How To Create “complex” Characters
How to create “complex” characters
– Introduction
I wanted to make a post about creating complex and multifaceted characters, since character creation is something I'm very passionate about from both a craft and storytelling perspective. Specifically, I remember I had this tendency to apply flaws as an afterthought to my characters in hopes of making them balanced and seem more complex, and this could often make the characters feel a bit artificial to me. I'm obviously not any sort of authority figure on the subject, but I do have one tip that really simplified the process of making characters more intricate, and I wanted to share it! This is probably more helpful for people who might still be at the very beginning of their writing journey, but hopefully others can get something out of this as well! It's a bit lengthy, but I hope it's somewhat enjoyable to read ^^; Enjoy!
For a bit of background, back in the early internet days, there was this trend of judging various OCs on youtube, deviant art, etc. where people would essentially evaluate your character and determine whether or not a character was well written. During this time, the term "Mary Sue" would get thrown around a lot (which is a whole can of worms I won't be touching on here). For simplicity though, Mary Sue generally means a character who's "perfect" (again, heavy oversimplification here). To counter this, people began creating these lists of character traits where they'd list off a character's good and bad traits, and people who didn't have equal amounts in each category would often be scrutinised for it.
And I see this advice all the time. If you want complex characters, people will usually tell you to just throw on a bunch of flaws, but I think this can be a bit misleading, because most traits exist on a spectrum, and aren't a perfect dichotomy of good and bad.
Thinking of character traits as neutral
My biggest advice is honestly to just think of all character traits as neutral. Because what really is a character flaw? A flaw is a very ambiguous and subjective term after all. What might be considered a flaw in one character could be considered another character's greatest attribute, and vice versa. Functionally, a character flaw should be a trait that creates conflict within the context of the story. Any trait a person has could be good or bad, it just depends on how it shows up in practice and how it's applied in daily life. It might be tempting to think that certain traits are inherently good or bad, but again, flaws aren't really about good or bad. They're about conflict and tension, and just about any trait can work to a character's detriment or in their favour.
I'm going to list off two examples of hypothetical characters below; one who most would consider to have a lot of "good" character traits, and one that would be considered to have "bad" character traits. Then I'll show you how you can easily flip those traits to create nuance. (And again, I really don't think good or bad are relevant terms here, but it's just to exemplify what I mean more easily!)
The "Good" Character
This character is empathetic, creative and incredibly supportive of others. They always do the right thing, and are a very responsible individual. They're approachable and friendly, funny, and generally enjoyable to be around.
The "Bad" Character
This character is cunning, manipulative, and don't care if their words hurt other people's feelings. They're largely apathetic and unreceptive, don't care about rules, and don't go out of their way to get to know people.
Their flaws & how it can affect the story
For the "good" character, you can look at what the downsides of empathy can be; very reactive emotionally, perhaps even a bit emotionally impulsive. Maybe they have a difficult time recognising their own needs, especially since supportive is also a trait listed above. Maybe they even use this empathy to figure out other people's needs and use it to their own benefit. Someone who's creative can often have a difficult time committing to their passions and ideas because there's always something new. Maybe they feel out of place or easily stifled by rules, but because they always want to do the right thing, they're hesitant in outright breaking rules and social norms. If they use their empathy and approachability to manipulate, perhaps this is their way of subtly regaining a sense of control because they're too afraid to explicitly go after what they want in life. Maybe they care a lot about how they're perceived, etc. Or maybe they really are a compassionate and kind person, but they're often a doormat to others because they don't know how to set boundaries or even how to recognise what they want. Maybe they don't trust their own judgment because they're so used to doing the right thing "just because it's the right thing to do", and don't actually reflect on their actions beyond that. There's a lot you can do with these traits!
For the "bad" character, which might seem a bit more tricky at first, the easiest way to figure out what the nuance of "bad" traits can be is to break down the why. Maybe this character became cunning because they've had to think long term a lot. They're good at waging the odds, they're good at reading the room, they're good at putting things together and seeing how the dominos will fall. Maybe they're even the person responsible for setting up the dominos, because they don't trust anyone else to make sure that there's a desirable outcome. If they're manipulative then it likely means that they're good at reading people, and they must know how to appeal to other people to some degree, otherwise they wouldn't really be able to manipulate anyone. They're likely used to having to look out for themselves, and they might even be good at spotting their own kind and knowing just when to avoid them. They don't care much for rules so they might not be as harsh in judging others, maybe they even have an easier time getting along with people who dare to defy social norms. Maybe they're even supportive of other people breaking the rules, because why the hell not?
Creating nuance
If you look at the two characters above, you'll quickly realise that they could hypothetical be the same character, because... They are. The "good" character is the "bad" character when they were younger. The "bad" character is the "good" character's future. An empathetic character can easily turn that empathy and their social skills into cunning manipulation. A character who previously felt stifled by the rules might choose to defy them. A character who got sick of caring how others perceive and judge them might choose to stop caring about what others think, and might even go out of their way to seem off-putting and un-approachable, because they refuse to ever allow themselves to care about others and be treated like a doormat again.
Or you can treat them as two separate characters that function as foils to one another. They both overlap in a lot of traits despite it not seeming so at first glance. My point is, I find that if you treat all traits as neutral, you don't really have to manually "add" flaws. Most traits have both upsides and downsides, and which side of those traits create conflict in the story is often what determines whether something is a flaw or not.
– Outro
Sorry for the lengthy and possibly rambly post, I just thought it might be advice worth sharing as it's something that really helped me flesh out my own characters more when I was still very new! Plus, as mentioned before, character creation and analysis is one of my favourite aspects of storytelling, and I'm also very passionate about psychology and philosophy and such. And again, this is all in good fun and 100% not a rule on how to write characters! There's exceptions to everything and everyone's process is different, and while this advice might be helpful to some, it might not be helpful whatsoever to others, and that's completely fine!
I'd love to make more posts on topics like this in the future if people enjoy it, or if anyone has any specific requests on anything! :,)
More Posts from Blogmarkostuff and Others
Kindness, a positive feeling to emulate.
You Guys are Too Hard on Yourselves
Sometimes after I post a piece of advice or a suggestion for improving your craft, I see a lot of you guys in the reblogs talking about how you wish you could be a good writer and take said advice, or that you feel like a failure for not already doing it.
Now listen here, look me in the eyes, you are doing enough.
The last thing I want is to discourage anyone from writing, so I need you to internalize this. You are doing enough as a writer. Yes even if you haven’t written in a while, even if you’ve never been published, or have been rejected a million times, or have never finished a draft. You guys are enough for even trying, and I need you to start recognizing yourselves and being proud of the work you do and/or the ideas you have.
At the very least, start practicing not getting down on yourselves when you hear advice or read someone else’s work. You will only ever get better, don’t start doubting yourself now.
Let’s do a little exercise. Reblog this with three things you think you are totally nailing as a writer, I’ll go first:
I have a keen sense of pacing.
I create interesting dynamics between complex characters.
My ideas are weird and fun and reflect me as a person.
Now go forth with positivity!
Elements in your book by order of importance
The order of importance of elements in a book can vary depending on the genre, theme, and narrative structure. However, here are some common elements that are often considered significant:
- Plot: The sequence of events that drive the story forward and create tension, conflict, and resolution.
- Characters: The individuals who inhabit the story and contribute to its development and emotional engagement.
- Theme: The central idea or message that the book explores and conveys to the reader.
- Setting: The time, place, and environment in which the story takes place, which can enhance mood, atmosphere, and context.
- Writing style: The author's unique voice and the way the story is narrated, which can greatly impact the reader's experience.
- Conflict: The challenges, obstacles, or opposition that the characters face, driving the narrative and character development.
- Dialogue: The conversations and interactions between characters, providing insights into their personalities, relationships, and plot progression.
- Pacing: The rhythm and speed at which events unfold, affecting the book's flow and reader engagement.
- Emotional resonance: The ability of the story to evoke strong emotions and create a connection between the reader and the characters.
- Tone: The overall mood and atmosphere of the book, which can range from light-hearted and humorous to dark and somber.
- Point of view: The perspective from which the story is told, influencing the reader's understanding and connection to the characters.
- Symbolism: The use of symbols or metaphors to convey deeper meanings or layers of understanding.
- Subplots: Secondary storylines that add depth, complexity, and variety to the main plot.
- Imagery: Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the reader's senses and creates vivid mental images.
- Structure: The organization and arrangement of the story, including chapters, sections, and narrative devices.
- Originality: The unique and innovative aspects of the book that set it apart and make it memorable.
The director’s task is to recreate life, its movement, its contradictions, its dynamic and conflicts. It is his duty to reveal every iota of the truth he has seen, even if not everyone finds that truth acceptable. Of course an artist can lose his way, but even his mistakes are interesting provided they are sincere. For they represent the reality of his inner life, of the peregrinations and struggle into which the external world has thrown him.
Andrei Tarkovsky
“In mechanical arts, the craftsman uses his skill to produce something useful, but his sole merit lies in skill. In the fine arts the student uses skill to produce something beautiful. He is free to choose what that something shall be, and the layman claims that he may and must judge the artist chiefly by the value in beauty of the thing done. Artistic skill contributes to beauty, or it would not be skill; but beauty is the result of many elements, and the nobler the art the lower is the rank which skill takes among them.“
– Attributed to Fleeming Jenkin, in John Munro’s Heroes of the Telegraph.
Professor Henry Charles Fleeming Jenkin represents both the craftsman and the artist of the early nineteenth century. This renaissance man of Edinburgh was born on 25 March 1833. His prolific career as an electrical engineer and professor glitters with a variety of accomplishments. He is known as the engineer of the telpher, or aerial tramway. In addition to engineering, he crossed over into the business and academic work; his writing topics extended into over 35 British patents, and over 40 published papers.
Fleeming Jenkin won medals during his professional career from the Royal Society of Edinburgh for his graphical method to calculate strains in bridges; yet he also drew portraits, wrote about artistry, and contributed to commentary on popular literature in his time.
Electricity and magnetism formed one of Fleeming Jenkin’s major passions; he participated in the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and determined a convenient unit and standard of electrical resistance with a committee.
Image: Aerial tramway in La Grave (France) by NielsB. CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Las Mil y Una Noches
INSTRUCCIONES: Primero que nada Hi!.
Después déjeme decirle que para ver realísticamente este programa es necesario seguir las instrucciones al pie de la letra, y presionar los downloads al momento que se piden.
Me sigue en esta aventura?
En una época de engaño, decir la verdad es un acto revolucionario. George Orwell
.-Que son las Mil y Una Noches? Son una serie de relatos entre cristianos y seculares que relatan historias. Son variados, divergentes, surreales a veces, pero contados desde dos perspectivas diferentes. Es del lector crítico distinguir entre lo real y lo imaginario.
-No piensa usted que lo uno y lo otro no se lleva? Precisamente por ello se cuentan desde dos perspectivas diferentes, aunque puedo decir que a veces van juntos con pegados.
.- Cómo nace la historia? Bueno, es la historia de un super archirecontra chavo que va cantando por el mundo “somos exploradores venimos a cortar las flores” y en el camino se encuentra con otros que no les gusta su canto y no quieren que se escuche su melodia (aunque la canta) y eso lleva a toda una serie de suspicacias y argucias de otros para que el joven no cante su canto, que a unos gusta a otros no tanto. A medida que avanza, va escuchando los gritos, los llantos, los reflejos, los espejos, las alegrías, las risas, las llagas de otros que avientan en el camino, algunos en buena voluntad, otros no tanto, para que no llegue al final del camino ni exprese su canto. Pero en la historia también hay buenos que les encanta lo que hace porque su canto es un canto de libertad, es un canto de realidad, es un canto de verdad. Es también una historia de transformación y relata una evolución, y a medida que se madura, existen nuevos elementos que surgen y hacen amena la historia. La historia gusta porque finalmente hay muchos que se sienten indentificados en los caracteres y personajes y aporta un cierto tipo de realismo.
-Casos de la vida real? Mejor le prendemos a la TV, no? Es mejor ver las novelas con actores que no sean los nuestros porque hablar de lo nuestro aporta un cierto tipo de realismo, a veces crudo, que no estamos dispuestos a soportar.
.- Esta diciendo que evadimos la realidad? A veces preferimos los contenidos de los medios de comunicacion, a ver nuestras perspectivas personales, miento? Los medios ejercen una función narcotizante en la sociedad y las familias porque escinden y pulverizan lo que es realmente importante. Estamos más preocupados por Miley Cirus y su espectáculo grotesco e irreverente (aunque es una chulada la huerca) frente a una Taylor Swift con una bondad y una ligereza de pensamiento en libertad que suscita las envidias de otros artistas para aventarle “dirty, dirty lies about me” (Entre parentesis, como me dolió eso, ehe! Aventarle a mi artista favorita “dirty, dirty lies about me” pero la envidia tiene sus caminos y después escuche “Shake it off” que es una parodia muy buen producida, con una reacción genial de un artista a cantantes que le tenían envidia por los pronunciamientos que Taylor había hecho acerca de lo que pensaba de sus shows o personalidades (Es válido, no!) y sus visiones del mundo del espectáculo. Me gustó la reacción de Taylor Swift, trabajando y mostrando porque es genial. Como habla acerca de los haters and how she would just shake it off y se los pasa por debajo de sus pompis, genial, no?.... Shake it off, man!
Que gran pronunciamiento éste no piensa usted? (Para mayor explicación ver:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM
I'm lightning on my feet And that's what they don't see, mmm-mmm That's what they don't see, mmm-mmm I'm dancing on my own (dancing on my own) I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go) And that's what they don't know, mmm-mmm That's what they don't know, mmm-mmm
But I keep cruising Can't stop, won't stop grooving It's like I got this music In my mind Saying, "It's gonna be alright.")
'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off)
Bueno volviendo al tema. O las novelas, especialmente de Televisa como “Cuando Me Enamoro”, “Llena de Amor”, “Triunfo del Amor”es preferible ver telenovelas a ver la cruda y personal realidad de nuestras vidas. Es más tolerante ver las historias destruidas de otros en TV, en un set predeterminado, que ver las nuestras propias. Como dije los medios de Comunicación narcotizan la mente, y permiten evadir las realidades personales…. Podemos ver la telenovela, mejor? Cuál mira usted?
.- Qué realidad personal evade usted? Al contrario, yo las enfrento y eso es lo que me gusta. No las oculto, no las postergo, no niego mis contradicciones tampoco. Si Dios lo sabe, que lo sepa el mundo, verdad?
.-Que hay de el Amor? Qué hay de el? Soy como el comegalletas, quiero galleta!, galleta! galleta! (No sea mal pensado)..., El amor es el único elemento, común a todos, del que necesitamos como el comer o respirar. Alguna vez hablé del amor y un compañero argentino del trabajo escuchó el comentario (y ya sabe como son los argentinos) dijo “Oye, que vos sonasteis como un experto en la materia, muy interesante el comentario, pero cómo lo hicisteis, qué talento!?”.
Como no sé si lo dijo en tono de mofa o en buen plan, porque lo dijo sonriendo, le arengué una chile mexicano a su plato y le conteste: Ya ves! Los amplios años de trabajo y experiencia en jardinería y construcción!
(Viene el audio de Naturaleza en el Amor. Lo ha escuchado?)
.- Ese comentario con el argentino sonó agresivo? Es usted así siempre? Mas bien es nacionalista.
.- Cómo es? Bueno, a los mexicanos nos enseñaron cada lunes a ser nacionalistas en las escuelas. Teníamos la Escuela Acuña que tenía una barda divisoria con otra escuela llamada “Ocampo” y al momento del receso, los niños de la Acuña tiraban piedras a la Ocampo y hacían unos chipototes que daban dolor de cabeza y ni Tylenol ni Mejoralito curaba. Así pues ya calentaba cuando salía sangre, y sangre se pagaba con sangre y entonces he aquí la clase del lunes al inciar las mañanas: “Mexicanos al grito de Guerra, el acero aprestad y el bridón… y el bridón convertirse en chapuzón de piedras y cañonazos que volaban vertiginosamente de un lado para otro, y después las maestras estirar las orejas diciendo “eso no se hace” aunque uno apelar al nacionalismo y ellas no entender nuestro patriotismo de “mexicanos al grito de Guerra….” Cómo ve, eramos populares, es decir, no de aplausos, sino que viviamos en colonia popular lo que aportaba un cierto tipo de encanto por la vida y los jugos de la vida se disfrutaban intensamente como la intensidad del futbol. La crema y la nata de la sociedad, ahí, en la intensidad de la vida popular.
- Qué experiencia mala ha tenido en su vida? No empecemos ehe! Y no le quiero comentar porque después dice usted que soy un “crying boy” y lo digo como manera de ponerme como victima, tomando la perspectiva de los herejes.
.- De qué habla? Se imagina usted que cuando Martin Luther King aparece en escena y discurre sobre una serie de atrocidades y aberraciones en una sociedad intolerante que no estaba dispuesta a cambiar su status quo ni sus motivaciones ni sus intereses (y hay veces que eso ocurre en las mejores familias, no la mía por supuesto que es modelo de decencia y pudor ni la de usted también para estar parejos) y que no otorgaba los derechos inalienables de los negros repentinamente vengan los blancos y digan “usted quiere aparecerse como victima” de nuestro sistema?... De risa, no? Qué aberración! Las cosas se discuten porque se piensa que las personas escuchan en buena fé, y se les da una oportunidad de hacer las cosas mejor bajo la manifestación de lo que se piensa inadecuado. Es una oportunidad de cambio! Oyó?... Oportunidad de cambio! Una amiga mía a quien le dije que su comentario causaba heridas dijo “Podemos empezar de Nuevo?” en un discurso en humildad y cariño que habla de un espacio compartido entre dos y permea la buena vountad; muy diferente al discurso yo-yo-ísta de “quieres hacerte la víctima” que habla de no escuchar y no desear un espacio para dos en fraternidad. Las verdaderas relaciones se construyen así, sin los mua-mua de fiestas sociales cuando verdaderamente importan los seres humanos. Eso es lo verdadero, no las reuniones sociales tipo “mua-mua”.
Structural Editing
What is a structural editor (SE): A SE will consider your manuscript as a whole and help you work towards improving your novel for the sake of the reader. SE are the connection between what the readers need, what the publisher requires, and what the author hopes for their story. Developmental editing and structural editing often cross into one another and focus on the same goals/objectives.
When to get a SE: This is usually the first stage of editing. They need the full manuscript in order to properly assess your story and all the elements within. If you’ve finished your manuscript, and you find the story still doesn’t seem quite as professional as some published books, this is the place to start.
Benefits of having a SE: SE are amazing at assessing a story as a whole and determining how to shift your story to meet expectation of publishers and readers. They help set you in the right track to get your novel published and share your story with your readers.
What they do for you:
Issues with plot
pacing issues
character, setting or theme issues
writing style issues
organize or reorganize paragraphs and chapters to help make your story comprehensive
considers audience, purpose and medium of publishing to help structure your story better
help you work on premise, point of view, and voice
work through scenes to trim the unnecessary details, and expand on some areas to improve comprehension
work on dialogue
consider the flow of the story
What they won’t do for you:
Grammar, spelling and punctuation.
working line by line to clarify meaning
work in formatting or typesetting for the manuscript
When choosing an editor, be sure to be clear as to what you want from them, and what services they can offer you. No two editors are the same. Some may offer more services while others may specialize in more specific ways. Typically, you can ask for a sample of their work to determine if you will match with your editor, or if they’re not the right fit for you.
If you found this helpful, like, comment, share, and follow for more!
Happy Writing!
Share with someone who brings a smile to your face! 😊 Help us count down to PEOPLE’s World’s #MostBeautiful cover reveal on April 20—and remember to #saysomethingbeautiful every day!
-
nightimecoyote reblogged this · 10 months ago -
nightimecoyote liked this · 10 months ago
-
judasisdrafting liked this · 1 year ago -
moonscripture liked this · 1 year ago -
honeysuck1e liked this · 1 year ago -
sketchyfool liked this · 1 year ago -
darthjkidsblog liked this · 1 year ago -
langblrinlimbo liked this · 1 year ago -
scentedcloudtheorist liked this · 1 year ago -
tomaghto liked this · 1 year ago -
kawaiiyenn liked this · 1 year ago -
gojo24wegotthis liked this · 1 year ago -
acidwomn reblogged this · 1 year ago -
ivordis-tea liked this · 1 year ago -
iwybie liked this · 1 year ago -
swift-perseides reblogged this · 1 year ago -
l-antre-des-merveilles liked this · 1 year ago -
cirqosmos liked this · 1 year ago -
meerawrites liked this · 1 year ago -
writewithfire reblogged this · 1 year ago -
writeb1tchwrite reblogged this · 1 year ago -
keke134sworld liked this · 1 year ago -
skip--divided liked this · 1 year ago -
beepeeps liked this · 1 year ago -
peeps-storage reblogged this · 1 year ago -
harychibir liked this · 1 year ago -
ratflavoured liked this · 1 year ago -
cinocappu reblogged this · 1 year ago -
wreckedblrr liked this · 1 year ago -
spookywritesstuff reblogged this · 1 year ago -
forourtomorrows liked this · 1 year ago -
writewithfire liked this · 1 year ago
-
vicwriting reblogged this · 1 year ago -
vicwriting liked this · 1 year ago
-
joyfulevolutionfanartwombat liked this · 1 year ago -
toomanymugs liked this · 1 year ago -
nepobabyg liked this · 1 year ago -
moonlit-ghosts liked this · 1 year ago -
flaireyuwu liked this · 1 year ago -
flaireyuwu reblogged this · 1 year ago
-
ghoulish-gazebo liked this · 1 year ago -
tolivebywords reblogged this · 1 year ago -
tolivebywords liked this · 1 year ago
Here you will find some of the things that I really like. I like writing, music, poems, and producing any idea that comes to my mind. I hope you like it!
288 posts