How to Write Better Characters: 7 Must-Read Posts for Writers

Topics Covered in “How to Write Better Characters”:

Why Writing Great Characters Is So Hard
7 Essential Blog Posts for Creating Better Characters
1. “What It Means to Make Your Story Relatable”
   2. “Crafting Unforgettable Character Arcs”
3. “Marry ’em and Bury ’em: Weddings, Funerals, and Your Novel”
4. “How to Bridge Characters’ Thoughts in an Omniscient POV”
5. “The Faceless Villain: What to Do When Your Protagonist Is the Bad Guy”
6. “Want to Show Your Character’s Pain?”
7. “Three Ways to Make Readers Care about Secondary Characters”
You Can Do It!
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Why Writing Great Characters Is So Hard

Let’s face it: it’s not easy to create gripping characters that readers want to follow. Authors of plot-driven genres like science fiction and action/adventure are especially vulnerable; they can be so focused on the complexities of the plot that character development can fall by the wayside.

In fact, character development is one of the most common trouble spots we encounter when reviewing a manuscript to determine the right editing plan. Too much emotion and reaction can rob readers of the nuance that makes great characters so compelling. Too little inner depth can make them feel like cardboard cutouts, puppets that only exist to populate the author’s story. And too much “telling” and not enough “showing” can drive readers away rather than pulling them in.

7 Essential Blog Posts for Creating Better Characters

So what’s the secret to writing great characters that feel like real, fleshed-out people even as they drive the story forward? We’ve rounded up some of the most helpful posts on how to write better characters that you might have missed this month. Whether you’re starting fresh during NaNoWriMo or revising a long-running WIP, these posts are packed with tips for creating characters that will jump right off the page and into readers’ hearts.

1. “What It Means to Make Your Story Relatable”

From Jane Friedman

Do your readers need to be anything like your characters to find them relatable? Not necessarily. If a character’s motivations are vague, their reactions are flat, and their arc is too general, even the most similar readers won’t feel a connection to the story. Whether you’re writing fiction or memoir, those connections are formed through individual experiences.

Writer and educator (and guest author) Deborah Williams uses one of our great favorites—Anne Lamott’s classic Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life—to illustrate how “concrete moments” help readers form that all-important connection to the characters. By letting your characters experience vivid and relatable events, you can bridge the gap between your readers and the characters in your story, creating a deeper and more meaningful connection that keeps your audience engaged throughout the entire journey.

2. “Crafting Unforgettable Character Arcs”

From Live Write Thrive

1. S. Lakin always has useful insight into the fiction writing process, and this post is no exception. If your characters feel two-dimensional, it may be because their character arc is not as strong as it needs to be to pull readers along through the story.

If you’re not sure how to add depth to your characters by strengthening their arcs, this no-nonsense, approachable guide will show you how to integrate theme into your characters’ reality and take them on a  journey that will pay off for readers.

3. “Marry ’em and Bury ’em: Weddings, Funerals, and Your Novel”

From Writer Unboxed

“Rituals can hold deep significance in our lives,” writes author, editor, and educator Kathryn Craft, “which is why they can be so powerful in stories.” The key word here is can; if you aren’t careful to center your character in the rituals you’re writing about, readers won’t feel the significance you intend to convey.

This article offers engaging examples of characters experiencing major life events and demonstrates the difference between flat and engaging writing. Weaving rituals intentionally into your characters’ lives will help you connect with readers, offer a more memorable and immersive experience, and enhance the depth and impact of your story.

4. “How to Bridge Characters’ Thoughts in an Omniscient POV”

From Nathan Bransford

When it comes to POV, omniscient just might be the trickiest to pull off. Done well, it gives readers a unique perspective of the story and the characters within it; done poorly, it comes off as sloppy third-person limited. (Not-so-fun fact: “head-hopping” is another common issue we find when we’re reviewing manuscripts.)

If you’re ambitious enough to have chosen an omniscient POV for your novel, this article will how you how to do it without shooting yourself in the foot along the way. By understanding the characteristics and potential pitfalls of omniscient POV, you can harness its full power and offer readers a distinctive vantage point from which to discover your characters.

5. “The Faceless Villain: What to Do When Your Protagonist Is the Bad Guy”

From Janice Hardy

Not every story needs another person to act as the antagonist to your protagonist. Sometimes, protagonists themselves are their biggest enemies. But, as Hardy notes, the “person vs. self” is often one of the most difficult conflicts to write. Who wants to read about someone sitting around belittling themselves?

Enter what Kristin Lamb calls the “proxy antagonist.” By giving your protagonist a character to represent their personal struggle, you’ll give readers a story that’s compelling and realistic even without a “big bad guy” to fight against.

6. “Want to Show Your Character’s Pain?” 

From Writers Helping Writers

Becca and Angela, authors of The Emotion Thesaurus, have been helping authors channel mood and emotion in their characters for years. In this article, they’ve aggregated all their best blog posts on the various types of pain authors can inflict on their characters.

From invisible injuries to everyday owies, worsening wounds to major malfunctions, even psychological pain—this comprehensive resource covers it all. These actionable tips will ensure that the pain your characters endure feels as real to readers as their very own.

7. “Three Ways to Make Readers Care about Secondary Characters”

From Writers Helping Writers

It makes sense to use other characters to move your protagonist forward on their journey through the book, but that’s not how real life works. We may be the hero of our own stories, but that doesn’t mean our friends and family are mere “side characters.” They’re real people with their own ambitions, dreams, and motivations.

In this post, Becca and Angela offer tips for writing fully developed, well-rounded characters that don’t feel like they only exist to serve your protagonist and your story. Touching on the complexities and aspirations that drive these secondary characters can breathe life into them and turn them into people just as vibrant as your protagonist.

You Can Do It!

Characters can be a writer’s greatest asset—or their downfall. Striking a balance between plot-driven narratives and well-crafted characters is no small feat. With these 7 resources on how to write better characters, you can transform your underdeveloped characters into living, breathing beings readers will fall in love with again and again.