Part 1: Figure out who you like

Often when you begin writing a story, you have a character idea in mind, as well as a few traits you would like them to have.

Unfortunately, while writing, it can be difficult to keep your character consistent, or to truly write them the way you want to. Thankfully, this article will give you some simple steps to help you create or develop an amazing character personality using the characters you already know and love.

Step 1: Study the characters you like already

This is the first step to writing a character that is 1) in your ability to write and 2) someone that others will want to read about. Chances are you aren’t the only person who will like your character!

Make a list of the fictional characters, or real-life people if you are inspired by them too. Then write out a few of the characteristics that you enjoy about them. It might look something like this:

Jack Sparrow – clever, unpredictable, quippy, contrarian (honest-dishonest, tragic-funny)

Katniss Everdeen – stoic, resourceful, fiery, compassionate

Darth Vader – powerful, unstoppable, intimidating, tragic

These three are incredibly popular and well-known and loved characters, largely because they are equally relatable and aspirational.

Most people can relate to at least one of the above traits, and also find the others to be something they wish they were. These traits also make them fascinating characters to follow, because they are made even more interesting by the worlds that they live in. Further, they are the main characters (yes, even Vader) because they are the opposite of what they should be in their respective worlds.

Jack Sparrow is a chaotic pirate who clashes with just about everyone he meets. He causes disruption everywhere he goes and relies on his quippy and blaisé attitude to disguise his cunning mind. The clever little lines he gives in moments of sincerity show his true character and will be explored later. Yet, it is his uniqueness that draws you in, as you realise that he is not like anyone in the East India trading company, or in the pirate world.

Katniss Everdeen is a rebel from the start, sneaking away into the woods and bartering for contraband goods in her first few chapters. As the reality of the world she is living in sets in and we realise the horror of the games, her choice to volunteer to save her sister’s life is both heroic and a death sentence. Yet, we already know that Katniss is resourceful and motivated, she will do what it takes to win the games. As you read, you root for Katniss because you truly think she will win, which follows through in subsequent books.

Even as a Jedi, Anakin was hardly the model student, so he was an interesting study even then. His inability to master the Jedi philosophy of loving without attachments ultimately assisted in bringing about the downfall of the Galactic Republic – so don’t tell me he isn’t important! Vader’s fall to the Dark Side is interesting, but most of all tragic. He lost everything and everyone he ever loved, leaving him as a shell of a man fuelled only by rage. It is this exact fact that makes Vader so terrifying – there is nothing in the galaxy that can stop him from coming for you. Yet, it also makes his redemption that much more amazing and touching.

Step 2: Decide what traits each your character has

There are many different things that go into character-creation, but when it comes to who they are, their traits are foundational. Once you’ve figured out what characters you already like and what traits they have, mix and match them until you’ve got a set that is cohesive and resonant for your story.

Your list may look different, and your characters may not be as intense as these examples. Perhaps your story is a modern-day piece of literary fiction, or a romance or a historical story. Yet in all of these instances, you can still pull out the traits that you like from the characters in your list and translate them into your story.

Perhaps the protagonist in your romance is unpredictable, clever, and fun while her romantic interest is more rebellious, stoic, and resourceful. I for one would find that to be an interesting read, even though I’m not a huge fan of romance novels. Allow yourself to be more creative, and to try using some traits that may not normally be found in those kinds of stories.

How do you know if your traits are cohesive and resonant though? Well, you’ll need to ask some questions, so let’s use a hypothetical.

Meet the protagonist of my (imaginary) modern romance: Alice. Let’s say that in this story, she runs a flower-shop, has a puppy she loves, and wants to be an actress (cliché perhaps, but stay with me). The four primary traits I’ve chosen for her are: stoic, powerful, funny, and kind.

Now, even though this is meant to be a slightly exaggerated example, it’s clear that some of these traits don’t go too well together. Some of them don’t even make sense for her yet. So, there are a few ways we can go about this, we can:

1 ) alter the traits. We can acknowledge that in this story, a fluffy romance, Alice may not need to be stoic or powerful. Perhaps instead of stoic she could become patient, and instead of powerful she could be decisive or driven. Or, if you were planning to make Alice a more reserved or grumpy partner who meets someone who is super lovely and sweet, then perhaps the opposite is true, and you could select a more fitting trait that funny like clever or sarcastic.

OR

2 ) alter the story. Perhaps in this story, she has recently inherited the flower-shop and is learning to run the business, hence making her a stoic and focused character that also has a softer side. Perhaps she is powerful because she is domineering, or already a successful businesswoman from previous ventures. Or it could be that she used to be a funny, loving woman who has become more stoic in the face of a recent tragedy.

OR

3 ) use them for development. Have the traits be something that your character grows into. For example, Alice might start out as a stoic and powerful businesswoman who learns to let loose, have fun and embrace kindness in the story. Or, the opposite could occur, where she is a carefree, kind and funny character who must learn to be more serious and powerful to run her business better or to save it from being sold away.

As you can see, there is a world of possibilities with this prompt alone, so you’ll be able to do plenty with your own story!

Step 3: Compile the traits and form your character!

Once you’ve figured out the handful of main traits that your character or characters will have, you need to create a profile that you can refer back to, and which will help you stay on track. This can be as simple or as detailed as you want but it should be something that you like to use – whether that be a simple document, a sheet you can draw on, or a nice-looking downloadable resource.

There are a range of different templates online, but you can come up with one easily enough on your own as well. (If you want me to share the exact template that I use, let me know in the comments!)

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And there you have it: an easy guide to analysing the characters you already know and love to figure out what traits you may like to give to your own characters. Of course, there is much more to character development, so stay tuned for following posts. For now, thank you for reading and good luck with your characters!

Feeling brave? Drop a comment below telling me about your favourite character that you have created and their four main traits!

Mine has to be Nadya, who is adaptable, fiery, loyal, and brave.