How to Write Compelling Characters

We often think about relatability or likeability when we think about characters. However, these qualities don’t' necessarily make a character compelling to read about. While it's true people want to be able to understand a character's motivation, whether or not a reader likes a character or feels similarly to them isn't always the reason someone will read about them.

Compelling characters are complex and specific.

Matthew Salesses states in Craft in the Real World that a character can become specific and complex only in relation to other characters or cultural influences. Basically, what sets this character apart from everyone else in the narrative?

Let's look at Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. What sets Katniss apart from the other contestants in the Hunger Games? She is the kind of person who will mess with the rules because she has nothing to lose by upsetting the balance of power. Unlike the other contestants who are either there for the glory of their district or to survive.

When thinking about what kind of person your characters is, it's important to remember why they are this kind of person. Your characters has been shaped by many cultural forces, as well as their internal characteristics. (We'll talk about that in a bit.)

Complex characters have desires.

A compelling, complex character has a driving desire. Screenwriter John August says each character has an "I want…" song—meaning if they were in a musical, they would sing a song where they outline what they want from life. Your character has a place to be or something to achieve. They might have several objectives throughout the novel, but there's generally something your character wants that spurs change in the beginning.

Let's revisit Katniss. Her primary objective is to keep her family safe. She is first tested in how much she wants this when her sister's name is called at the Reaping, and she decides she must save her sister from having to participate in the Hunger Games.

Compelling characters are motivated by internal and external forces.

Compelling characters are motivated by both their desires (internal) and the plot (external). The character may have control over some of these factors—for example, in the Western tradition, a character often has agency over their desires and actions—and not over others.

Katniss is motivated by her desire to keep her sister from harm, which is an internal force. However, as she is forced to participate in the Hunger Games, her objective to survive them is an external force. The motivation to upset the power structures at the core of the systemic problems is an internal force. Though, it is influenced by the fact that she is from the poorest district and her experiences there.

Complex characters have flaws.

Complex characters have flaws because people have flaws. A character without flaws feels incomplete. Flaws are another way a reader can find specificity in a character. A character who has idiosyncrasies is more interesting than one who doesn't.

Katniss, for example, does not like the social games of the Capitol and refuses to play them even when it would be in her best interests to do so. Eventually, she does try to play along to appease Effie and make her own life easier. But she doesn't try to understand why they're important. She believes in her values wholeheartedly but doesn't consider why someone else's may have value.

This makes Katniss more of a complex person. She's the kind of person who sticks to her principles, but she has no patience for those who do not. Nor does she have the inclination to try to understand the ideals of those she considers frivolous.

Complex characters are struggling against something.

In Western storytelling, characters have an arc. They change throughout the story because they encounter events and circumstances that force them to grow. That means they move from a place of stasis to something new. To get there, a Western reader expects struggle. There is a sense that the character change is earned.

If we continue with the example of Katniss, she begins the story wanting to keep her family safe, but she ends it by wanting to disrupt the corrupt systems of power that have forced poverty on the districts. She struggles throughout the book with her personal survival and the desire to see the corrupt systems and leaders fall, ultimately choosing the latter.

Complex characters are contradictory.

Compelling and complex characters' actions don't always line up with their ideals. Few people's do, really. And it can make for a frustrating and more interesting reader experience when characters have contradictory actions.

Katniss is one of the few people who does generally follow through on her beliefs with action, but she is surrounded by people who do not. For example, Effie cares deeply for Katniss and wants the world to be a better place, but she is unwilling to give up the luxury and comfort in which she lives in order for that to happen.

Putting it all together:

Creating a whole person is a difficult task. I suggest taking your base character (a character for whom you've decided general info like their age, race, gender, etc.) and asking yourself questions like "Is my character specific?" "Are they flawed?"

From there, answer the questions. You may uncover the answers as you go or you may already know the answer. If you know the answer, dig deeper. Ask yourself how and why your character is the way they are. Don't forget to think about how culture, socioeconomic status, gender and race factor into how your character sees the world and how they act.