Creating convincing characters is one of the most critical aspects of fiction writing. Readers engage with stories not just for the plot but for the people inhabiting the story. A well-developed character can make a novel unforgettable. Here's how to craft believable, multi-dimensional characters that will keep readers invested.
How to create convincing characters in your fiction writing
1. Understand your characters’ motivations
Every character should have clear motivations—what they want and why they want it. These desires can drive the entire narrative. Whether it’s a thirst for power, a need for love, or a fear of rejection, these motives must guide the character’s decisions and actions. Motivation fuels conflict, and conflict drives the story forward.
To make a character convincing, ask yourself:
What does the character want?
What are they willing to do to get it?
What are the obstacles in their way?
By understanding their motivation, you can create characters who act consistently but are also dynamic enough to surprise readers.
2. Give characters flaws and strengths
Perfect characters are boring. In real life, people have both admirable traits and flaws. Characters should be no different. Whether it’s pride, insecurity, fear, or jealousy, flaws make characters relatable and human. A hero who struggles with self-doubt, for example, is more engaging than one who’s always sure of themselves.
Flaws and strengths shouldn’t just be physical or superficial. Consider deeper emotional or psychological traits. For instance, a character could be driven by a strong sense of justice but also be impulsive, leading them to make rash decisions. The balance of strengths and weaknesses will create complexity and depth.
3. Create unique, consistent voices
Each character in your story should have their own distinct voice—how they speak, what they say, and how they express themselves. This extends beyond dialogue; it includes their inner monologues, thoughts, and how they interact with the world. A character’s voice should be reflective of their background, education, and personality.
For example:
A teenager might use slang, have shorter sentences, and be sarcastic.
An older, educated professional might speak in longer, more formal sentences with a larger vocabulary.
A shy character might speak in halting sentences or avoid eye contact in conversations.
Consistency in voice will help your characters feel grounded and real. You can distinguish your characters’ voices through syntax, diction, and even punctuation.
4. Use backstory sparingly but meaningfully
While a character’s backstory can help explain their motivations, it’s important not to bog down the narrative with unnecessary details. Instead, focus on key moments in a character’s past that shape their current behaviour and worldview.
For instance, a character who grew up in a strict household might have trust issues or rebel against authority. You don’t need to write an entire chapter about their childhood, but you can hint at it in a way that deepens the reader’s understanding of their actions.
Make sure backstory informs the present without overshadowing the current plot. Drop pieces of it naturally into dialogue, inner thoughts, or actions.
5. Show, don’t tell
A common writing adage is to "show, don’t tell". This applies strongly to character development. Rather than telling your reader what a character is like, show it through their actions, decisions, and interactions with other characters.
For example, instead of writing, “John was angry,” you can show his anger through behaviour:
He clenched his fists and ground his teeth, biting back a reply.
This approach allows readers to infer a character’s emotions and personality, making them more engaged in the story.
6. Allow characters to grow
Convincing characters evolve throughout a story. This growth should be both gradual and believable. Whether they overcome a fear, develop a new skill, or change their perspective on life, this journey is what makes the character compelling. Growth can be positive or negative. A character who starts as an idealist but becomes disillusioned by the end of the novel is just as fascinating as one who becomes more optimistic.
Key to character growth is showing how their experiences shape them. The challenges they face should force them to adapt, confront their fears, or reassess their beliefs.
7. Think about relationships
Characters do not exist in isolation. The way they interact with others can reveal new aspects of their personality and motivations. Relationships—whether they are romantic, platonic, familial, or antagonistic—add richness to your characters and your story.
Consider how a character's behaviour might change depending on who they’re interacting with. Are they more guarded around strangers but more open with close friends? Do they speak differently to a boss than to a family member? These interactions help round out characters, making them more realistic and multi-dimensional.
8. Physical descriptions should serve the character
While physical appearance is part of a character, it shouldn’t be the primary means of defining them. Instead of focusing too much on their looks, use physical traits to reflect personality or inner emotions.
For example:
A character with nervous habits like biting their nails might be anxious.
Someone who dresses meticulously might be a control freak or deeply insecure.
Physical details should enhance the reader’s understanding of the character rather than act as superficial descriptions.
9. Incorporate internal conflict
Real people are often pulled in different directions by conflicting desires and emotions, and your characters should be no different. Internal conflict adds depth and complexity. A character might be torn between loyalty and personal ambition or between love and duty.
These internal battles make characters feel more realistic and give them emotional stakes in the story. Internal conflict also pushes the character’s growth, as they must eventually make choices and learn from them.
10. Test your characters
Once you’ve developed your character, test them. Put them in difficult, high-stakes situations to see how they react. Do their flaws hinder them? Do they change in surprising ways? Forcing your characters into tough scenarios will reveal who they truly are.
Testing characters not only makes them more dynamic but also moves the plot forward. It’s a chance to explore their limits and show readers what they’re made of.
Creating convincing characters requires thought, care, and attention to detail. By understanding your characters' motivations, giving them flaws and strengths, using distinct voices, and letting them grow, you can develop believable, engaging people that readers will care about. Balancing internal and external conflict, relationships, and subtle backstory details will add further layers to your characters, ensuring they are complex and relatable.
If you'd like more help bringing your writing to life and getting it in perfect shape before publication, whether it be a basic proofread or full edit, get in touch to find out how we can work together.
Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash
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