8/10/2019 25 Things About Creating Characters

1/2

25 THINGS ABOUT CREATING

CHARACTERS

As a writer, creating characters is probably the most important thing you do. Get it wrong,

and the story will be wrong no matter how well plotted.

Here are 25 things to know.

1. Characters that have everything they need and want in life are pretty damn boring.

2. In the real world, strong female characters go by another name: women. Try writing

about them.

3. Not every character needs to have some past trauma simmering beneath the surface to

be interesting. Well adjusted people can be just as deep and complex if you give them

the right goals.

4. Theres a difference between being quintessential and being a cartoon, but not a big

one.

5. Watching a character fail but keep trying is usually more interesting than watching

them succeed.

6. Dont judge your characterseven the villains. If you do, theyll lack truth.1 Instead

find out why they are the way they are, and accept them for it.

7. Often what we remember most about memorable characters is how they interact

externallythink, Mulder and Scully, Romeo and Juliet, Lucy and Ethel. The

interaction, the relationship, these are traits in and of themselves.

8. Real people sometimes like lascivious and licentious things: porn or weed or orgies,

or porn, weed and orgiesyou get the idea. So, why cant your character like some of

these things, too?

9. Sometimes they should die.

10.A name is a terrible thing to waste, and it can shape your character more than you

might think. Choose wisely.11.There are no recipes for great characters, but if there werethe chef would probably

create something simple with a few, fresh and fantastic ingredients instead of a

plethora of overly processed junk.

12.Archetypes are for people who are too afraid to be creative.1

http://www.justinmclachlan.com/1383/make-things-wrong-characters/http://www.justinmclachlan.com/1383/make-things-wrong-characters/

8/10/2019 25 Things About Creating Characters

2/2

13.Even an evil character whos evil for evils sake has redeeming qualities that allow us

to empathize. Find them and play them up.

14.Its okay if the characters gender is the last thing about them you decide.

15.At a base level, every character wants the same things: food, shelter, sex how the

these primary instincts, the id if you will, interact with the ego (personal identity) can

be an endless source of exploration.

16.Just because a character lives in the past doesnt mean she has to conform to outdated

stereotypes.

17.They all have flaws, and its the flaws that make them who they are.

18.In real life, we strive to avoid conflict. But in fiction, characters who always agree

have no lifeat least, not one worth reading about.

19.A characters back story is the least important thing in the story.1

20.Dont be surprised when a character youve created does something you dont expect.

Thats called magic and you shouldjust get out of its way.1

21.The thing your character wants most might never surface in the story, but it still drives

every. single. thing. they. do.

22.Real people are seldom interesting enough to make great characters. Create, dont

imitate.1

23.They dont always tell the truth.

24.

Likewise, they dont always say whats on their minds.25.When drawn correctly, when given goals and even just a few layers, most of the other

details fall into place.