Character Development
1 min read
Creating Memorable Characters
What Makes a Character Compelling?
Great characters feel real because they have desires, flaws, contradictions, and growth arcs. They make choices that reveal who they are.
Character Building Techniques
- Give them a goal: What do they want more than anything?
- Give them a flaw: What holds them back?
- Give them a backstory: What shaped them?
- Give them a voice: How do they speak, think, and see the world?
- Make them change: How are they different at the end of the story?
Show, Don't Tell
Don't tell readers a character is brave. Show them making a brave choice. Don't say they're kind. Show them helping someone at personal cost. Actions and choices reveal character far more powerfully than description.