Character Development and Character Introduction

Characters are one of the most important parts of any story. Besides the obvious fact that if you don’t have a character you don’t have a story, there is also the fact that characters are your biggest asset when connecting with your reader. They are the easiest way to drag a reader into your story.

I don’t pretend to be a guru in character development, but I have been told that I make people care about my characters. So I guess I have some authority on the matter.

Most of my stories are plot based. I write a story when I have an amazing plot. Which means that I create characters differently than those who have character driven narratives. Usually the first thing I do is brainstorm. What kind of character does a plot like this need? If my character is going to slay the dragon at the end, is that because they are naturally confident, or is that because their character arc is learning how to be confident? Once I have sourced out the things that a character must be, then I start to fill in a character outline. That outline consists of these: Name, Pronunciation, Meaning, Titles, Nicknames, Gender, Age, Birthday, Year, Era, Description, Nationality, National Colours, Location, Occupation, Skills, Hobbies, Weapons, Outfits, Transportation, Status, Love Interest, Family, Friends, Pets, Enemies, Side, Character, Struggles, Ambitions, Fears, and Fatal Flaw. I rarely fill out all of these, but asking myself the above about my character helps me flesh them out. Plus, once I fill it out, I’ll have a record of who they are.

The hardest part is keeping your character consistent while your writing, and unfortunately I only have one tip for this, write in third person. If your character is unlike you, then your best bet will be to write in third person, that way you are putting a bit of distance between you and the character. However, if the character is a cardboard cutout of yourself (or even the complete opposite!), feel free to write in third person. You know exactly how the cardboard cutout thinks, what type they are romantically attracted to, their sense of humour etc. And if they are the antithesis of yourself, then have fun. There is very little I enjoy more than writing about an egocentric, conceited and boastful character. And it’s even more fun to do in first person. Don’t believe me? Try it out. What do you hate most in other people, what attitudes drive you up the wall? I am sure you can name a few.

Now that you have a beautifully crafted character, how do you convey to your reader how awesome they are? Generally, I like to begin my stories in a way that throws the reader into the plot and protagonist, simultaneously. Think about this beginning for a moment...

“The sword blade screamed toward Aidan’s head in a deadly arc. Swiftly, Aidan ducked the blade and began a counterattack while his foe was off balance. Aidan, however, did not have the steely determination in his eyes that his opponent wore. His lips twinged upward at the corners and his eyes danced with mirth.

“‘You will never be a good swordsman with those reckless attacks!’ his voice sang out, undaunted by his haughty opponent.

“His foe unloosed a guttural yell as he brought his sword back around for a new onslaught. Rage was in his eyes, and his lips moved wordlessly in fury. Aidan was no longer smiling, though his eyes still danced as he prepared to block the next deadly barrage.”

Already you can tell that our protagonist—Aidan—is a skilled swordsman, has a sense of humour, and is either confident or reckless. Perhaps you like him already, a little cocky, but not in a bad way. He makes you laugh, or perhaps he makes you wonder why he isn’t scared? Is his opponent actually after his life? Or is it a friendly duel? You have both questions and answers. Are you intrigued enough to stick with Aidan?

I like to take my readers by storm. I get them caught up in the action while I introduce my characters. So that by the time the action fades away, they are left with a character that they will not leave.

Part of getting your readers to know your character is presenting the right situations. Are they the type of person that will risk their life for someone else’s? Well, your readers will only know the answer to that when you present them with high stakes. Just like with normal people, your readers will not trust a character that they haven’t seen struggle, or experience trials. They need to know that the character is who the author says they are. Your character needs to score popularity points with your reader, while simultaneously showing that they are not perfect, or fearless, or whatever. And on the other hand, if your character is scared of everything, you need to find something appealing to reveal about them—and quickly. Most people won’t care to stick around for a wimp. However, if your character is terrified of everything, but they stand up for their sister and they protect her no matter what...then everyone will want to read on.

The actual art of character development is hard to pinpoint. Your characters are constantly interacting with you reader. Character development isn’t something that you can finish, then put away so that you can continue with the “important parts.” Character development is consistent. Your characters should constantly be making an impression and either growing, or devolving throughout the story. Think about your character on page 1 versus that same character on your last page. Are they the same? Well, they shouldn’t be. Your character has experienced a lot over the course of your story. I don’t mean that your character has to be a good-for-nothing waif and by the end is turned into a saint. I mean that everything that has happened between the hardback cover should have an impression. Your character should not be unmoved by all they have experienced. The difference can be something small, perhaps they have learned what is worth fighting for, or that they can handle themselves out in the world. It doesn’t have to be major character flaws that have been reconciled. Self-awareness is equally relevant.