What makes a great character for a book? That can be answered in many ways. As a reader, you do not need to like the person at all. You simply need to be drawn to some aspect of them that resonates. Some of the best characters are vile, deviant, or a representation of despicable and horrid that repels the stomach, but somehow draws you in, wanting to know more or cheerlead for their demise. A character also does not need to be completely wholesome and the best human in the world. Have you ever met the perfect person? It is the flaws, the chink in someone’s armor, the understanding of why the character is who they are that presents the intrigue and thrusts them into the spotlight. By providing enough description, snippets of a backstory, their relationship to what is happening, as a writer you paint the picture and design the collage.
Think about all of the characters, good and bad, that you like in literature. Not just novels, but from all types of books. A hero cannot be the one to save the day without a counterbalance in a nemesis, whether a physical presence or something that acts against them. And a hero is a generous term, used for an action/adventure type book typically, where some antagonist plays opposite and a final showdown occurs. No, step back and think in terms of your main character and the things they face. Your main character could be the epitome of evil, or the nicest person on the planet. It is really up to you to determine who represents your story.
Some of the best characters are bad guys or bad gals, bent on world domination. That statement is a bit grandiose, as not all “bad” characters are seeking to rule. They might just not like the hero, for a variety of reasons, some legitimate, some manifestations of a real dislike, all grounded in their perception. Just like in real life. Yin and yang, dark and light, whatever opposing counterweight you wish to entertain. A story typically centers around a singular character as the main proponent, whether they are explicit or not. You can have a cadre of characters who interact and provide the basis of the story. As a writer, you control what you write and who your characters are and how they are presented. That evil overlord who seeks revenge or simply is misunderstood because he or she just wants to bring about order? They embody the epitome of loathsome and cruelty. Many people like that darker type character and you can create them, not to have them fawned over with kisses and hugs. But you can have them understood by the details and information you choose to share about who they are and the whys.
Now what about that hero? He or she could be the shining light in people’s eyes or the cleanest and most wholesome person in the world. Where is the fun in that? While for certain stories they make absolute sense, the real world not so much. If you are fictionalizing your idea, and ground it in reality, maybe your hero is a bit dirty and not so genuine. Not from a corrupt or immoral perspective. No. Maybe, they are just like you. They will do the right thing because that’s what they were taught to do, but do it their way, by any means, in order to save the day. Cut corners, tweak the truth, all to put others ahead of themselves. Still a good person, but a bit tarnished and a good buffing will not change their exterior.
Taking all of this in stride, how do you really develop your characters? For me personally, it falls to my own extensive reading, research, and paying attention to those around me. Maybe I superimpose myself into a specific character, a trait or two, and then put in a bit of this and that from others or ideas that spring up from reading the news or watching a show. We find inspiration all around us, or should, if we pay close attention. That neighbor who seems a bit odd, but in reality is a great person. The attendant at the airline counter, when travel was OK before COVID-19 and you could see a person’s face. Their offhand remark to you about nothing of consequence but strikes a chord. The clerk in the grocery who always raises an eyebrow in suspicion about customer purchases. That horrible boss, bully, ex-whoever, that fuels a distaste to this day. All of the past relationships positive and negative provide an abundance of traits we can utilize in creating people. These interactions can and do help fuel characters we write about in our books.
On the surface, we draw on these snippets of engagements. Our story develops in our minds, and then we need to flesh it all out. Who do we insert into our world? Well, we have all of these wonderful bits and pieces to weave and sew together. Even take a bit of this person and that person and paint them up nicely into someone living inside our pages. But, how do we develop them into a viable aspect of the creation? Simply giving a name and a few details does not really begin to make them a living and breathing manifestation brought by our words.
We create descriptions that intertwine within the narrative. The wisp of brown hair blowing in the breeze that requires a quick hand to toss back from seeing eyes. A scar from a previous battle of wits. Burning blue eyes that haunt as they peer back at you. All fine and dandy, but where do these add depth? These are mere words. The development of a character goes far beyond. Their backstory can be a critical component. The reasoning behind their current actions. You do not have to dive far into their depths, only proffer when necessary the what for the why. Why does your main character only eat green candy? The what is green is their favorite color and brown candy reminds them of excrement. Poop. A funny thought, but this adds to their depth, the story at hand and provides an explanation for who they are and their actions.
None of it needs to be pages and pages of information. A sentence here and there provides context. How you present it is the clincher to whether your readers grip and hold on or toss to the side. What is a great way to achieve these grandiose ideals? A simple way is to sit and write a small paragraph about each character. You could who, what, where, when, why, and how them, but that is a bit much. Going that route you might feel locked into a specific and write around it. Why not describe them physically, hair, eyes, a feature that would be noticed. Then, choose one area to dive into and give a few sentences. A short synopsis. You can go into such depth that it constrains. While for some it is the avenue to go because it keeps them focused and on task, it can also be so limiting and confined. Writing sprouts creativity, and while no one says you cannot adlib, you are the creator after all, keeping it simple allow for flexibility of thought in the moment.
You have all of this and then what? Well, to be honest, it is all up to you. There is no formula, no right or wrong answers. That is the gift of storytelling! You lead the way and clear the path for your readers. Ultimately it is up to them whether they “feel” a character. What matters is how you present them. You could go into so much details and depth your reader feels like they know your character inside and out. While that could be beneficial, what is left for your sequel? Sometimes allowing your audience to connect their own dots is the real path to understanding your character. Plus, it lets you keep creative authority later on to tweak and not be locked in. đŸ˜‰
Jason McDonald 