A warm welcome to all the budding writers or even the writers who are well versed and here to gain some knowledge.

As the weekend hits in, all full time student authors, working authors would like to do is probably write (or just lay down lazily and re energize themselves)

We thought why not bring a compilation of writing related topics written by our talented team every weekend and help our writers, craft their amazing tales with ease. It's not just reading about the topics but we also have some exercises for you specially!

Seems interesting? Dive in without wasting any more time!

Crafting Compelling Characters

Writing is sometimes – and more often than not – a tedious, time-consuming affair. There are many aspects and factors involved with each person having their own explanations, and their own views on what makes a story phenomenal, but what you can not overlook is that, every great work of fiction must have a few basic needs that turn an ordinary three-year-old’s work into a masterpiece.

That is called “literary devices” – there are a few that are more important than the others, namely a solid plot, good backstories and great characters.

Everyone wants to write amazing stories but what separates mediocre from the heights of lavish writing is, more often than not, the compelling characters that make the readers root for them and wish for them to attain their goals.

Today’s chapter is thus decided for this purpose.

A question all the aspiring writers must ask themselves is “What makes my character someone that people should know about?” 

And the answer to this lies not in technicality and what approach you choose to take (note: of course, preferences always exist and to each their own), but there are a few key factors that we have to take a deeper look at.

Firstly, realism.

Many people often fail to do this while writing to give their main character flaws.

Their antagonists may also be highlighted and shown only in a negative rose-coloured glass. The thing about reality is that everyone has their flaws. No main character is perfect and if they are perfect in every way, that itself disqualifies a main character.

Add some flaws to your characters -

It makes them human. One of the main ways to turn your characters relatable is to show that they too are human and also have flaws. A great example of this can be seen in The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.

‼️ SPOILERS FOR THE SONG OF ACHILLES ‼️ 

Though most of the book is from Patroclus’ point of view and we closely see the way Patroclus paints Achilles as a perfect person in the start of the book – the more we progress, the realisation hits that it is his pride which led to his own downfall.

So, regardless of his innumerable characters, Achilles was still a really well-written character because he had a hamartia – or, a fatal flaw. END OF SPOILER

Similarly, do not make it so that your antagonist has no “good” qualities in them.

Each person has their own flaws and their own strong suits, and even if they seem all evil or all good at the start of the tale (because most books closely follow the point of view of the main character), make sure to delve into the character development arcs that add flavour and life to the writing. One of my favourite examples of character development and growth is the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi.

‼️ SPOILERS FOR SHATTER ME SERIES‼️ 

While, at the start of the series, Aaron Warner is shown as a villain and a bad person who thrives on making the female main character's life a living hell – the reasons for why he did so, are very beautifully presented as the series progresses.

Juliette also comes to the realisation of how wrong she was about Aaron’s motives by the middle of the series. And that is peak character development (well, at least according to me, lol). 

END SPOILER

Secondly, drive or motivation.

Each character in the story should – and must – exist for a reason. And you as the author should be aware of it.

Why is your main character the main character of the story? Are you sure that they are the main person – the protagonist of the tale? And if you are sure, then why?

 All great writers work with one main character who isn’t perfect but is trying to achieve something in their life and the question that most people do not tend to think about before starting their story is why that? 

Taking the example of Harry Potter – which I know is slightly overused but perhaps the best idea so far – we get a glimpse at many characters. 

‼️ SPOILERS FOR THE HARRY POTTER SERIES ‼️ 

Hermione Granger has always been my favourite of the Golden Trio because her goal throughout the books progressed from a more shallow-minded look to a broader and more selfless act.

What she did, the girl did to protect her friends. From being the girl who was mostly focused on excelling in her academics, she grew into someone who would even break rules for her friends. Her need and want to do things to protect her friend is a strong attribute of her drive.

Similarly, take Neville Longbottom with his drive to do justice. 

END OF SPOILER

Thirdly, conflict.

Every brilliant character needs conflict at one point or the other, it is often what writers refer to as the climax and we all do it at some point in every story.

The question I want you to really think about today is “Why is the conflict necessary and who and/ir what is it with?” Is it a conflict with themselves? A close friend? The love interest of the tale (if there is one)? And what does the outcome lead to?

The best-written conflicts often lead to self-realisation of some sort. Does this sort of internal (or external) conflict lead to pushing a friend or loved one away? Is it a wake-up call to their own self?

This blog is really very helpful in showcasing different types of conflict with self and characters! ps. I loved this one and found it very helpful personally: https://www.papertrue.com/blog/how-to-create-conflict-in-stories/ 

There are innumerable examples all over the internet about how to work on better characters and how to dream up creative, believable characters people root for.

But, perhaps the best way has always been the most classical example – to observe and learn.

Exercises

So, you’ve wanted to try to give a go at writing good characters. Good thing for you: I have concocted some exercises for you! Given below are a few questions that might prompt you to think more deeply and form a whole developed character overall.

Physical

♡ Body Build type

♡ Favourite types of food

♡ Coffee vs Tea vs drinks (and why)

♡ Noticeable features that are obtained/not obtained from parents (and if your character likes/dislikes them and why)

♡ Height and if they like/dislike it (and why)

♡ Hair color, length, details (haircut type, how often they change it up, dyejobs??)

♡ Preference of people

♡ Stereotypically classified as others? (and do they really confirm to that? Do they like the label they are provided? Give reasons why)

♡ Dressing type

♡ Look (do they look friendly? Gruff? Indifferent and aloof? And why?)

Emotional

□ How connected are they to their feelings? (are they honest with their own feelings? Do they talk about how they feel to others?)

□ How do they deal with disappointments? (both literally and emotionally)

□ Fear: What are their biggest fears, and how do these fears influence their decisions and actions?

□ Joy: What brings them the most happiness? Describe a time they experienced pure joy.

□ Sadness: How do they cope with sadness or grief? Do they have any rituals or habits for dealing with it?

□ Anger: What triggers their anger, and how do they express it? Do they have a temper, or do they bottle it up?

□ Stress: How do they handle stress? Do they have healthy coping mechanisms, or do they resort to unhealthy behaviors?

□ Love: How do they express love and affection? Are they open about their feelings, or do they struggle to show love?

□ Jealousy: What makes them jealous (it doesn’t have to be superficial or on surface, dig deep!) and how do they deal with feelings of jealousy?

□ Guilt: How do they handle guilt and regret? Do they dwell on past mistakes, or are they able to move on?

□ Empathy: How empathetic are they towards others? Do they easily put themselves in someone else’s shoes?

□ Emotional Resilience: How resilient are they in the face of emotional challenges? Do they bounce back quickly, or do they take time to recover?

Social

◓ Friendship: How do they form and maintain friendships? What qualities do they look for in friends?

◓ Family Dynamics: What is their relationship like with their family? Are they close, estranged, or somewhere in between?

◓ Romantic Relationships: How do they approach romantic relationships? What are their views on love and commitment?

◓ Social Anxiety: Do they experience social anxiety or discomfort in certain social situations? How do they cope with it?

◓ Social Status: How important is social status to them? Do they strive for social recognition, or are they indifferent to it?

◓ Conflict Resolution: How do they handle conflicts with others? Are they confrontational, or do they avoid conflict?

◓ Community Involvement: Are they active in their community or social groups? What role do they play in these groups?

◓ Trust: How easily do they trust others? Have they been betrayed in the past, and how has that affected their ability to trust?

◓ Leadership: Are they a natural leader, or do they prefer to follow? How do they behave in leadership roles?

◓ Influence: Who influences their social views and behaviors? Do they follow trends or set their own path?

Psychological/Spiritual

◐ Beliefs: What are their core beliefs and values? How do these beliefs shape their worldview?

◐ Morality: How do they distinguish right from wrong? Are they guided by a strict moral code, or do they navigate moral grey areas?

◐ Introspection: How often do they reflect on their own thoughts and behaviors? Are they self-aware?

◐ Mental Health: What is their mental health like? Do they struggle with any mental health issues, and how do they manage them?

◐ Goals and Ambitions: What are their long-term goals and ambitions? How driven are they to achieve them?

◐ Purpose: Do they feel they have a purpose in life? What do they believe their purpose is?

◐ Spirituality: Do they follow a particular religion or spiritual practice? How does this influence their daily life and decisions?

◐ Inner Demons: What internal struggles do they face? How do they deal with their inner demons or past traumas?

◐ Philosophy: Do they adhere to a particular philosophical outlook (e.g., existentialism, stoicism)? How does this shape their approach to life?

◐ Dreams: What recurring dreams or nightmares do they have? How do these dreams reflect their subconscious mind?

These exercises are all aimed at helping to flesh out good characters, regardless of their importance and their role in the story. If you’ve got your characters well-thought out and fleshed well, you have no reason to ever get confused!

Good luck and happy writing! <3

This fantastic chapter crafted by Evelynfrost23

Do let us know your feedback and how did you like the chapter!

Will meet you next weekend! Till then, adios! Happy writing