One of the most difficult aspects of writing a novel is discovering how to create believable characters. It can feel impossible trying to develop dynamic personalities that become real to your readers. This is partly because there is one major difference between real people and characters in a novel. It’s not possible to fully understand and know another human.
However, you can know everything there is to know about a character in a story. But how do you create believable characters with enough depth so they are both real and interesting?
There’s no correct answer to this question. In fact, you’re likely going to use multiple solutions to develop your characters. One key element of believable characters is they must grow as the story progresses. You can’t have a hero that starts out amazing and ends up just as amazing. Well, you can, but that’s going to make for a good story.
For the characters to develop with your story, they need the basic seeds of life already planted within them. In this article, you will find three methods many authors have used to create their characters. You’ll also discover which method to use based on your writing personality.
Still, there are countless other methods of character creation. If you don’t like the development strategies listed here, please don’t hesitate to seek other methods or even create your own. But if you find another
Speaking of other methods, you can drop by the Free Resource Vault to grab your copy of the Character Interview Packet!
1. The List Method
This is a really good method for pantsers. It’s quick and can be as brief or as detailed as you like. This is the simplest way to create a solid character. However, it is not recommended that you use only this method. Doing so may lead to relatively one-dimensional characters.
So how does it work? Essentially, you write your character’s name at the top of the page. Then list everything you’d ever want to know about them, from their favorite color to what they dreamed of being when they were young.
A more dynamic way to accomplish this is to set up a “character interview.” You may want to do this as the first step with every character. Don’t forget, you can’t just define your hero or main character. You need to get to know all the major players and even some of the secondary characters with bigger roles.
2. The Snowflake Method
This method is best for plotters, my beautiful friends who love all those nitty-gritty details. As the name suggests, The Snowflake Method is beautiful, complex, and dynamic. That being said, it can become a little tedious for pantsers, or even plantsers.
However, it is undoubtedly one of the best ways to create believable characters. The full snowflake method is covered in more detail here. Or you can check out the links below to get the process straight from its creator.
Affiliate Link:
Essentially, you begin with one layer of information about each character. Then by slowly adding more details, you build up your characters. As the layers add up, you will have a character that looks about as real as real gets.
The Snowflake Method covers everything from character names to backstory to fatal flaws all the way to driving force and life goals. It’s really the be-all, get-all creation process for detail-oriented folks.
In fact, this method is typically used to craft entire novel outlines, not just characters. So if you want to know everything about your characters and story before you ever start writing, this method is for you.
3. Character Webs
This method is best for plantsers who prefer to have some type of plan as they go with the flow. John Truby created the character web process. To learn more about this and other useful information for writing a great novel, I highly recommend his book, “Anatomy of Story.” This book is more of a “writer’s bible” because it’s just that good.
Affiliate Link:
Enough about the book, let’s go over the method. Character webs are a super fun way to develop characters. I think this is because it mimics how real people develop. That is, in relation to the people around them.
For this method, you create actual webs of characters. Take your main character and draw a line from them to three other characters, usually the antagonist and a couple of other major characters. Then draw lines connecting all the characters, as the image shows below:
Give yourself some room, because you’ll be writing a lot.
After your web is drawn out, define each character individually. Finally, on or near the lines, write how each character is defined in relation to the others.
For example, your hero might be the former friend of your antagonist. This might bring up additional questions like, “How did they meet? Why aren’t they friends now? Is there a possibility of resolution?”
Continue to do this for every significant character in your story. Not only will you have truly believable characters, but you’ll also understand your plot a lot better.
These are three unique methods to help you create believable characters. One designated for each writing personality. I hope you find some of these helpful on your writing journey. Again, if you find others that you like better, please do share. We’re all learning together.
Note: This page may contain affiliate links for which, if an item is purchased, I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you. I only ever post links for products that I have used, found helpful, and loved. Thank you for supporting my writing journey so I can continue to help you on yours!
