by Marielle Ann Suy
One of the most common challenges fiction authors face is creating “believable” characters. Take note, I said believable. Designing a character is different from designing a realistic character.
You may already be aware that your character needs life. You might have been searching the internet or reading books endlessly on how to make your characters feel alive. But it’s not enough.
Thankfully, I’m here to share with you the same technique I use to create realistic characters.
- The Personality
Every human has a personality.
I usually start with knowing their “type.” Are they strong and tough? Are they shy and timid? Are they preppy and fashionable?
The key question here is what are they like?
If you, by some miracle, get the chance to meet this character, what would they tell you? How will they act? Are they initiating active conversations? Do they gossip? Do they talk endlessly? Do they annoy you?
By meeting them, you learn more about them. Not just how they look, but how they act. The more you know them, the better you can craft them.
Here’s an example:
Coal Lockwood is a character from Disappeared (Quesnium). He is a medieval farmer who lives with his childhood friend, Christina Evangeline. Since he’s a farmer, he’s got ragged clothes and a pale skin from all that sunlight. He’s also quite muscular (farming requires a lot of effort) for his age.
Since he was exposed to the hard life of farmers, he’s very down-to-earth. Well, down-to-quesnium, in this case. He knows how to prioritize their needs. Say, there’s no more food in the kitchen and thankfully, he was provided with bread. What he’ll do first is break it into portions. He’ll give one, maybe two, to Christina, eat half of one portion and then store the rest. Afterwards, he’ll find ways to get more food for them.
- The Goal
Creating your character’s goal is actually easier than you think. The goal is what your character wants.
It could be as simple as being accepted by their parents to as grand as saving the world before bedtime.
The point is that your character must want something. Otherwise, there’s no story.
Here’s an example about Coal:
Coal is a simple man. With his social status, his only goal was to survive the day and the next and the next. He’s devoted to farming. During harvest season, he stores some for himself and Christina, the others for sale. He uses the coins for various needs, like seeds for the farm, food for the livestock, and for future repairs.
The better you can visualize their goal, the better they will move towards that direction.
- The Motivation
Motivation, in its simplest of terminology, is what inspires your character to reach their goal.
Every human has a motivation, whether or not they realize it. Say, your character wants to graduate. Their motivation is their family. Perhaps, they want to give their family a better life – a better future. That’s why they want to graduate. They want to work soon to be able to support their family.
- The Humanity
Flaws don’t make us weak, only human.
Everyone has flaws. There’s no such thing as a perfect human (unless he’s a cyborg). Making a human with superhuman strengths and no weaknesses is close to impossible. Even Superman has a weakness.
Whether it’s an object, a hidden trauma, or a person, each character must have a weakness. At the same time, they must also have strengths. Try to balance these when assigning traits to your character.
For example, if your setting is a palace in the sky, your character may be afraid of heights, but they may also have keen senses. In a thriller, action, or adventure story, keen senses are necessary.
And there they are. Those are the 4 things you should consider when designing your characters. Happy writing!
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A lover of fairytales and the mystical, Marielle Ann Suy is a storyteller and author. She has published two short stories. Both stories are about the sun’s disappearance, hence entitled “Disappeared.” “Disappeared (Earth)” is about a solar eclipse and how it affects the world. “Disappeared (Quesnium)” is about the sun’s disappearance and how it affects lowly farmers. A novel based on the same characters and the same premise is on its way. Stay tuned in via social media or by subscribing to her newsletter.
Social Media Links:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MariellesQuesnium/
Twitter – @suy_marielle
Blog – https://quesnium.wixsite.com/talesofworlds
Disappeared (Earth) Book Links:
Apple Books – http://bit.ly/DiniBooks
Barnes and Noble – http://bit.ly/DinNook
Kobo – http://bit.ly/2DinKobo
Scribd – http://bit.ly/DinScribd
Smashwords – http://bit.ly/2DinSmashwords
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