Intro
When it comes to Character development, there are a lot of questionaires to be found on the internet. Some are just the basics, others are detailed and have over a hundred questions. While I like filling those in for fun, not everything is really needed. I started to try out my own method for developing characters, and I would love to share this with all of you. I hope it will work or at least give you all some inspiration for creating your own characters. So, let's dive in to how I develop my characters with the most important information.
Good, Neutral and Bad Character Traits
You know the motto of this blog. No hero is completely flawless, and no villain is without at least one or two good traits even if the good traits are used for bad intentions. It is always important to give your character at least some good traits and bad traits. Neutral traits are also very important. For neutral traits you could think of creative or animal lover etc. They could be applied to both good and bad characters, and are neither good or bad. A villain can still love animals, while a Hero could actually hate them.
If you're not sure what kind of traits to give your character, have a look through this list. It provides a lot of variety for all sorts of traits.
Hobbies or Manias Are Important
Especially when it comes to the main character, let them have a hobby or two. Something they know a lot about and can talk on about for ages. Perhaps they are in a new world and find out they can use their skills there. Or they explain their skills to others. If someone who loves reading in the modern world finds themselves in a fantasy world, why not have them show their new companions some books from their world? Or explain how magic in books is? Is it the same as in the world they are stuck in? There is a lot you can do with these kind of things. A hobby makes a character more unique. It doesn't have to be a special hobby, it could simply be writing, or photography. Just something they enjoy doing after a hard day.
This isn't just for the main characters, but it could apply to your side characters as well. Does the son of the villain maybe like animals? Or collecting rare artifacts? Anything is possible. Don't be afraid that hobbies are too boring.
Answer Questions That Matter For The Character
In all those questionaires, you see questions like: 'Favorite food', 'favorite movie', 'favorite color' etc. These are fun to answer and it will let YOU get to know the character. But does it really matter for the reader that the main character's favorite color is green? Honestly, I couldn't care less whether it would be mentioned or not.
For example, if you have a character who is the son of the villain, but not like his father and actually is against what he is doing. What would you think is more interesting? That his favorite color is blue? Or perhaps more info on why he is against his father, how he grew up and when he first started to see things differently? After all he was raised to be like his father, so how did he change his mind? I would definitely be more interested in the last part.
Also far more important questions are a character's biggest fear... Something they would absolutely never do? What is the worst thing they have done in their lives? Honestly, questionaires work really well to get a general view of the character, but try to stick to the questions that are important to the story. Sometimes a character hasn't done anything bad, or it just doesn't matter. So don't panic abut that you can't think of anything and move on.
Create A Backstory That Matters To The Story
Also a bit like the above but then specifically for backstory. Does it matter which elementary school your character went to? Well, if the story takes place at that school, or there is a reunion or something, then yes. But otherwise? Not important at all. Focus on important events in their lives that changed them. Do they have a difficult relationship with their parents? Do they have a friend since elementary school that they still speak to? What happened? How did they meet? Maybe something traumatic happened to the character? Or did they just have a simple good life without any problems? These are all questions that are important to the backstory if you want t create one. It doesn't have to be detailed. If they didn't have an exciting life, than there isn't much to talk about at all and that is fine. Some people just have a simple life without too much happening. That is realistic.
Don't Go Down A Checklist
One thing I often see on the internet is how everyone has things that you HAVE to have in a story. At least one LGBTQ+ character, at least one POC character... Everyone needs to be represented if you have to believe the internet.
People may not agree with me, but without going into a rant, I think you should NOT do this. Does it matter to your story that a character is gay or of a different culture? Sure go ahead and make it very clear. But if it doesn't matter... Then don't go there. And definitely do not go down the checklist and make sure you represent everyone. It shows in the story, because the story might not be as good because you're too focused on those things. Especially with sexuality... Let the reader just interpret their own take on it. If a female character has a male love interest, then yes it's clear they are both straight, or bi. If a character is never paired up with a love interest, then who knows? The reader can believe they are gay for all I care. That doesn't matter to the story at all.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against representing these kind of things. But don't feel like you HAVE to include those characters. Because you don't. If someone wants to read a book about a gay character or a POC and yours doesn't have that, or doesn't state it clearly, than your book is just not for them. You can't please everyone.
Conclusion
I hope this was helpful for all of you. If there is one thing I'd like you to take from this, is to just write down what is important. Don't think you will use the question in the story? Then don't use it. Of course there will always be details that the reader doesn't know and that is really fun, but don't get yourself stuck on it.
Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. What is your method of writing characters? Do you use a character questionaire or just write down random notes? Anything you would like to share with the class? Please don't be afraid to share your opinions and methods. There is no wrong way of doing this. Everyone has their own way.
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