What is Considered a Well-Written Character?

What Makes a Well-Written Character?

Fiction is about people. Simple. Without characters your book isn't going to be appealing to many readers. Even if you don't have a single human in your whole story or the plot revolves around the life of a bug, that bug still needs to be recognizably human in some way.

But what exactly defines a well-written character?

A well-written character is one that possess depth and complexity and makes a geniune connection with readers. They mirror the human experience through relatable emotions, flaws, and strengths. Consistency in behavior and alignment with established traits keeps readers immersed, while evoking empathy and intrigue leaves a lasting impression.

Complexity: The Key to Connection

One crucial aspect of a well-written character is his level of complexity.

A good character has many layers, and as the reader moves through the story, those layers are pulled away one at a time until they are left bare by the end, and we get to see who they really are at the core.

Often, this is a painful experience for the character, and sometimes for the reader too.

Characters with multi-dimensional traits and intricate backgrounds tend to feel more human and relatable. Just like real people, they are not defined by a single characteristic, but rather a plethora of emotions, flaws, and imprinting experiences.

By developing their past, desires, fears, and internal struggles, you can weave intricate stories that resonate with audiences on a profound level. You give your story meaning and purpose.

Complex characters challenge readers or viewers to invest their emotions. They create a sense connection that elevates your storytelling to master levels.

Relatability: Mirroring the Human Experience

A well-written character mirrors the human experience, allowing audiences to recognize aspects of themselves or others within the character.

Relatability comes from being honest with your reader and portraying well-thought-out and genuine emotions. Whether it's a heroic protagonist, a conflicted anti-hero, or a deliciously villainous antagonist, relatable characters tap into shared human emotions, making their struggles and triumphs meaningful.

It's Not Finished Until It's Read

If your character doesn't ring with this kind of authenticity, they will fall flat and feel like cardboard. Even if readers still enjoy them on an entertainment-only basis, they will forget about them as soon as the book is closed and placed back on the shelf.

Consistency: The Thread that Holds Characters Together

Consistency is another critical factor in crafting well-written characters.

Characters must exhibit behavior that aligns with the traits, beliefs, and motivations you've established for them. When a character's actions remain consistent throughout the story, it gives them credibility and keeps your audience immersed in your world. (Rather than violently ripping them out of it because holes in character development.)

Inconsistencies can disrupt the flow and believability of a character. It also takes credibility away from you, as author. In order to keep authority over your own novel, you must have a convincing grasp of the elements within it.

Characters make decisions all the time that readers do not agree with, but there is nothing worse than a character making out-of-character decisions that destroy the very picture you were trying to make of them.

By staying true to their established nature, characters become more realistic and add cohesion to the overall story.

Evoking Empathy: The Essence of Humanity

Pay attention to this one because it lies at the core of all storytelling and its universal purpose.

At the core of a well-written character lies the ability to evoke empathy from the audience by showing us a picture of humanity.

A character's struggles, vulnerabilities, and wins should suck the reader in because they say something about the real, unadulterated, unpretty human animal. A well-written character stirs the emotions within us. He rips our heart out, he makes us look in the mirror and cringe. She pulls out our deepest fears and provides warmth when we need consoling.

Your book has absolutely nothing if it does not evoke an emotional response from your reader.

Many writers just assume that empathy is a given. They take for granted the emotional impact of their stories. They think "if I kill off this character, people will be sad, because death is sad."

But they don't realize that every word and sentence, every plot point, every metaphor, and especially, every character needs to be carefully crafted to aid the pulling of the right emotional string at the right time. And it's not an easy task, you've picked the most complicated puppet to make dance.

Humans have more strings than you can imagine, and it takes practice and consideration to get it moving.

Think of a well-written character as one that maximizes empathy in the story.

And that doesn't mean just make the things that happen to the character bigger and better either. This is the central theme of my series Why Show, Don't Tell Advice Might be Holding You Back. Go check that out to discover how to effectively play with your reader's emotions.

Conclusion

Crafting well-written characters is an art that requires careful attention to complexity, relatability, consistency, and the ability to evoke empathy.

Complex characters that mirror the human experience captivate readers, allowing them to form a genuine connection and invest in them. Characters must remain consistent in their behavior, maintaining believability and enhancing the overall cohesion of your story.

Ultimately, well-written characters transcend the confines of fiction, leaving a lasting impact on readers long after their gone. As storytellers, let us strive to create characters that embody the essence of humanity and continue to inspire audiences long into the future.

Until next time, keep writing.