25 THINGS ABOUT CREATING

CHARACTERS
As a writer, creating characters is probably the most important thing you do. Get it wrong,
and the story will be wrong no matter how well plotted.
Here are 25 things to know.
1. Characters that have everything they need and want in life are pretty damn boring.
2. In the real world, strong female characters go by another name: women. Try writing
about them.
3. Not every character needs to have some past trauma simmering beneath the surface to
be interesting. Well adjusted people can be just as deep and complex if you give them
the right goals.
4. Theres a difference between being quintessential and being a cartoon, but not a big
one.
5. Watching a character fail but keep trying is usually more interesting than watching
them succeed.
6. Dont judge your characterseven the villains. If you do, theyll lack truth.1 Instead
find out why they are the way they are, and accept them for it.
7. Often what we remember most about memorable characters is how they interact
externallythink, Mulder and Scully, Romeo and Juliet, Lucy and Ethel. The
interaction, the relationship, these are traits in and of themselves.
8. Real people sometimes like lascivious and licentious things: porn or weed or orgies,
or porn, weed and orgiesyou get the idea. So, why cant your character like some of
these things, too?
9. Sometimes they should die.
10. A name is a terrible thing to waste, and it can shape your character more than you
might think. Choose wisely.
11. There are no recipes for great characters, but if there were the chef would probably
create something simple with a few, fresh and fantastic ingredients instead of a
plethora of overly processed junk.
12. Archetypes are for people who are too afraid to be creative.1

13. Even an evil character whos evil for evils sake has redeeming qualities that allow us
to empathize. Find them and play them up.
14. Its okay if the characters gender is the last thing about them you decide.
15. At a base level, every character wants the same things: food, shelter, sex how the
these primary instincts, the id if you will, interact with the ego (personal identity) can
be an endless source of exploration.
16. Just because a character lives in the past doesnt mean she has to conform to outdated
stereotypes.
17. They all have flaws, and its the flaws that make them who they are.
18. In real life, we strive to avoid conflict. But in fiction, characters who always agree
have no lifeat least, not one worth reading about.
19. A characters back story is the least important thing in the story.1
20. Dont be surprised when a character youve created does something you dont expect.
Thats called magic and you should just get out of its way.1
21. The thing your character wants most might never surface in the story, but it still drives
every. single. thing. they. do.
22. Real people are seldom interesting enough to make great characters. Create, dont
imitate.1
23. They dont always tell the truth.
24. Likewise, they dont always say whats on their minds.
25. When drawn correctly, when given goals and even just a few layers, most of the other
details fall into place.