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Mastering Character Development: Crafting Memorable Figures for Compelling Narratives

Learn to create dynamic characters with depth and complexity for engaging plots. Avoid common pitfalls and clichés, and explore how to balance traits effectively. Discover the key elements that make characters relatable and compelling.

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Mastering Character Development: Crafting Memorable Figures for Compelling Narratives

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  1. Topic 3: Characters Tangent: The Powerpoint

  2. You Know What a Character Is • Character – a person depicted in a narrative • Two-dimensional “flat” characters • Three-dimensional “round” characters

  3. Characters and Plots • Plot should be built around characters, not the other way around! • A strong character can save a shallow plot. A strong plot, no matter how strong, cannot make a reader like a shallow character.

  4. Good Characters Have… • Wants • Needs • Skills • Flaws • Quirks • Likes • Dislikes • Goals • CONFLICTS

  5. What Not To Do • Don’t focus excessively on your character’s appearance UNLESS their appearance reflects their personality – and even then, don’t go overboard. • Don’t give your character dozens and dozens of skills and next to no flaws. • Faux flaws, like “adorably clumsy” and “too beautiful” don’t count.

  6. The Mary Sue • An overly idealized and basically flawless character who most commonly serves as a vehicle for wish fulfillment for the reader – or, more commonly, the author. • Despite the name, they can be male too – the designation for male Mary Sues is either Gary Stu or Marty Stu, depending on preference.

  7. The Unbreakable Rule • Do NOT, for the love of EVERYTHING you hold dear, base your character on yourself, your friends, or your family! • Giving your character some traits of yourself or incorporating details of people you’ve encountered is okay – moderation is important here. • Side effects of this include: • Getting offended when someone criticizes your character. • Using the character as a mouthpiece for your own beliefs and views. • In the case of family and friends, it may prove difficult to portray the character negatively in any way. • The editor kicking you in the shins (as they should).

  8. The Characters Challenge • Select 3 characters from Tom Gauld’s “Characters For an Epic Tale.” • Note: “Units” of characters (ex: The Three Witches) only count as one. • Write a story around them. • Cosine: Draw one (or two, or three) characters in your own style, as you see them. • Bonus points if they’re interacting.

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