Today we’re jumping back into our series on The Five Elements of Fiction with some thoughts on Character.
Previous posts in this series include:
The Five Elements of Fiction: Style
Today, it’s all about Character! That’s why we read, isn’t it? To climb inside someone else’s story, to live a different life, if just for a while. The books that transport me most completely, are often the ones that feature the most memorable characters.
I want to talk about why that is, and how we can create such characters when we write.
There are many ways to categorize the characters in our stories, but for the sake of our discussion today, I want to talk about two different types of characters, and to keep it simple, let’s put those characters into two different categories: Protagonists and Secondary Characters.
I came across this definition for “protagonist” the other day, and I found it really helpful.
The Protagonist is the character who drives the action–the character whose fate matters most. In other words, they are involved in—and often central to—the plot or conflict of the story, but are also usually the emotional heart of the narrative. -liberalarts.oregonstate.edu
Secondary Characters, on the other hand, are characters who are important to your story, but unlike the protagonist, the plot does not revolve around them.
There are other types of characters who make up a story, but protagonists and secondary characters get the most page time, and therefore they require careful consideration and development.
Character and Plot
Attempting to completely separate the Five Elements of Fiction, one from another, is futile. These building blocks depend on each other, and when connected purposefully together they present a cohesive story to the reader.
Character and Plot, for example, are so inextricably connected that you can’t talk about one without the other. Who a character is, is best defined by what we see them do on the page. And what your characters do, is considered plot.
There are two primary arcs that make up the plot of a story:
- The story arc (action of the story)
- The character arc (how your protagonist changes based on the action of the story)
And while the transformation your protagonist goes through is, by far, the most important transformation to the plot of the story, your secondary characters often change as well. In the Harry Potter series, it’s not just Harry who grows. Ron and Hermione change as well, and their transformations add texture and depth to the story. We would have felt very cheated if Ron and Hermione had not changed at all over the course of seven books, or even over the course of one.
So while it’s tempting to focus solely on your protagonist, it’s important to give every one of your significant characters a character arc. In our book, Go Teen Writers: Write Your Novel, Stephanie points out that there are three types of character arcs:
- Positive Arc: The character has changed for the better by the time the story ends. The most common of character arcs. So common, we often forget to discuss the other options.
- Negative Arc: The character has changed for the worse by the time the story ends. Often they move from hero to villain. Think Darth Vader.
- Flat Arc: There was no need for the protagonist to change. Rather they have changed the world around them by the time the story ends. Jesus Christ is probably the best example of this, and there’s a reason it’s not done often. Most characters can’t measure up to the standard of God-Man, so showing change for the positive or the negative is a better, more authentic option.
As you stew on these options, consider the very helpful truth that not everyone responds to the action around them in the same way. It’s why you and your sibling can grow up in the same house, with the same parents and the same rules, and still end up in very different situations as adults. Each of your characters should be given the dignity of responding to the world around them in their own way.
That said, every character arc in your story should serve your protagonist’s character arc. How secondary characters respond to the action of the story, should highlight or contrast against your protagonist’s response. Paying attention to this, giving each character their own genuine responses, will add authenticity and focus to the story you’re telling.
In the final Hunger Games book, The Mockingjay, we watch as Katniss and Gale respond to the Capitol’s tyranny in different ways. They both want to fight back, but Gale’s methods concern Katniss. In that contrast, we glimpse more of their character and, when devastation comes, we understand why each character ends up where they do. Had they continued to respond to circumstances similarly, the story would have lacked crucial depth. By allowing your characters their own honest reactions, you give yourself, the author, two gifts: conflict and tension.
Six Things To Give Your Characters
When developing characters, there are six things you should consider giving to each of them. Your protagonist, of course, will get the lion’s share, but putting some thought into how each of these gifts could further the development of your individual character arcs and the over all story arc, will serve you well.
Personality: What makes this character someone we’d want to spend our time reading about? Consider:
- Are they funny? Eloquent? Surprising? Scandalous? Unpredictable?
- Are they someone we’d want to protect? Fight? Cheer for? Emulate?
- What have they done that makes the reader see at least a flicker of worthiness in them?
- What is their biggest flaw?
Goal/Desire: Something is moving your character and their story forward. You need to know what that is. Consider:
- What does this character want most in the world? What happens if they don’t get it?
- What drives them forward? What are the consequences if they don’t reach their goal?
- Does their desire or goal change as the story moves forward?
History: Where does this character come from? What events led them to this moment in time. Consider:
- Did something happen in your character’s world to create this moment in time?
- What about their family life? How has it shaped who this character is, and the journey they must go on?
Beliefs: Your character’s beliefs about the world around them shape everything they do. Consider:
- What does this character believe about the world around them? Are they correct?
- What do they believe about their place in the lives of their family and in the wider world at large? Are they correct?
- How do their beliefs impact their actions, and how might this help you build a character arc?
Lie: When your character believes a lie, they have something to learn, which gives them room to grow. Consider:
- What truth does your character need to know in order to reach their goal? What lie might they believe about that?
- What lie might they believe about their ability to do what needs to be done?
- What lies has your character been told about their world or their role in it?
- How will your character learn the truth?
Wound: Wounds and scars dictate how a character moves in their world, and gives an opportunity for healing. Consider:
- How has this character been hurt by their family and friends?
- How have they been hurt by the world around them?
- Is the wound old and scarred over, thus making your protagonist set in their ways?
- Is the wound new and fresh, and something that still causes tears and suffering?
When we take the time to look critically at our characters–to look at them both authentically and practically–we are well on our way to developing characters worth reading about. And when we do that, we’ve given readers another reason for picking up our book and letting it transport them . . . if only for a little while.