Great stories spin out of well-drawn characters. You can’t write an interesting novel unless your characters make weighty decisions that trigger life-altering consequences. Characters make decisions based on their sensibilities grounded on their life experience. To write your characters well, you must know them. You must understand their psychology, motivations, and ambitions.
Characters that resonate with readers shine with depth and authenticity. Let’s explore a step-by-step approach to character development featuring a detailed character interview, a formative event, and a technique for summarizing any character into three evocative words.
The Character Interview
Use a character interview to understand your character on a personal level. This tool enables you to get into the psyche of your character’s motivations, hopes, dreams, wishes, and demons. Craft a series of five to ten questions to unlock the deeper dimensions of your character. Here are a few question ideas to get you started.
Personal History
Can you share a bit about your upbringing?
What was your hometown like, and how do you think it influenced who you are today?
What significant milestones or events in your life have shaped you into the person you are now?
Are there any memories from your childhood that stand out as particularly influential or memorable?
Hobbies
How do you like to spend your free time?
Any favorite hobbies or activities that you are particularly passionate about?
Have you ever pursued a hobby or interest that surprised those around you?
What were their reactions?
Hopes and Dreams
Looking into the future, what are some of your aspirations or dreams?
Are there specific goals you're working towards?
If you could achieve one thing in your lifetime, what would it be, and why is it important to you?
Accomplishments
Can you share a moment in your life when you felt great accomplishment?
What did you learn from that experience?
How do you define success, and what accomplishments are you most proud of personally or professionally?
Demons
Can you discuss a difficult period in your life and how you overcame it?
Are there any personal demons or fears you've faced or are currently facing?
How do you manage them?
Personal Growth and Learning
Expound on something new you've learned about yourself recently.
How did this insight come about?
Are there any specific books, movies, or experiences that have significantly influenced your perspective on life?
You don’t need to use all these questions. Take or leave them based on how much you need to know about your character.
An Example: Interviewing Doctor Jekyll
Here is an example of how Doctor Jekyll might answer five of the above questions.
Can you share a bit about your upbringing? What was your hometown like, and how do you think it influenced who you are today
Dr. Jekyll: I grew up in a modest neighborhood surrounded by academia and intellectual pursuits. The atmosphere was conducive to my early fascination with the human mind and its complexities.
Have you ever pursued a hobby or interest that surprised those around you? What was their reaction?
Dr. Jekyll: My experimentation with transformative elixirs has raised eyebrows, as colleagues and friends are both fascinated and perplexed by my unorthodox methods. The reactions range from curiosity to concern.
Looking into the future, what are some of your aspirations or dreams? Are there specific goals you're working towards?
Dr. Jekyll: My goal is to separate and understand the contrasting elements within the human psyche. I aspire to contribute significantly to the field of psychology, pushing the boundaries of knowledge.
How do you define success, and what accomplishments are you most proud of personally or professionally?
Dr. Jekyll: Unraveling the mysteries of human nature. My most notable accomplishment lies in my ability to peer into the abyss and shed light on the complexities that define us.
Are there any personal demons or fears you've faced or are currently facing? How do you manage them?
Dr. Jekyll: The fear of losing control over my alter ego, Mr. Hyde, is a constant shadow. My ongoing challenge is to harness constructively and channel this force, ensuring that the darkness within remains contained.
Formative Event
Experiencing a major pivotal life event during the formative years between 11 and 14 leaves a psychological imprint, shaping an individual's emotional and cognitive development. Explore this with your major characters. Don’t put this formative event into your story unless it absolutely drives the plot forward. This information exists only for you as a tool to understand your character.
For example, witnessing a parent get arrested during this crucial period impacts emotional development. The sudden disruption of a fundamental stability and security source evokes fear, confusion, and betrayal. The child's developing sense of trust in authority figures may be severely compromised, leading to potential challenges in forming healthy relationships and coping with stress. This formative experience also contributes to the development of complex emotions such as guilt, shame, or anger, influencing the individual's self-perception and affecting their psychological well-being into adulthood.
Triangulation of Character
Your human brain can’t keep all character data at your fingertips. Hence, it helps to use a reference system called triangulation of character.
The triangle's strength distributes weight uniformly across its three sides. Triangles, crucial in architectural and engineering design, showcase resilience—from ancient pyramids to modern bridges. Their capacity to withstand pressure establishes them as enduring symbols in the realm of geometry and design.
To distill the complexity of your character, consolidate the information gathered into three descriptive words: a triangle. These words serve as a quick reference, encapsulating your entire character sketch. Want to recall all the information gathered about a certain character? Speak that character's triangle out loud and see what happens.
Here is a possible triangulation of Doctor Jekyll’s character: Dualistic, Ambitious, Tormented.
Can you see how these three words recall everything Doctor Jekyll said in his interview?
Conclusion
Character development is a dynamic process that requires a deep connection between the author and their creation. By conducting character interviews, exploring formative events, and consolidating the information’s sum into three words, you can ensure that your characters leap off the page and into readers' hearts.
Your Assignment
Interview both the protagonist and antagonist in your story. Write formative events for both. Triangulate your characters by distilling their sketches into three distinct words. Say these words out loud to yourself often to keep them alive and stimulate free thought about them. Place your character sketches into your novel’s Bible.
Watch a Novel Grow Before Your Eyes
Character Sketch for Charles Thornhill (AKA Griefer the Clown)
Can you share a bit about your upbringing? What was your hometown like, and how do you think it influenced who you are today?
Charles: I grew up in a rather opulent environment where societal appearances mattered more than genuine connections. My father, Rule, was stern, enforcing strict rules on us, while my mother, Beatrice, was more concerned with maintaining her societal image than caring for her children. Our home, though grand, was devoid of warmth, and that, I believe, has left a lasting impact on who I am today.
Have you ever pursued a hobby or interest that surprised those around you? What was their reaction?
Charles: I play piano. My parents forced me to adhere to strict classical training. I rebelled. I yearned to play ragtime and marches, rejecting the rigid norms they imposed.
Looking into the future, what are some of your aspirations or dreams? Are there specific goals you're working towards?
Charles: My aspirations lie in embracing a life free from the shackles of societal expectations. I dream of creating music that resonates with the soul, breaking away from the classical confines. I’d like to run away from my family’s societal constraints. Who knows, maybe I’ll join a traveling show. Perhaps there, I can discover a different type of family, one that fulfills my emotional and artistic needs.
How do you define success, and what accomplishments are you most proud of personally or professionally?
Charles: Success, to me, is the freedom to be true to oneself. I take pride in breaking away from the suffocating constraints of my family and society, forging my path in the world of music. My ability to embrace my true calling, despite the disapproval, is an accomplishment I cherish.
Are there any personal demons or fears you've faced or are currently facing? How do you manage them?
Charles: The disturbing cult ceremony I witnessed at the age of 12 has left its mark on me. I walked in on my parents and some of their friends—these were people I really trusted—while they were performing some kind of ritual that involved blood and obscene acts. I suppose this event shook my trust in my parents, my adult role models and even the fabric of truth.
