Creating a Character From Nothing: Analyzing How to Craft Compelling Personalities

Introduction

Have you ever read a character who feels like a giant cliché, a character whose every word is hollow and a parody of true emotion and tension? It is far too easy to write that character, and ease is not always the best. So, being the inquisitive and brilliant writer that you are, you are likely asking, How do I craft an authentic personality? In the words of James Baldwin, “One writes out of one thing only—one's own experience” (Notes of a Native Son). The best inspiration is lived experience. Observe those around you, your coworkers, family, friends, even pets. Your strength as a writer comes from your unique frame of reference. You cannot write what you do not know, only complete a mere caricature of it.

"When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature." ― Ernest Hemingway

Prerequisite

Complexity is key. If readers feel like they know all aspects of your character after a few chapters, your character is likely too simple. Think about how many layers we all have. From our physical appearance to our music tastes or hobbies, every individual has nuance. Capturing this nuance is the mark of a good writer. Readers should view characters as real people, whether friend or foe. For example, consider the best and worst portrayals of Superman, Clark Kent. At worst, Superman is a one-dimensional or flat character who always wins save for the off chance that one of his opponents acquires kryptonite, a deficit he will inevitably overcome. However, at best, Superman is a complex personality that must juggle being the most powerful hero on the planet, maintaining his secret identity as Clark Kent, all while juggling finances, romance, and relations with other heroes. More layers added to a character leads to that character being more relatable for readers. People are not isolated personality traits, so characters should not be isolated personality traits.

"You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them peril, you find out who they really are." ― Joss Whedon

Warm-Up

To get you thinking about crafting a compelling character personality, let’s try this exercise: Think of the type of person you do not get along with and imagine being paired with them to complete a group project. List every trait this person has. Next, list every aspect about working with this person that may potentially annoy you. Keep your listed descriptions focused around this person. Think of any habits this person may have, how they talk, how they walk, what they speak about, mannerisms, etc. Do not spare any detail.

This exercise hopefully forced you to think of every part of the person you chose to describe. Every person has endless details about themselves that can be stated to create a picture of who they are, no detail too small.

"I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose." ― Stephen King

Source: Pexels

Checklist Toward Compelling Personalities

To achieve this, here are some key character dimensions that writers should seek to fully flesh out: physical description, dialogue, motive, contradiction, and vulnerability.

Physical Description - Characters, like real people, are first perceived based on physical appearance. While it is up to your discretion as the writer to decide how in-depth you will write what your character looks like, there should be a clear image of the character for both you and your readers. The worst-case scenario when reading is struggling to follow the story because the character names are interchangeable. Thus, think; is my character big or small? Do they have a scar? If so, what is the story behind that scar? What clothes do my character wear and why? Any and every question is valid and useful.

Dialogue - How we talk conveys so much about our personality. Regional dialect or slang, age, environment, etc. all have influence on speech. The most important thing to keep in mind when breathing life into a character through their speech is to make them sound like a real person. Too often, dialogue sounds too manufactured or even animatronic. Word choice and sentence structure are key. Unless it is in line with the characters’ personalities, a couple fighting are likely not going to speak as if they are giving a presentation at their respective jobs. A man giving a eulogy is not going to speak as if he is having a casual conversation on the phone with one of his best friends. A woman overcome with mental exhaustion at work is going to drop all formality in her speech once she reaches the comfortability of her home. The trick is to use real people as a reference point. Think of real exchanges you’ve had and try to keep that authenticity.

Motive - One of the many gripes with Shakespeare’s Othello is that antagonist Iago has an unclear motive (speculation for such being narrowed down to nine possible motives). Because of this, many critics of Othello consider the play to have a weak plot since Iago hates Othello with no clear cause. Put plainly, characters should not do things just because. Only in the rare instance that a writer is attempting a Joker-esque “agent of chaos” characterization is this potentially acceptable. For all other characters, there must be a reason for their actions. Are they a scorned lover? A betrayed friend? An evil person who projects their own pain on others? Whatever the case, a character’s motivation for their actions must be in line with the narrative and who they are as a person. A useful tool for motive is to explain your character’s background to someone else. Sometimes writers get too wrapped up in the story they are trying to tell to the point that clarity is lost. 

Contradiction - One of the best tools to make a character feel like a real person is to introduce contradiction to who they are. We all contradict ourselves constantly, it’s what makes us human. This contradiction can be through physical appearance—think of a big, scary man who likes to bake whimsical treats—or through a deep hypocrisy—think of a superhero who is actually evil. Regardless of the form, a character exhibiting some contradiction will forever be more compelling than a character who does not. Contradiction creates intrigue, captivating readers. While not all contradictions are effective in the same manner (overly dramatic contradictions tend to create more of a comedic tone), they all serve to add mystery to characters which point characters in the direction of being compelling.

Vulnerability - No one enjoys a character who is always in control. A Marty Stu character who has everything figured out and is invulnerable to everything that comes her way falls flat, consistently. Frankly, those characters are boring. There must be some kinks in the armor. Superman has kryptonite. Romeo and Juliet have a forbidden love. Scarface has the impending force of the law busting him. Writing vulnerable characters not only creates depth for said characters, but it also creates tension that pulls readers into the story. If there is no tension, there is no story, and vulnerability is the path to tension. Writers should think of what their character would hate to have happen to them and toy with crossing that line. Another tool for creating vulnerability is to sit with what your character’s fear would be. Once that fear has been established, play with pushing your character in the face of that fear.

"It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does." ― William Faulkner

Conclusion

Lastly, writers should be able to answer any question about their character. As you craft your characters with the care and mindfulness that only you can provide them, think of every facet of your characters’ lives. What is their favorite meal? Do they tend to be late or early? Do they laugh loudly, quietly, or at all? A good practice is to speak of your characters to someone else. Talk about the character you’ve created as if it is a living, breathing person. The mark of a good writer is creating a personality that exists as its own entity outside of that writer. There is no detail too small, for you should know everything about your characters. Take your time, and have fun creating a person who did not exist before you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDB-fKJdMoU

Resources

8 Ways to Write Better Characters - An additional checklist to use to write characters as real people.

Character Development: Create Characters That Readers Love - A complete guide for developing a character from beginning to end.

Dive Deep Into What Makes Your Characters Vulnerable - A dive into the importance of writing vulnerability in a character.

Jordan Lewis is an Editorial Intern at A.E. Williams Editorial. He is a junior English major, sociology minor from Baltimore, MD who attends the illustrious Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. You can connect with him on the company Facebook, LinkedIn, or through email.