is how this conflict is resolved and how your character deals with that interruption.
When you look closely at their core fears and desires, you can better understand characters’ motivations. (Remember, we tend to see our fears first, so that is a good place to start. The Enneagram is a helpful tool for understanding this, and Plottr has an Enneagram Visualizer you can use for free.)
The Enneagram character template in Plottr, pictured below, will help, too.
Backstory and Character Development
Backstory is important. No character comes into any story a blank slate, just as you do not enter any situation in your life without lessons you have learned from the life you have lived and misbeliefs you may have cultivated along the way.
What experiences have defined your characters? Think Harry Potter’s orphaned upbringing, or Katniss Everdeen’s struggle to survive in The Hunger Games.
Characters should grow and learn throughout the narrative, which involves their emotional growth. Elizabeth Bennet’s evolving perspective in Pride and Prejudice showcases emotional growth in character development beautifully.
Multi-Faceted Character Examples from Literature
In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, Harry’s traits include bravery and loyalty, shaped by his backstory as an orphan who discovers he’s a wizard. His goal is to defeat Voldemort, driving his actions across seven books. His emotional growth arc, from a naive boy to a courageous leader, keeps readers invested.
Another classic example is Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Gatsby’s mysterious backstory and unyielding pursuit of Daisy reveal his complex traits and ultimate goal. His emotional journey uncovers themes of love, loss, and the American Dream.
Developing multi-faceted characters with backstories that feel real ensures they resonate with readers, making your story unforgettable.
Techniques for Developing Multi-Dimensional Characters
There are several proven techniques to develop multi-dimensional characters. One is creating character profiles – a way to understand who your characters are. Another is crafting backstory.
The Role of Character Profiles in Developing Characters
Creating character profiles is like sketching a blueprint before constructing a building. It starts with archetypes — those universal molds we all recognize, such as the Hero, the Rebel, or the Mentor. These archetypes serve as foundational templates, offering a starting point for developing more nuanced and unique individuals.
Imagine your protagonist as an archetypal “Hero.” This doesn’t mean they’re a cookie-cutter figure saving the world without any complexity. Instead, the archetype provides a framework that you can layer with specific traits, backgrounds, and emotional journeys.
Character profiles often include:
- Basic Information: Name, age, occupation.
- Physical Description: Height, weight, eye and hair color, and other distinguishing features.
- Personality Traits: Introverted or extroverted, moral compass.
- Goals and Motivations: What drives them?
- Core Fears and Core Desires: What do they want, and what holds them back?
- Flaws: What character/personality flaws tend to trip your characters up or get them into trouble?
By fleshing out these details, you transition your character from a mere archetype into someone who feels real and relatable. Not that there is anything wrong with starting with archetypes, but you can’t stop there.
Fortunately, Plottr has a lot of character templates you can use to develop this information about your character. You can even create your own templates.
Backstory in Character Development
A compelling backstory is like the secret sauce that flavors every character’s decision. It’s not just about where the characters have been but how those experiences shape their actions all throughout the ding-dang book.
Consider Batman’s backstory: witnessing his parents’ murder profoundly impacts his quest for justice. This traumatic event isn’t just a footnote; it drives his every move. Crafting such compelling backstories involves:
- Defining Key Life Events: Identify pivotal moments that shaped your character’s personality and motivations
- Exploring Relationships: How have family ties or friendships influenced their worldview?
- Understanding Challenges: What obstacles have they faced? How did they overcome — or succumb to — these challenges?
We often recommend using the Story Genius method to do this. The first step is to understand what your character’s primary misbelief (the thing they believe to be true that is not) that they will struggle with in this story. Then you can do the following:
Prewriting Scenes
This is where you write a few different scenes about your character that will never appear in the book, but are important for you as the writer to understand.
Misbelief Origin Scene: This is where a character’s misbelief came from, which can be a childhood event or other traumatic event that cemented a misbelief within them.
Crossroads Scenes: You can then write several crossroads scenes (we recommend at least three) using the Story Genius Template in Plottr.
Crafting Believable Character Arcs
A character arc represents the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. It’s the backbone that gives your character dimension and emotional depth.
Think of this arc as the roadmap that guides them from point A to point B, revealing how they evolve through various narrative events and internal conflicts.
Characters grow or change through:
- Narrative Events: These are pivotal moments in the story that challenge your character’s beliefs, forcing them to rethink their actions and motivations. For instance, in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Harry’s experiences at Hogwarts, his battles with Voldemort, and his relationships with friends shape him from a naive boy into a courageous leader
- Conflicts: Internal conflicts are essential for believable character development. They create tension and drive the narrative forward. Consider Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. His struggle with the burden of carrying the One Ring showcases his internal conflict between succumbing to its power and fighting to destroy it
Further examples from well-known works:
- Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice starts with prejudices against Mr. Darcy but evolves to recognize her own flaws, leading to personal growth and a deeper understanding of love
- In Breaking Bad, Walter White undergoes a dramatic transformation from a mild-mannered chemistry teacher to a ruthless drug lord, driven by desperation and internal conflict.
Creating compelling character arcs involves understanding these elements deeply. It is about charting believable growth that resonates emotionally with readers, making your characters unforgettable.
Adding Depth to Character Development with Flaws and Quirks
Ever found a perfect character ridiculously boring? That’s because perfection isn’t relatable. And as horror author Michael Brent Collings says, “Confuse me and lose me. Bore me and die.”
Personality flaws breathe life into characters, making them human and interesting. Readers connect with characters who reflect the complexities of real life. In other words, we need to live the story through their eyes, and that means they must be relatable, with flaws and quirks all their own.
Flaws do wonders for character depth:
- Relatability: A character who’s too perfect can feel distant. Flaws make them accessible, allowing readers to see parts of themselves in the character
- Conflict: Imperfections naturally create tension. Think about Sherlock Holmes — his brilliance is matched by his crippling arrogance and addiction issues. These flaws introduce hurdles that keep the story compelling
- Growth: Characters evolve by confronting their shortcomings
It’s great to talk about all of these things, but what are some things you can do to help you get to know your characters?
Practical Exercises for Better Character Development
Here are some exercises for character development that can help you flesh out those fictional folks:
1. Character Interviews
Imagine sitting down with your character over a cup of coffee. What would you ask? Conducting character interviews can reveal fascinating details about their personality, history, and motivations. Start with questions like:
- What’s your biggest fear?
- What do you value the most?
- Describe your childhood in three words.
Try character questionnaires such as the Bernard Pivot Questionnaire, a character template in Plottr.
2. Writing from Different Perspectives
Step into different shoes. Write scenes from multiple perspectives to understand how each character views the world. This technique not only enriches your main characters but also adds layers to secondary ones.
For example, rewrite a key scene from the antagonist’s point of view — or even the POV of their victim — and see what you learn, and how that could change the dynamics of your story.
3. Explore Backstory
We talked about this already a bit, but dive into Story Genius by Lisa Cron and look at the various different pre-writing exercises she talks about there, including the ones we mentioned above.
The better you understand who your characters are and where they come from, the better your story will be, and you will be less likely to experience writer’s block.
4. Dialogue Drills
Craft dialogue that reveals more than spoken words — subtext is key here. Use tools like the Emotion Thesaurus to show with story beats and the right language how your character feels without “telling” the reader.
E.g., “I’m fine,” she said, clenching her fists.
The character’s clenched fists reveal how she is truly feeling, apart from the words. Even if the dialogue does not all make it into the book, write it anyway. It will help you better understand who your characters are.
Embracing Diversity and Authenticity in Character Development
Creating diverse characters isn’t just a box to check; it’s about enriching your story with authentic experiences and perspectives. Readers crave authenticity. They want characters who reflect the multifaceted world we live in, and who feel real in their quirks, struggles, and triumphs.
Why does diversity in writing matter? It fosters empathy and understanding. When readers see themselves or others they know represented authentically, it deepens the connection to your narrative.
Authenticity is key. Tokenism or stereotypes tend to do more harm than good. Here are some strategies to enhance accuracy in representation:
- Research is your best friend: Dive deep into the cultures, backgrounds, and experiences of your characters. Use credible sources and, when possible, consult individuals from those backgrounds.
- Avoid clichés and stereotypes: These reduce complex individuals to one-dimensional caricatures. Aim for layered personalities that defy simple categorization.
- Create rich backstories: Understand the historical, social, and personal context that shapes your characters’ identities.
- Engage sensitivity readers: These are individuals who can provide feedback on the portrayal of specific groups to ensure respectful, inclusive and accurate representation.
Characters like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Ifemelu from Americanah or Angie Thomas’s Starr Carter from The Hate U Give showcase how well-crafted characters who embody their cultural specificity can lead to powerful storytelling.
Taking these steps not only enhances the depth of your characters but also makes your story a more inclusive space for all readers.
Building Compelling Character Relationships
Character dynamics are crucial in enhancing your story. It’s not just about creating memorable main characters but also about crafting complex relationships with secondary characters that bring depth and richness to your narrative.
Adding secondary characters isn’t just about filling gaps. Each one should have a role, driving the main characters towards their objectives or revealing hidden aspects of their personalities.
Take Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings. His unwavering loyalty and bravery encourage Frodo to persist in his dangerous quest, showcasing the importance of supportive secondary characters.
When shaping character relationships, keep these factors in mind:
- Conflict and Resolution: Tension between characters can propel the plot forward and create opportunities for growth.
- Shared History: Characters with a common past have deeper, more believable interactions.
- Mutual Goals: Aligning characters’ objectives can form alliances or rivalries that enhance the story.
By prioritizing these aspects, you create a network of connections that keeps readers engaged in every character’s journey.
Elevate Your Stories with Well-Developed Characters Using Plottr
Ready to transform your storytelling? Dive into the compelling character-creation process with the techniques we’ve explored. Use Plottr’s tools to track, visualize, and refine every detail of your characters’ journeys. Start now with a free Plottr trial.
Imagine the impact of well-developed characters on your readers. They’ll laugh, cry, and root for them, turning pages eagerly to see what happens next. Embrace the power of storytelling with characters who truly captivate hearts and minds. Happy plotting!
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