Cooking Up Characters: Tips for Creating Characters Your Readers Will Devour

Creating characters is like cooking a meal. You need the right ingredients to make them engaging. The characters should be relatable, realistic, and most importantly, they need to be three-dimensional. But how do you make them jump off the page and tickle your readers' fancy? Let's spice things up and give you some tips on how to create characters so realistic, your readers will be convinced they're living, breathing beings.

Give Your Characters Layers

The first step in creating an engaging character is to ensure that your character has several layers. It means that the character has flaws and weaknesses, as well as strengths and positive attributes. An engaging character is someone readers can connect with, and this connection often occurs through shared experiences and emotions.

One of the most effective ways to make your characters engaging is to give them layers, like an onion (or an ogre, if you will). Make them complex by giving them conflicting personality traits, such as being confident yet insecure. Or, create a unique backstory that informs their behavior and choices, like a character who grew up in poverty and is now resourceful and independent. Sprinkle in some quirks or habits, like always carrying a certain object or having a peculiar way of speaking. These layers not only make your characters more interesting, but they also help readers form a deeper connection with them. After all, who doesn't love an onion, especially when it's full of surprises?

By creating a character with layers, readers can see themselves in the character, which creates a sense of relatability and connection.

Show Your Characters in Action

No matter how well you describe your characters in your novel, showing, rather than telling, your readers what your characters are like will be more effective. Your characters should be engaged in active scenes and not just sitting alone in their room reflecting on their life’s journey.

One way to ensure that your readers see your characters in action is to throw them into situations that force them to show their true colors. Don't just tell your readers that your character is brave; show them by putting them in a situation where they have to face their fears. For example, if your character is afraid of heights, have them climb a mountain or walk across a rickety bridge. If your character is a tough guy who never backs down from a fight, have them face an opponent who is bigger and stronger than they are.

Another way to show your characters in action is to have them interact with other characters. Dialogue is an excellent tool for revealing character traits and relationships. Instead of having your characters sit in a room and talk about their feelings, have them argue, flirt, or joke around with each other. Let their personalities shine through in their words and actions.

Of course, showing your characters in action doesn't have to be all serious business. Inject some humor into your scenes to keep your readers engaged. Have your characters make witty remarks or do something unexpected. Maybe your tough guy character has a soft spot for kittens, or your shy character suddenly breaks out into a dance. These moments of levity can make your characters more relatable and endearing to your readers.

Remember, showing your characters in action is all about making them come alive on the page. Don't be afraid to take risks and put your characters in challenging situations. The more your readers see of your characters, the more they will connect with them and become invested in their story.

Create Backstories for Your Characters

The backstory is a critical element in a character’s story, as it provides readers with well-rounded personalities and motivations. Backstory refers to the character’s past experiences, which have helped shape their current personality and beliefs.

When creating a backstory for your characters, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, make it interesting! Your character's backstory should be just as compelling as their current story. Don't be afraid to delve into their past and explore what makes them who they are today. Maybe they had a traumatic childhood that shaped their worldview, or perhaps they had a life-changing event that altered their course. Whatever it is, make it something that readers will want to learn more about.

Secondly, make sure that your character's backstory is consistent with who they are today. If your character is a shy introvert, it doesn't make sense for them to have been the captain of the cheerleading squad in high school. Make sure that their past experiences inform their current personality and behavior.

Lastly, have fun with it! Creating a backstory for your character is a chance to let your creative juices flow and explore new ideas. Maybe your character has a secret talent for playing the banjo, or perhaps they have a fear of clowns that they've never been able to shake. Including these little details can make your character feel more real and relatable to your readers.

So, go ahead and give your characters a past to be proud of (or ashamed of). Just remember to keep it interesting, consistent, and fun!

Show Your Characters’ Growth

Stories are often about character growth and development. Characters who overcome their flaws or confront their weaknesses are usually the ones readers connect with and root for.

One way to show your characters’ growth is to have them make mistakes and learn from them. Maybe your character is a hot-headed detective who rushes into every situation without thinking it through. Have them make a mistake that costs them dearly, and then show how they learn from that mistake and become a more thoughtful detective.

Another way to show your characters’ growth is to have them confront their fears and overcome them. Maybe your character is a shy, introverted writer who is afraid to share their work with others. Have them take a chance and share their writing with a supportive friend, then show how their confidence grows as a result.

Of course, growth doesn't always have to be about overcoming a flaw or fear. Sometimes growth can be about discovering something new about oneself. Maybe your character is a successful CEO who has always been driven by ambition and a desire for power. Have them take a step back and realize that what they really want is to spend more time with their family, and then show how they re-prioritize their life accordingly.

The important thing is to make sure that your characters' growth is meaningful and authentic. It should be a natural part of their journey, rather than something that feels forced or contrived. But don't be afraid to have some fun with it, either! Growth can happen in unexpected ways, and your characters should be no exception.

Allow your characters to grow and evolve as your story progresses. Whether they're making mistakes, confronting their fears, or discovering something new about themselves, their growth will keep your readers engaged and invested in their journey. After all, who doesn't love a good character arc?

Avoid Stereotyping Your Characters

Stereotypes are common storytelling devices, but they can harm the development of your characters. Characters that only have one defining personality or behavior will eventually become predictable and boring.

Avoid Stereotyping Your Characters

Stereotypes are common storytelling devices, but they can harm the development of your characters. Characters that only have one defining personality or behavior will eventually become predictable and boring. For example, the nerdy high school student who wears glasses and is terrible at sports, or the tough-as-nails cop who always plays by the rules. These characters may be easy to write, but they're not very interesting to read about.

Instead, try to subvert stereotypes and create characters that are unexpected and unique. Take the nerdy high school student and make them an accomplished athlete, or give the tough-as-nails cop a secret love for baking. These unexpected traits will make your characters more interesting and engaging for your readers.

Of course, avoiding stereotypes doesn't mean that your characters can't have defining characteristics. But instead of relying on broad strokes, try to make your characters more nuanced. For example, instead of making your female character "the tough one," give her a complex backstory that informs her behavior and choices. Maybe she grew up in a rough neighborhood and had to learn how to defend herself, but also has a soft spot for animals and volunteers at the local animal shelter.

Another way to avoid stereotypes is to challenge your characters' beliefs and assumptions. Maybe your character is an atheist who is forced to confront their beliefs when they witness a miracle. Or perhaps your character is a pacifist who is forced to defend themselves in a violent situation. These challenges can force your characters to grow and evolve in unexpected ways, making them more interesting and dynamic.

Remember, your characters' actions and choices should be consistent with who they are, but unexpected things should also happen. Challenge your characters and reward readers with the unexpected. Avoiding stereotypes can be a fun and rewarding way to breathe new life into your characters and make your story more engaging.

Creating engaging characters is vital for any novelist who wants to keep and engage an audience. Characters should be relatable, realistic, and multidimensional. By giving your characters layers, portraying them in action, developing their backstory, showing their growth, and avoiding stereotypes, your readers will connect with your characters, making your novel more immersive. Remember, while characters are an essential component of a novel, they are only one aspect of it. Though creating engaging characters can be challenging, it is a fun and rewarding endeavor that can raise your storytelling game.

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