writing characters with depth #writingtips

[sawsawsuka]

one thing i've learned is to always ask yourself 'why' ! both in writing and in critical analysis

[ringsroses]

I always think that as writers, because we're living with our characters for so long we get used to giving them the benefit of the doubt.

But to the reader these characters are strangers and so it's so important for them to see these flashes that connect them more deeply so that by the end of the book they're not a stranger even if they remain somewhat mysterious.

[fairyfathom]

the part about not just giving them a backstory, but giving them a backstory that contextualises their present, made my brain light up!

[CaeliFaye]

i like to think of myself as my characters’s therapist😅 really helps me to get into their head

[hwchen]

Totally agree! I've found a lot of the time when I get stuck writing a character I end up having to write out their backstory as a method of "getting to know them." Though it makes the writing process longer, I've found if I don't do it, I'm not quite satisfied by the depth or lack thereof in my character.

A lot of the times I'll also start projects only to not be able to continue them because I don't quite know my characters yet!

[WeBlanchin]

I've also noticed when writing characters that there's a type of personality spectrum with no ideal spot, there's a list of traits your character has that are *debatably* flaws, Embracing this definitely adds depth

[justahumanthatslost]

"It's not just writing backstory, but writing backstory that influences who the character is in the moment of the story." —Lynn D. Jung

Solid advice! Thanks 🙏

[cm]

The idea of backstory as contextualization is great connection.

[stanimirgeorgiev.]

I write a lot of information that I may never show to readers. This is information about the world itself. About the country itself. Or a specific region. Its history.
The same applies to a character. I write a lot about each character even before this character entered the story. Basically, everything exists beyond the story itself.
So when a character appears in the story itself, he already has a diary with his biography and practically he already has a childhood, memories of this childhood, school or even kindergarten. His place of work or first love. His hobbies and interests. His main skills. His disappointments. The reader never reads these diaries (memory banks or identity containers). But at one point or another, these diaries pour out a little of their content for the reader. Also, in case an element of this character's autobiography subsequently changes and it no longer corresponds to these memory banks, I simply update the memory bank and just move on with the new events that happen to this character But practically he, like the rest of the world, was already living before history began and it continues after the story ends.
So, good video. It was useful.🤗

[McGenshin]

This is why all of my characters have horrifically traumatizing pasts😌

[doorsareforopening]

I don't like starting out by listing one word traits when describing a character. I prefer to imagine what they would do in a situation then write how they'd be perceived by others if they saw the character's action. The extra thinking also makes you consider secondary traits along the way.

[fionas_frenzy]

bro... i never thought about it this way, but once you said it, the world just made sense.

[Makememesandmore]

Whenever I change the character even slightly, I either make sure it lines up with their backstory or I'm changing that backstory bro! I'm so glad you are sharing this witth writers who don't know this, though! :D

[bloomhug]

I feel like the hardest thing for me is, after planning the ending, its hard to write the character at the beginning.

[Gunsong]

If you characterize a character as brave, show the instance where his courage fails. If you characterize him being kind, show the instance where he is vindictive.

[paulmg]

Great 'depth' summary, thank you .I love characters that 'haunt me' because I recognise them almost instinctively. The character Woe in Long and Loathsome Murder was so familiar to me by the end of the trilogy I though I had lived a lifetime with them. I have to agree with you becuase of that experience.

[hezrhodn]

100%, one of the most magical things about writing fiction is creating a backstory that ultimately much of it never makes it into the novel BUT the backstory provides so much of their motivation that characters WILL BEGIN TO MAKE DECISIONS YOU THE WRITER DID NOT ANTICIPATE!!!😮😂

[TurtleJulia]

Very true! Or writers who make lists of their characters traits, separated into good and bad. Most traits can be good or bad depending on the situation or point of view.

[TheRatKingOwO]

Wow that’s a very nice way to put it! It appears I only had half of that idea before I stumbled across this video. Thank you for making this! :D

[SofiaTrepp]

Oh this is so smart!! Of course it gotta come from somewhere. Ok I feel like this really deepened my character! Tysm!!