How to Write a Character
Tips & Tricks to Writing Realistic Characters
Writing characters doesn’t always come naturally when outlining a book. Protagonists, antagonists, and even side characters are the beating heart of any story, but how do you make them seem real? Our tips for writing believable characters might come in handy.
What makes a character realistic?
As an example, let’s look at one of the most recognizable middle-grade characters: Harry Potter. Though Harry is challenged with many grueling situations as a wizard, he retains his humanity. Harry can’t do everything on his own and is supported by a wide variety of supporting characters. Hermoine, Ron, Dumbledore, Hagrid, and so many others support him when he needs it most. This combination of humanity, motivation, and relationship with other story actors makes Harry relatable and realistic.
Make Character Pages for Reference
When creating a character, focus on their strengths and virtues, motivations, and flaws. While this is especially important for a main character, outlining these ideas for all of your characters lends reality to the story. We recommend sitting down and putting together an outline for each character for your own personal reference. That way you can go back and remind yourself of the specific details of each actor’s story. Here are some aspects to keep in mind as you craft character outlines:
Hammer out the details. How old is your character, where are they from, and how do they dress? Main characters require a full back story, down to what their favorite foods are, while the supporting cast may not require as much detail. To get started, make a list of every aspect of your character's appearance and back story.
What are their flaws? All of us have them, and they aren’t necessarily meant to be negative. For a more relatable character, you’ll want to make sure that they also have their weaknesses. They can help us learn and grow, and can certainly make a storyline more attractive.
Give them a Why. What’s their motivation? What things make them want to move forward and keep going when things get tough?
Add a little real life. It doesn’t hurt to get inspiration from your everyday adventures. Put your characters in situations you’re familiar with and try to determine how they’d handle them.
Deeper Characteristics. This one can be vast but think about what you see when you envision your character. Do they use their hands when talking or twirl their hair as a habit? Things like what words they use often, nicknames, right down to their favorite color can bring a character beyond the 2D world.
What do other characters bring them? Maybe your protagonist is shy, but their quirky best friend helps shake them out of that. Or they need someone to keep them from leaving their head in the clouds. Many written characters have counterparts that help shape their development!
Finish with the Details
Other details to fill in include: What a character stands for; what they can accomplish; and how they’ll be the hero. Sometimes it’s easiest to think about how you’d be as the protagonist of a story. What are your strengths, and how would you resolve the issues? Additionally, what are your disadvantages, what would you need help with, and who would you call on in those times of need?
While authors and characters can certainly have parallels, yours may even draw inspiration from others in your life. Maybe no one you know is like your character. I think the key thing to remember here is that no one, real or fictional, is perfect. So while you can create from real-life experience, you can also dream up something entirely new. No need to stifle any creativity! Making realistic characters come to life is more about balance.
Literary characters throughout history have shown us what it is to be human. Some of my favorite media features characters that I feel are relatable to me. I think it helps me empathize with the character more, and even get a little deeper lost in the story. With the above tips for a more realistic character in mind, ask yourself how you can make your own jump off the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of a character in a story?
A character is any person, creature, or sometimes thing in your story. From candlesticks personified to Miss Mary Jingo, those are characters. Simply put, it’s the people in books!
Who are some of the most inspiring book characters of all time?
Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games, the kids from the Harry Potter series, Charlotte of Charlotte’s Web, Charlie Bucket of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There are so many inspiring characters out there! When you leave a story wondering how you might be as impactful as a character in your own life? Those are my favorite ones.
