Sometimes we write a character and they just aren’t working. Maybe they don’t need to exist? Maybe they aren’t functioning the way we need them too? Maybe they feel flat? We need to call in the Character Doctor!
Welcome Character Doctor! What brought you into this profession?
There were so many characters out there that were in bad shape. I just felt like it was time I did something to fix problems rather than complain about them.
What is the most common diagnosis that you give?
I give the “unnecessary” diagnosis more often than anything, but that is because so many background characters can really be combined or eliminated. If you have two characters with similar goals who only serve the purpose of furthering the plot—they don’t grow or change in their own right—can they become the same character? Can they be cut all together?
Main character diagnoses? Passivity, unclear goals, or inconsistency. The latter two go hand in hand. If you the author don’t know what your character wants and how they behave then it comes across as an inconsistent character. As for passivity: nobody likes a whiny character who dithers about reacting to everything. Even a bad decision is better than dithering.
What can you do to spice up a character?
Give them a flaw. Nothing makes a character more interesting than something relatable that is wrong with them. Hobbies can also help. Hobbies that maybe they are ashamed of? Once a character has to fight their inner nerd a new level of tension appears. If you have a boring villain, have them save a cat (sometimes literally, but to boil down the well written book, have them perform some sort of benevolent action that shows a glimpse of humanity.) Everyone loves a redemption arc and a single moment of kindness or grace creates a million new possibilities for a big bad.
When do you need to let a character go?
As in die? Well I think that is a two fold answer. Obviously, when a character has served their purpose plot wise, kill them off or send them away to “I’ll call you if I need you Island”. Manufacturing tension or plot because you like a character is a quick way to make the story feel bloated or redundant.
A not so obvious answer is to get rid of them if they aren’t interesting to you the author, and to make them more so would distract from the central purpose of the narrative. Giving Stuart a hobby is one thing, but if roller derby is the only thing he is on the page for and it has no plot purpose, then write the guy off to the pro-circuit and introduce a new best friend.
What are the signs that let you know your creation is boring?
If you aren’t interested writing it, readers aren’t going to be interested in reading it. If you find yourself struggling not to skim, or you are skipping scenes that need to be written in favor of jumping somewhere else in the book, then you aren’t engaging with your work. (It can be more complex than that obviously, but it is a good signpost that SOMETHING isn’t working.)
How do you come up with good names?
Ooo, good question. I’ll let you know when I figure it out? A few rules of thumb are:
1. Don’t have too many similar names. People have to pay way too much attention to who is whom.
2. The main character’s name is going to be one of the most frequently typed words in your book; make sure you like it and can spell it without having to reference something—or make a list to reference and have it easily accessible.
3. You can try names out and change all later.
4. Some names have associations in different cultures. We don’t call too many people Adolf.
What was your first case/patient
My first patient was a character who couldn’t find her voice. It took three or four tries to dial in to a good fit of tense and person, as well as her narrative voice, but once we clicked in the whole story took a different shape.
Do you ever quit on something
I have. Well, it is still in a folder on my desktop, but I had worked on a braided narrative for a few months and kept getting poor feedback from a colleague. Eventually I set the work aside because I had other projects that didn’t have the same baggage for me. Now I wait to show my work until I have a full first draft that has sat for a few months and then gone through an initial revision.
What is the most common issue with your own characters?
I struggle with writing unlikable characters. I want to write them unlikable and have them grow and change, but balancing other character relationships with the problematic character often makes the other characters feel like they lack judgement. It is all about balance and saving cats I suppose. Likable characters are easier to write but there is less natural tension to play with in the plot.
What is your best advice to authors about writing compelling characters?
Give characters flaws that are rooted in backstory, then make those flaws the drive behind choices and actions. Ask “What does this character want?” early on in the writing process; that too should be rooted in the backstory and woven with the flaws. If a character was abandoned as a child they may have a desire for family. That desire may make them willing to do anything to keep the family they have. Boom! There is a story in there.
Any final thoughts?
Write characters that you enjoy. You don’t have to like them, but you should enjoy writing them. Who cares if they aren’t to everyone’s tastes? Writing should make you happy.
Happy Writing this week folks! Go out there and create some characters.
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