Creating the Character
Starting from scratch is just about the hardest way to do things if you’re trying to come up with ideas. I find a good way to get a head start is to use “references,” which I’ve divided into three categories. Note that this merely a starting point, and in most cases should not be a stopping point.
- The Self-Insert. This is the easiest way to start, but also the most limited. After all, who do you know better than yourself? It’s best not to rely on this too much, though.
- The Archetype. Now, I think you’ll hear most writers tell you to avoid characters cliches like the plague, but I think archetypes are an easy reference point to begin with. This benefits most from my “But Also” Clause, which I’ll explain in detail later.
- The Focus. Sometimes people don’t nearly fit into one category, so it might be best to narrow in on a singular aspect of their livelihood. Is it a hobby? A personality trait? A philosophy? Find one thing that would be the most striking or compelling about them were you to actually have a conversation with them.
Now this is a strictly personality-focused approach, and if you want your jumping-off point to be how the character looks, that's fine too. However, I do recommend that you eventually hone in on their characteristics at some point.
Developing the Character
So you’ve got a good starting point, now it’s time to make your character stand out!
If you simply stick to the three reference categories with no deviation, it's very easy to have the character come across as uninteresting or forgettable. My advice is to add something that makes the immediate association with that category less obvious. In other words, how does this person separate themselves from the label that you've put on them?
Here’s where I introduce my “But Also” Clause...it’s a philosophy I have that isn’t shared by too many other people, I think. The gist of it is that you take your starting point (one of the three categories), and add a semi-contrasting statement prefaced by "but" or "but also" to the end. It's easier to show than tell, so here's an example or two.
Developing the Character
So you’ve got a good starting point, now it’s time to make your character stand out!
If you simply stick to the three reference categories with no deviation, it's very easy to have the character come across as uninteresting or forgettable. My advice is to add something that makes the immediate association with that category less obvious. In other words, how does this person separate themselves from the label that you've put on them?
Here’s where I introduce my “But Also” Clause...it’s a philosophy I have that isn’t shared by too many other people, I think. The gist of it is that you take your starting point (one of the three categories), and add a semi-contrasting statement prefaced by "but" or "but also" to the end. It's easier to show than tell, so here's an example or two.
Before
Becky is a cheerleader, and is easily the most popular girl in school.
After
Becky is a cheerleader, and is easily the most popular girl in school...BUT she's secretly worried that nobody actually likes her.
Before
Robert is incredibly shy.
After
Robert is incredibly shy...BUT when he plays his guitar he starts feeling really confident.
Becky is a cheerleader, and is easily the most popular girl in school.
After
Becky is a cheerleader, and is easily the most popular girl in school...BUT she's secretly worried that nobody actually likes her.
Before
Robert is incredibly shy.
After
Robert is incredibly shy...BUT when he plays his guitar he starts feeling really confident.
One thing that I rarely see discussed when it comes to character design is that people are full of contradictions, even the most seemingly boring and bland of them. Tying into that, everyone has their own internal conflicts, even if they don't necessarily show it to others. Nobody's perfect...let me repeat that, nobody's perfect. Everyone has at least one fatal flaw, even the kindest people...and more often than that, this flaw can get in their way. On the other side of the coin, though, there should be at least one redeeming thing about them...even if it's minor.
Ive devised a list of questions that can help when fully fleshing a character out. It may seem a bit obsessive to pore over little details like this, but how a person is "wired" so-to-speak affects how they interact with the world around them.
Finishing the Character
This is the most contentious part, because it's near impossible to determine a "finishing" point for a character. Depending on the context, you may only need the bare necessities to serve your purpose within a story or other piece of media. But if you wanna go the extra mile, here's some things to consider.
I'll add more if I have any other ideas, but this is pretty much it for me. Don't take this as an ironclad truth, rules are meant to be broken after all! And there's always the chance that I'm a self-important blowhard who has no idea what he's talking about, so again take this information how you will. But yeah, hope it helps!
Ive devised a list of questions that can help when fully fleshing a character out. It may seem a bit obsessive to pore over little details like this, but how a person is "wired" so-to-speak affects how they interact with the world around them.
- What are their goals in life? Is there anything preventing them from reaching that goal?
- How do they view themselves? Others? Their world in general?
- What's their biggest insecurity? Their deepest regret?
- How do others view them? More importantly, is this view correct?
- How do they react when they get their way? Or when bad things happen to them?
Finishing the Character
This is the most contentious part, because it's near impossible to determine a "finishing" point for a character. Depending on the context, you may only need the bare necessities to serve your purpose within a story or other piece of media. But if you wanna go the extra mile, here's some things to consider.
- Name three to five key events in this person's life. Have any of those shaped this person into who they are today?
- What makes them truly unique? Maybe it's a nervous tic, or a way of talking, or even some weird hobby of theirs.
- Do they have any important relationships in their life? This doesn't necessarily have to be romantic, just some connection they have with someone.
- What's their current situation in life? Do they have any pressing issues? Any emotional struggles?
I'll add more if I have any other ideas, but this is pretty much it for me. Don't take this as an ironclad truth, rules are meant to be broken after all! And there's always the chance that I'm a self-important blowhard who has no idea what he's talking about, so again take this information how you will. But yeah, hope it helps!