Whether a table top role-playing game (TTRPG), a videogame, or a written narrative, character work is an integral part of narratively driven experiences. Character-driven decisions drive a story to a new level, improving audience investment in a visual media, but also player investment in an interactive one. So, what are some good things to keep in mind when writing a character? It's okay to start simple. You don't have to let your audience know a character's deep insecurities and complexities right off the bat. Part of the fun of a character is discovering more about them over the course of the story. Comic books are a champion of this method; The Human Torch started off flat and robotic; he was literally an android! Taking a character at face value, then slowly giving them more to work with is what makes the entirety of the MCU tick, along Star Wars, and Shonen anime. The tenet method. Most often, a character shouldn't feel like a one-dimensional entity that is following orders, but this method can still be useful. When figuring out the actions your character is going to take: consider the medium they're in, what their purpose is in the narrative of said medium, and finally, what guides their personal decisions. The medium is crucial, as if you're playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons, you want to consider the fun of everyone at the table. Compare this to a TV show, where the purpose is solely to entertain an audience. Apart from general function, you also want to consider what this means for the overarching purpose of the story. Sure a scene of a building exploding could be cool, but if the character who caused said explosion is a self-proclaimed pacifist, that may not fit so well. This concept sounds simple, but many writers mess up when in the heat of the moment. Consistency is key, even in implementing inconsistent character traits, and that leads us to our third point, the tenets themselves. When writing a character, think about why you make the decisions you make, then consider what is different in your character's life. Does it affect their decisions? Make a list, mental or otherwise, and that way whenever your character makes a decision you can refer back to the "almighty tenets." Don't "Fly too close to the sun." When writing a character, or multiple, you can have so many ideas at once that it might be tempting to just throw them all in! Not only can this make a character feel inconsistent, or like a series plot points rather than a character, it can also damage their relatability to the audience. Instead, save those ideas, there are many characters to come, and they might be a better fit. Of course, the hardest part of any creative process are the ideas you simply have to let go. This can feel awful, but there is a reason more than one story exists. In time those ideas that got chopped can return better than ever! Take these tips at your own leisure. While it's good to actively think about your characters, no one way is correct, and focusing too much on the technical can stunt your voice's presence. The best piece of advice is to do what you feel is best for your story, and to have some fun creating someone that may be loved for years to come.
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AuthorMcRae Walker, an 20-year-old writer and lover of many dorky topics. Archives
September 2022
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