Top 5 Tips for Developing Compelling Characters in Your Novel

Introduction

I've edited 100+ books at this point in my career and I've learned quite a lot along the way. I've been presented with so many scripts I could fill a landfill - except I dispose of such materials as organically as possible. Nonetheless, some of those scripts really stand out and there's definitely a pattern. In this blog, I'll focus on five top tips I've seen work really well for authors. 

Understand Your Characters

Before you start writing, take time to understand your characters. I mean, really understand them. Know intimately their backgrounds, motivations, and goals. This will help you create more realistic and relatable characters. We had a script into our offices recently where it became clear just ten pages in that the newbie author had not researched their book landscape with wholly underdeveloped characters. In one case, a character had 'piercing blue eyes' on page 3 and by page 9 they had miraculously morphed into 'mahogany brown'. 

Ask yourself questions about their past, their fears, and their dreams. Write down these details to refer back to as you develop your story. I would suggest using a story board. 

Show, Don’t Tell

One of the golden rules of character development is instead of saying “John is brave,” show John doing something courageous, like rescuing someone in danger. Readers tend to remember events more than depictions. 

Create Flaws and Strengths

Perfect characters are boring. Soooo boring. Give your characters both strengths and flaws to make them more human. These imperfections can drive the plot and create tension. Think here of Shakespeare's King Lear or Shylock as wonderful examples. 

Think about how these traits affect their decisions and relationships. This will add depth to your characters and make them more engaging.

Use Dialogue Effectively

Dialogue is a powerful tool for character development. Use it to reveal personality, background, and emotions. Pay attention to how your characters speak and what they say.

Each character should have a unique voice. This can be achieved through word choice, sentence structure, and rhythm.

Show Character Growth

Characters should evolve over the course of your novel. Show how they change in response to the events of the story. This growth can be positive or negative, but it should be believable.

Document their journey and highlight key moments that contribute to their development. This will make your characters feel more dynamic.

Conclusion

Developing compelling characters takes time and effort. By understanding your characters, showing their traits through actions, creating flaws and strengths, using dialogue effectively, and showing character growth, you can create characters that readers will remember.

Keep these tips in mind as you write, and your characters will come to life on the page.