A Step-By-Step Plan to Create Compelling Characters

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Strong characters are vital to a strong story, so don't scrimp on their development.

Developing characters is one of those things where everyone has their own method (which is totally fine). But it also often takes a writer multiple tries to find that perfect process that works for you. No matter what you might read out there, there's no right or wrong way to do it.

Some folks love to interview their characters, others make lists of key traits, some fill out pre-designed forms with a variety of details, and even find photos online of what they look like (I find this photo bit particularly useful).

One friend of mine creates collages that represent that character, letting her mind find images that feel right to her, then thinks about the kind of person who'd create that collage. Another friend dives deep into the emotional states of the characters and needs to understand how they tick before she can do much with them. And me? I only know the bare bones going in.
 

I've often joked that I outline my plots, but pants my characters. I know a few key things about them as I start a novel, but it's usually a few background facts and some general emotional or personality traits. I like to know generally who they are and what they want, since this drives all their actions, but I learn about who they are during my first draft. I put them into trouble and see how they respond when their beliefs and morals are tested. It isn't until I write them that they become real to me.

For example: for my character, Nya, I knew she had a magical ability that allowed her to shift pain between people, she was an orphan, had a little sister she looked after and would do anything to keep safe, that she struggled every day to survive, was smart, and a good person at heart. She was also practical, impulsive, and had faith that things would get better. I discovered the rest as I wrote her.

Everyone is different, but knowing too much about a character before I write stifles my creativity. I end up trying to make the plot fit the character sheet and not letting the character develop organically to the story. I have learned that knowing the emotional aspects works far better for me than knowing the physical, as does knowing some critical moments in their past that have shaped who that character is.

Every writer needs to know different things in order to create, develop, and write a character.

And that's okay. You can name any process and I bet I know or have met a writer who does it that way. We're all different in how we approach this, but in many ways, we're all the same. We use what works for us.

 
If you're not sure how to create a character, or you're looking for a new way to develop them, try asking a few questions. Start with these, and add (or delete) questions until you find the right balance for your writing process.

 

1. List five traits for this character.

What details come to mind when you picture this character? Are they physical traits, such as blue eyes and red hair, or emotional traits, such as hot-tempered or flirty? Do you picture bits of their history or skills they have? Maybe it's their goal or character flaw that you find interesting.

 
The things that come to mind first are often the core elements of that character, and you can build from there. Nya being practical and impulsive told me how she'd react to things. Her being a good person let me understand what lines she wouldn't cross, or what would have to be at stake for her to cross them.

(Here's more with On Character Minutiae and Seemingly Irrelevant Details)

 

2. Pick five details that show: their family status, their economic status, their morality, their personality, and their fears.

Family status will help you understand how they were raised and give insights on where their flaws and hang ups might be, such as growing up with a single mom and being overly frugal when they don't need to be. Economic status shows you if they're struggling or living life on easy street. Morality lets you know what rules they'll follow and break, and how they'd act with others. A personality detail gives you a possible quirk to work with, such as someone who always tells jokes in stressful situations. And their fears probably connect directly to their character arc or the story's conflict.

 
No matter where your story is set or what genre it is (present day mystery or created-world fantasy), these are elements every character will have. Identifying them will tell you not only about the character, but a little about the world they live in as well.

 
(Here's more with 8 Ways to Create Character Flaws: Learn All Your Character’s F Words)

  

3. Pick three emotions this character regularly feels.

This can tell you just as much about the story you're creating as the character, as choosing fear, grief, and sadness reveals a very different tale than love, hope, and desire. It can also show where you might need to balance a character. If there are no happy (or sad) emotions at all, that could indicate a story that is too one-sided emotionally. It's the emotional ups and downs that help characters grow and draw readers in.

(Here's more with Brainstorming Your Character's Emotional Wound)

 

4. Pick the most common way(s) this character reacts to a problem.

In general, people tend to take the easiest path to get what they want. No one wants to work harder than they have to, especially if they're in trouble. But what's easy for you isn't always what's easy for the character. Personality plays a big role in how someone responds to problems. The impulsive character will dive in and act without thinking, while the cautious one will wait, watch, and plan their next move.

Is this character a fighter or a diplomat? A team player or a lone wolf? Would they ask for help or struggle on their own, even if it means failing? Think back to your previous answers and brainstorm how someone with those traits would react.

(Here's more with What “The Profit” Can Teach Us About Characters and Change)

 

5. Pick three weaknesses or flaws this character possesses.

 
Perfect characters are boring, so be sure to give them a few flaws. Not only does it make them feel more real, mistakes are a great way to cause trouble and conflict in the plot. Someone who's impulsive probably makes snap decisions, which might often just make things worse, not better. A cautious character might overthink everything, not acting in time to prevent the worst from happening.

These flaws are also where the character arc typically falls, and overcoming those weaknesses are part of the character's overall growth. The flaws will probably also connect to the emotions from #3, since their flaws and problems are what's causing those emotions to regularly occur. (See how this is all tied together?)

(Here's more with Do Your Characters Have the Right Flaws?)

 

6. Pick three things this character would never do.

It's helpful to know what lines a character won't cross, or where they'd put their foot down and refuse to move forward. Personal morality typically influences this, as does the ethics of the world. It's also a good thing to consider in case you want to make the poor character cross that line at some point in the story.

 
Pro-tip! Pay attention any time a character makes a declarative "I'd never..." type statement. That's an opportunity to put them into a situation where they have to do that in order to get what they want, stop something awful from happening, or survive.

(Here's more with 3 Ways Moral Dilemmas Can Strengthen Your Novel)

 

7. Pick three ways in which this character won't act like themselves.

On the flip side, it's good to consider the contradictions of a character. Everyone has them, but it helps you spot potential trouble areas, such as a character being forced out of their comfort zone who doesn't react to it, or if the character is being forced to behave a certain way to fit the plot. Really look at why the character might go against who they are.

It's also a fun way to add some quirks to a character. Maybe it's something harmless, like they hate onions, but love onion soup, or it might be something more hypocritical, such as they tear apart anyone who doesn't share their views, even when they regularly go against them.

 
(Here's more with Don’t Make This Common Characterization Mistake)

 

8. Pick three ways in which this character will change over the course of the story.

In most novels, characters will change and grow as the story unfolds. Sometimes these changes are huge and the point of the entire book, other times they're small steps with a few minor lessons learned. This can be a good test to see how character driven your story is—large growth can indicate a lot of character development, while little to no growth typically shows a more plot-driven novel.

It's okay if the change is external, such as, they learn things they didn't know about their world or other people vs. things about themselves. That just points to a heavier plot arc rather than a character arc. However, if your goal is to tell a character growth story, and you don't see any growth, that's a big red flag there's a problem.

(Here's more with Grow Up Already: Creating Character Arcs)

 

Now that you've answered the above, try asking/summarizing:

1. What kind of person is this?
2. What are their strengths?
3. What are their weaknesses?
4. What are their flaws?
5. What do they want out of life?
6. What do they fear?
7. What are the key defining moments in their past, both good and bad?

This should give you enough background to either jump in and write, or identify where you want to develop further.

 

One word of warning though—creating too rich a backstory can be a benefit and a curse.

 
You might discover a lot of interesting things about your characters, but you can also lock yourself into people you won't want to change later. Plus, you might find yourself trying hard to get all that "cool stuff" into the story and bogging it down.

For example, I knew Nya's parents died in a war, but no more than that until I got to places in the story where that information became pertinent. History was revealed naturally because I wasn't trying to find spots to tuck in already created backstory, I finalized it as I needed it. It freed me up to write what felt right based on what I knew about Nya and her world.

Of course, you can write yourself into a corner this way (which can be fun and a great way to be unpredictable), but also be wary of being too free if that's not your nature. You don't want to make up a bunch of wonderful backstories and discover none of it works on the grand scale—or worse—contradicts itself.

Whatever you do, remember that characters are people first.

 
They're not 100% anything, and have all the contradictions a real person has. They're wrong sometimes, believe things they shouldn't, and can be total jerks. But they also have great strengths when needed, good qualities that surprise people, and unplumbed depths.

EXERCISE FOR YOU: Take fifteen minutes and do these exercises. Try it with a new character, or use it to further develop an existing character.

How do you create your characters? Do they start fully formed or as empty shells?

*Originally published January 2010. Last updated October 2024.

Find out more about characters and point of view in my book, Fixing Your Character & Point-of-View Problems.

Go step-by-step through revising character and character-related issues, such as two-dimensional characters, inconsistent points of view, too-much backstory, stale dialogue, didactic internalization, and lack of voice. Learn how to analyze your draft, spot any problems or weak areas, and fix those problems.

With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Fixing Your Character & Point-of-View Problems offers five self-guided workshops that target the common issues that make readers stop reading. It will help you:

• Flesh out weak characters and build strong character arcs
• Find the right amount of backstory to enhance, not bog down, your story
• Determine the best point(s) of view and how to use them to your advantage
• Eliminate empty dialogue and rambling internalization
• Develop character voices and craft unique, individual characters 

Fixing Your Character & Point-of-View Problems starts every workshop with an analysis to pinpoint problem areas and offers multiple revision options in each area. You choose the options that best fit your writing process. It's an easy-to-follow guide to crafting compelling characters, solid points of view, and strong character voices readers will love.

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book.

She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.

When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.

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