Shortcut to Creating COMPLEX Characters (Fiction Writing Advice)

Learn how to create complex, multi-dimensional characters by using contradictions.

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[WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Please excuse the blurry camera footage in today's video.

Anyway, who's your favorite movie character? Do they have have any contractions that you're aware of? Let us know!

[cindywutzke]

Could be said when you enter a room there are 3 people who come with you. 1. The person everyone thinks you are. 2. The person you think you are. 3. The person who you really are

[gruskujo]

The main character of my story has two contradictions.
1. She acts like a therapist for the rest of the team, whenever one of her team mates are feeling down they come to her, yet, she often feels alone and has very poor mental health.
2. She is against revenge, she hates revenge. Yet, the second half of the story is all about her trying to get revenge, but she doesn't realize it

[OscarMemo]

The real question is... why people like contradicting characters....because we humans contradict ourselfs all the time?

[Anonymous-bpix]

Scarface (by Oliver Stone): He has a ruthless exterior, yet he also has a soft spot in his heart for children, which leads him to make a serious mistake, thus causing his downfall.

[naomiuchiha]

You really helped my a lot with improving my book. You help me understand how exactly to write characters or scenes.
It's so easy to say "Make your characters complex and not cardboard cutouts". I appreciate how you dig way deeper than that. This is exactly what I needed.❤

[OurDarkGoldenHero]

First 10 seconds in and I immediately agree. Giving a character contradictions is to give them the most human trait.

[jean]

The narrator from Great Gatsby. He claims to be above judgment but the whole book he takes Gatsby's side.

[Dark_Peace]

"contradictions in characterisation can't be a one time thing"
True, but a one time contradiction can also be interesting, like if the vegetarian has to wear a furcoat to obtain something they want. The thing they want and being vegetarian have no direct contradiction but there's an indirect one and there's a betrayal of ideals involved, which can also start a corruption arc.
In Be More Chill, Jeremy is in love with Christine but he's a "loser, geek, whatever". The Squip teaches him how to gain social success but it involves sacrifying his personnality, integrity and also his friendship with his best friend.

There's also the contradiction by context. Basically EVERY TIME one says "I'd never do that ever", you can be sure the writer cooked the perfect context to make the character betray its promise.
I watched Madoka Magica this week. This anime series (or 2 movies, there's both) is pure genious. Won't spoil but, it's pure Omori style. In the 3rd movie, a character goes back in time and cries to her friend 'cause she dreamed she was gone (in fact referencing the future where she sacrifices herself to save the world). The friend tells "Don't worry, I'll never go away or do anything that'd make you cry". But we know, we know in every épisode there's a new situation pressuring her into doing it and it's because of her compassion for her friends that the story ends the way it does.

[elizabethcolebourn]

Indiana Jones. He has the first contradiction, between two aspects of characterization. He's initially appears as a mild-mannered professor, when he is in fact a thrill-seeking treasure hunter. I think he has the same Outer vs. Inner conflict in that he appears tough and brutish, but he shows that he has a soft spot for Marian.

[kangmintaid]

Imagine a vegetarian that worked as a butcher

[EH]

Scarlett O’Hara is a contradictory character- she initially appears as selfish and spoilt, but she works herself into the ground taking care of her family and her lover’s wife; and then turns around and neglects her first two children (in the book, but not in the movie) Her conscious desire is Ashley, but her subconscious (real) desire is Rhett…
She is so complex and is one of my all time favourite characters.

[gavasiarobinssson]

This was a real eye opener. Now I will try to make my character more complex. Thanks!

[cavalier]

If someone hasn’t mentioned this yet, Mr. Incredible has very obvious contradictory goals: having a family, and being a hero.

[Mr]

Wow! Awesome advice.

Even for writing in the dark this is useful, it immediately gives you a spark of ideas! And it's so simple to get started and then develop!

What I'm trying to say is I think you just perma killed my writers block!

[Le_Fuqwit]

The thing Brandon says about layers kinda reminds me of what Shrek says about ogres being like onions and how THEY have layers.

Wanna have a complex character? Think of them as an onion :)

[mohawkmaniac]

Dutch Van Der Lan from the Red dead redemption series is my favorite

[Brdatsun]

Always looking forward to your videos ☺️ They put me in a creative + relaxed state! Thanks!

[TimRG]

I saw McKee's book in Barnes & Noble a few weeks back. I was interested, maybe I'll pick it up in the future. A digital copy. Compared to the title, I can't stand how big the author's name is. Good video. Keep it up!

[hollence]

James Flint just checks all the boxes. Watching your videos just makes me realize Black Sails is tenfold the masterpiece I tell my friends it is