The Art of Creating Characters in Fiction
What makes a character so compelling they can remain in the memory of the reader for years to come? Indiana Jones. John Wick. Beetlejuice. All of these names will conjure an image of that character because they are in the memory of nearly everyone who consumes popular culture. These are the unforgettable characters. But how does one go about writing their own character that will stick in the memory of their readers?
I watched a YouTube video about 'a secret to unforgettable characters'. Its click-baity but what YouTube video isn't? I don't hold it against them. It's just the way of YouTube. First I need to establish that I like this channel about writing. They usually give sound advice and offer a legit editing service. They know what they’re talking about, and I know this because I've been writing for 20 years. I know some things. I just don't publicly announce it. Usually. Hey, I was making a point, okay?
Anyway, this video of theirs rubbed me the wrong way.
According to them, the secret formula to an unforgettable, realistic character is 'Like X, but Y'. I'll say it up front--there's no one formula to compelling characters. In any case, it basically means taking a person you know or a character from a book/movie, imagining how they'd handle a situation, and change one the way they do. Change a core trait of theirs. That's the lazy man’s way of ripping off a character and changing it just enough to not infringe on creative property. People can see right through it, and it makes the character and the writer feel fake. Unless it's used for satire or parody. Then it’s used for comedic value. That's okay. Perhaps that was their point, and I missed it. I'm Autistic, okay? Things fly over my head.
Here's what I have to say about characters in fiction. There are many factors that make a character compelling and realistic, and even unforgettable:
Their unique voice. This is what the reader hears (in their mind, of course). It has to be the character's voice, not the writer's voice or another writer's voice.
Their unique view on themselves, others, and the world around them.
The actions they take to overcome the obstacles in their way and their internal process through it all. (Also a big one) Especially if they conflict and contradict, because humans are contradictory beings even inside themselves.
What makes them human and relatable on a fundamental level. What makes them *them* and not someone else. What form this character takes as you write their story, and how they morph to the role. They should fit like a puzzle piece in the grand view of the story, and the story becomes a part of them just as much as they become part of the story.
That is what makes characters compelling, not copying and pasting existing people or characters and changing a trait about them. That feels icky.
Don't get me wrong. I love this channel, and I'm not name-dropping or shit-posting because its not about that. Their channel has helped me along my writing journey in many ways, including inspiring me to write this post providing ways for people to look at characters in fiction. However, some things can be left to the creativity and imagination of the writer. Not everything needs to be some super-secret method to follow. :-)
Long story short: be original. For the love of the craft and the integrity of your beautiful, wonderful fictional worlds, be original.
