How to create unforgettable characters

Want readers to love your work? Here's how to create memorable characters.

Create unforgettable characters and you’re onto a winner.

Why?

Because multi-dimensional characters breathe life into your narrative, engaging your readers, and leaving a lasting impression on them long after they've finished your book. It’s what makes you memorable as an author.

Here are some effective techniques to create characters that are as complex and nuanced as real people.

Understanding Multi-Dimensional Characters

Multi-dimensional characters are more than just a list of traits or a backstory. They are fully realised beings with triggering pasts, conflicting desires, and deep emotional wounds. These characters feel authentic, surprising readers with their depth and complexity.

Techniques for Character Development

Develop a Rich Backstory

Often, A well-crafted backstory provides context for a character's actions, decisions, and beliefs. Consider pivotal moments that shaped your character's personality. Did they experience a loss that made them cautious? Was there a triumph that fuelled their confidence?

Even mundane details like their upbringing or education can add layers to their character. Explore their childhood. What effect did that have on them?

Build Emotional Complexity

Real people have a range of emotions and often experience conflicting feelings. Your characters should be no different. Give them emotional depth by exploring their fears, hopes, and internal conflicts.

Create Believable Motivations and Goals

Every character should have clear motivations driving their actions. These motivations should be complex and sometimes even contradictory, reflecting the intricacies of human nature.

Incorporate Flaws and Vulnerabilities

Perfect characters are boring. Give your characters flaws and vulnerabilities that make them relatable and human. These imperfections can create internal conflicts and drive character growth.

Show Growth and Change

Characters should evolve throughout your story. Allow events to shape them, moulding them from the person of the past to that of the future.

Practical Approaches to Character Creation

Observe Real People

One of the best ways to create multi-dimensional characters is to people-watch and take notes. Observe quirks, mannerisms, and complexities of those around you, then let your imagination develop them.

Use Character Development Sheets

Character development sheets can help you flesh out details about your character. These sheets often include questions about physical appearance, personality traits, likes and dislikes, and background information.

Participate in Writing Communities

Engage in writing communities and participate in character development exercises. For example, the #WriterlyWIPChat on Twitter asks questions about characters that can help you think about them in new ways.

Keep Some Secrets

You don't need to reveal everything about your character to the reader. Keeping some aspects of your character's personality or history hidden can add intrigue and depth. It’ll keep your reader reading.

Balancing Character and Plot

While developing multi-dimensional characters is crucial, it is important to bear in mind that they also need to serve your story.

Protagonists need to mess things up, act on impulse, gain enemies, and get into a whole lot of trouble. Your characters' complexities should drive the plot forward and create engaging conflicts.

They also need to resolve these conflicts, showing development from the start of the book.

What have we learnt?

Creating multi-dimensional characters is an art that requires time, effort, and a deep understanding of human nature. By developing rich backstories, building emotional complexity, and allowing for growth and change, you can craft characters that will connect with your readers and elevate your storytelling.

Remember, the goal is not to create perfect characters, but authentic ones.

Let your characters surprise you, and they'll surprise your readers too.

With practice and patience, you'll be able to populate your stories with characters that feel as real and complex as the people we encounter in our daily lives.

And you can make them unforgettable in the eyes of your readers.