A story is only as good as its characters. Every character needs drive, ambition, flaws, and more to feel realistic to the reader. They should feel like real people, someone the reader can relate to in some way and feel like they are their new best friend.
So, how do you create a convincing character?
It all starts with a character sheet. A character sheet is a list of questions that will help you brainstorm ideas for a character to make them more realistic. The more you answer, the better. Character sheets range from simple skin tone, eye color, and hair color to more in-depth questions like past traumas, fears, and quirks. The character sheet I created is a jumping-off point for you when creating your character, asking questions that will make you think deeper about your character's personality. There are so many free character sheets online that you can research for new questions to ask yourself. Sometimes what I like to do when I am creating characters is pay attention to people around me when I am in public. Maybe someone has a walking style that I found interesting, and I use that for my character, or perhaps they have an interesting tattoo that inspires me to create a tattoo for my character. Anything from clothes you see in a store to how someone's voice sounds in a coffee shop can help inspire you for your characters. Using the world around you can influence your work in many ways, especially character creation.
Although not all the answers you provide for your character will be used directly in your novel, it is a great tool to have as a reference when you write. The character sheet can help you determine how your character might react to a particular conflict and make sure you stay consistent with their personality. You wouldn't want your character to fear heights but have no problem climbing to the top of a tall tower. Instead, you would like that character to be fearful the entire time or reluctant to complete the mission. A character sheet helps you keep track of these traits so your character can be as realistic as possible.
Now, you may be asking yourself, how do I fill out this sheet like this is a real person?
While many authors feel that their characters are alive and genuine people you could meet on the street, others may have a hard time believing this. This is often true with fantasy characters, as they might have magical powers, which is naturally hard to relate to as a human in the 21st century, where, unfortunately, the ability to shoot lightning from your fingertips is impossible. When other writers or editors say to make your characters relatable, what they mean is to focus on the qualities that make the character like us. Maybe the character deals with depression or has a lack of confidence that so many people struggle with today. Perhaps your character is the oldest sibling who feels they need to care for their younger siblings. These are all attributes that make your character relatable.
While filling out a character sheet, act as if you are interviewing your character. Think about the things that will make them different or stand out other than their looks. What makes up their personality? What quirks does your character have? Are they fidgety? Do they stutter on r's? Maybe they are excellent at keeping eye contact with whom they are speaking. Although these questions might seem excessive, and you may not specifically say these traits in your novel, they will help you convey their personality in other ways. Maybe, another character notices that another character fidgets when they are nervous, or they rub the hilt of their sword for good luck before a battle. Little instances of these traits make readers fall in love with or have hatred for your characters.
It's essential to set these goals for your characters to make them exciting characters for a reader to follow. As the author of these characters, it is your responsibility to make their life difficult. You, as the author, can choose your character's goal and then make it difficult for them to reach it. What hoops do they have to jump through to finally achieve peace? What traumas do they need to go through to make them who they are today? This will help drive your character growth.
Like most people in the world, we grow and evolve from our challenges in life, whether that be a complicated relationship, the loss of a loved one, or just a journey of self-discovery. In our life, this growth is slow and takes years. Therefore, when you write characters, their development should not be instantaneous. They can learn lessons and have a change of heart, but their growth should span across the standalone novel or the three-part series. In other words, their development should not happen in the span of one chapter because that is not realistic and will seem ingenuine to the reader. Instead, the character should be put through the paces, and each challenge they face, no matter how small, is a building block towards the character they become at the end.
However, this isn't to say that every character needs a redeemable quality or must have character growth. Maybe your character already did their growing before the novel, or perhaps your antagonist is so far gone that they are irredeemable. These aspects are entirely up to you and how you want your character to be read.
Ultimately, your characters are your babies, created from the ground up, and there is a part of you within them. That is why it is essential to make your characters realistic because the more natural, the more likable the characters will be. Help the reader fall in love with your characters the way you are. Help the reader know intricate parts about that character so they can grow closer to them throughout the novel.
