Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "characters"
Writing Tip of the Week: Purposeful Characters
No matter what type of fiction you’re writing, characters are essential to the story. They engage the reader, generating empathy, sympathy, and connection. Your characters must serve a purpose within the framework of your story’s world.
As writers, it takes time to craft, shape, and mold our protagonist, antagonist, and other characters into the overall story arc that we have created. We shouldn’t be wasting creative energy creating superfluous characters who have no reason to be in the story.
Here are some tips to help you eliminate aimless and purposeless characters from your story.
Take Inventory
Who’s who, and why are they there? If you are in the beginning stages of writing your story, take time to establish your main characters, secondary characters, and background characters on a spreadsheet or piece of paper. Do they serve an essential function in the story?
If you have already written your story, take inventory of your characters as you read through. Do they all serve a purpose? Is there anyone that doesn’t belong or isn’t really essential to the story?
By creating a spreadsheet, you can list who the characters are, their role, and how they tie into the story. If you find characters that serve no critical function or role, you may want to cut them because…
More Characters = More Problems
Taking on an ambitious fiction project can be exciting. Still, you also have to make sure that everyone you introduce has a reason for existing and serves an essential role in your story. The more characters you bring into the mix, the harder it can be to keep track and keep things focused.
Limiting the number of characters can help keep the story and its conflict focused, so you don’t get lost in the weeds, which reminds me…
Where’s the Focus?
Your story has a main storyline with a protagonist working toward a goal amidst numerous obstacles. That should be your primary focus as you write. Find yourself deviating too much into subplots and side quests with other characters? It may be time to either rethink the protagonist or move those other characters into their own story.
If the subplots tie directly back to the main character and their story, that’s fine. But if you do notice that what they’re doing has zero impact on the main narrative, it’s time to cut it.
Superfluous Characters
Are there characters you’ve created that don’t really go anywhere or serve any real purpose within the story? Maybe you wrote an elaborate backstory for a Starbucks barista that the main character encounters on their journey. But, if they are in one chapter and never seen or mentioned again, you may want to trim out how they saved their grandma and her cat from a space heater fire in the fifth grade.
However, if the barista’s backstory serves a key role in the story later on, and the character comes back to help save the day, they serve a purpose. Just make sure that if you put in the time to provide lots of detail on a specific character, the reader has a reason to be given that information.
Elevate or Eliminate?
If your creative mind has crafted a complex side character who initially has no real purpose in the overall story, you have a few options:
• You can cut them out of this story and move them to one where they can play a more significant role.
• You can elevate them and combine their character and attributes with a less-than-stellar secondary character who may need some extra life.
• Or you can see how this character’s current role can be elevated through further interactions with the protagonist and the main story.
There are ways to make it work, but the character can’t detract or deviate from the main story.
Should My Protagonist Have a Pet?
I’ve seen this brought up before, and it’s an interesting question. The answer is simple: only if you are willing to have the main character’s dog or cat be a part of the story. You can’t just introduce the reader to the protagonist’s dog in one chapter and never mention them again. Once you commit to your main character being a pet owner, you have chosen to keep that pet as a part of the story.
So, if your main character travels the world on quests, it’s probably best to keep the pets out of things. Otherwise, readers may wonder, “Who’s watching Rex? Is the dog okay? I know cats are independent, but she’s been gone for three weeks!”
Read, Read, Read
Skim through novels and see how different authors set up and establish their various characters. Some will be more detailed than others, but the key to this research is to identify how main characters, secondary characters, and others are described throughout the story.
Whether you’re writing a short story or short film, a novel or a screenplay, knowing who your characters are and their purpose is essential to keeping the story moving and the reader or viewer engaged.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
As writers, it takes time to craft, shape, and mold our protagonist, antagonist, and other characters into the overall story arc that we have created. We shouldn’t be wasting creative energy creating superfluous characters who have no reason to be in the story.
Here are some tips to help you eliminate aimless and purposeless characters from your story.
Take Inventory
Who’s who, and why are they there? If you are in the beginning stages of writing your story, take time to establish your main characters, secondary characters, and background characters on a spreadsheet or piece of paper. Do they serve an essential function in the story?
If you have already written your story, take inventory of your characters as you read through. Do they all serve a purpose? Is there anyone that doesn’t belong or isn’t really essential to the story?
By creating a spreadsheet, you can list who the characters are, their role, and how they tie into the story. If you find characters that serve no critical function or role, you may want to cut them because…
More Characters = More Problems
Taking on an ambitious fiction project can be exciting. Still, you also have to make sure that everyone you introduce has a reason for existing and serves an essential role in your story. The more characters you bring into the mix, the harder it can be to keep track and keep things focused.
Limiting the number of characters can help keep the story and its conflict focused, so you don’t get lost in the weeds, which reminds me…
Where’s the Focus?
Your story has a main storyline with a protagonist working toward a goal amidst numerous obstacles. That should be your primary focus as you write. Find yourself deviating too much into subplots and side quests with other characters? It may be time to either rethink the protagonist or move those other characters into their own story.
If the subplots tie directly back to the main character and their story, that’s fine. But if you do notice that what they’re doing has zero impact on the main narrative, it’s time to cut it.
Superfluous Characters
Are there characters you’ve created that don’t really go anywhere or serve any real purpose within the story? Maybe you wrote an elaborate backstory for a Starbucks barista that the main character encounters on their journey. But, if they are in one chapter and never seen or mentioned again, you may want to trim out how they saved their grandma and her cat from a space heater fire in the fifth grade.
However, if the barista’s backstory serves a key role in the story later on, and the character comes back to help save the day, they serve a purpose. Just make sure that if you put in the time to provide lots of detail on a specific character, the reader has a reason to be given that information.
Elevate or Eliminate?
If your creative mind has crafted a complex side character who initially has no real purpose in the overall story, you have a few options:
• You can cut them out of this story and move them to one where they can play a more significant role.
• You can elevate them and combine their character and attributes with a less-than-stellar secondary character who may need some extra life.
• Or you can see how this character’s current role can be elevated through further interactions with the protagonist and the main story.
There are ways to make it work, but the character can’t detract or deviate from the main story.
Should My Protagonist Have a Pet?
I’ve seen this brought up before, and it’s an interesting question. The answer is simple: only if you are willing to have the main character’s dog or cat be a part of the story. You can’t just introduce the reader to the protagonist’s dog in one chapter and never mention them again. Once you commit to your main character being a pet owner, you have chosen to keep that pet as a part of the story.
So, if your main character travels the world on quests, it’s probably best to keep the pets out of things. Otherwise, readers may wonder, “Who’s watching Rex? Is the dog okay? I know cats are independent, but she’s been gone for three weeks!”
Read, Read, Read
Skim through novels and see how different authors set up and establish their various characters. Some will be more detailed than others, but the key to this research is to identify how main characters, secondary characters, and others are described throughout the story.
Whether you’re writing a short story or short film, a novel or a screenplay, knowing who your characters are and their purpose is essential to keeping the story moving and the reader or viewer engaged.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
Writing Challenge: Creating a Character
People. We see them every day in some form. Whether it’s in person, on TV, in a movie, or in a photograph, each person is unique and has their own unique look, traits, and personality.
Either through observation out in the real world or via your TV, computer screen, a new story, etc., find a photo of a person (they can be anyone), and write a detailed description of them. If they are a celebrity or politician, give them a new name and profession.
• Describe what they look like.
• What do they do?
• What are they doing that day?
• Who are they with?
• How do they interact with others?
• What thoughts do they have?
• What do they think others think about them?
In this exercise, details matter, so take your time to create a three-dimensional look at this individual. Don’t be afraid to get silly, or dark, or outlandish, this is your opportunity to flex your creative muscles and create a whole new life for an existing person.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Either through observation out in the real world or via your TV, computer screen, a new story, etc., find a photo of a person (they can be anyone), and write a detailed description of them. If they are a celebrity or politician, give them a new name and profession.
• Describe what they look like.
• What do they do?
• What are they doing that day?
• Who are they with?
• How do they interact with others?
• What thoughts do they have?
• What do they think others think about them?
In this exercise, details matter, so take your time to create a three-dimensional look at this individual. Don’t be afraid to get silly, or dark, or outlandish, this is your opportunity to flex your creative muscles and create a whole new life for an existing person.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Tip of the Week: Chapter Experimentation
Writing a novel can sometimes feel like constructing a 50,000-piece puzzle. All the elements are laid out before you, but the challenge to assemble and finish it can seem like a monumental task. Even when you think pieces are coming together, you can quickly realize that a cluster of pieces doesn’t fit how you thought they would.
You might come across this problem while writing. You’re working on a chapter, but something isn’t working. The pieces of your chapter aren’t melding together the way you want them to.
Today, we’ll discuss this problem, how to work through it, and ways to help improve the chapter and get you moving forward.
Let’s talk about it!
What’s the Point?
When you realize a chapter has a problem, take a step back and ask yourself what the intent of the chapter is. Does the chapter introduce or add to a current conflict or storyline? Does it enhance the reader’s knowledge about the characters? Does the chapter set up or pay off story elements? Is the reader learning anything new that will help them understand the characters or conflict?
Knowing why a chapter is in your story will also help you decide if it’s necessary. If you can’t answer the basics as to why the chapter is needed, then you may want to consider cutting it. This is especially true if the chapter adds nothing to the story, doesn’t move the plot or characters forward, and doesn’t enhance the conflict.
Yes, cutting whole chapters that you may have worked hard to finish can be a challenge. But if they don’t add to your story, they aren’t worth keeping in the book.
Switching Characters
Let’s say that the chapter adds to the conflict and gives the reader some insight into the main character, but the chapter is flat and uninteresting. It might be time to recast the chapter.
Who is currently with your main character? Is it someone who adds life to the chapter? Who else is available in your cast of characters that can help elevate your main character, the conflict, and help move the story forward?
The trick is to find the right combination of characters to pair together that will help keep the momentum going. Maybe they have a run-in with the antagonist. Perhaps the person they are with challenges the main character about their views or opinions, leading to external and internal conflict for the hero.
The trick to this is twofold:
1) There needs to be a logic behind why these characters are together.
2) Once you’ve locked them into this chapter, you must ensure their pairing isn’t forgotten. Whatever happens in this chapter isn’t happening in a vacuum, which means you’ll have to decide if this interaction between your chosen characters changes their relationship and how it will impact the story going forward.
Experiment with swapping out different characters and seeing which works best for the chapter.
Changing the Location
Once you decide on the characters, look at the setting. Are they at home? Are they at the grocery store? Are they on a walk down a quiet pathway in the forest? Choosing a better location for a chapter to take place can also give you more insight into your characters and provide possibilities for smaller conflicts.
Ideally, you want to pick a location that logically works within the confines of your story. Experiment with different locations and see what works best to keep the storyline moving forward and keep readers engaged.
What are They Doing?
If your characters are human, standing in the middle of a location and speaking to each other would be pretty dull. They should be actively doing something while the chapter unfolds. Even if the activity doesn’t have any bearing on the overarching conflict, you can use the setting and what can be done at the setting to your advantage by giving the characters something to do.
You could have them playing a board game together if they are at home. If they are out and about, maybe playing pool, at the batting cages, or any other location where interaction is necessary. You can even play against this by having them in a library arguing while trying to stay quiet.
It’s important to give readers characters who act human and do realistic things. Even if they are bad at the activity, it’s better than just standing and talking to each other.
What’s Next?
As I said before, this chapter doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Your characters came from one place and will head off to another once this chapter – or series of chapters – is over. If this chapter changes things going forward in the story for the positive, that’s great. It’s okay to rework your story to make it better.
Final Thoughts
I’ve found myself doing this exercise more than once to get the characters, setting, and activity just right for the story's sake. Yes, it can be cumbersome and frustrating at times, and sometimes, after all that work, you’ll decide the chapter isn’t needed. But that’s all part of the writing process. Embrace its chaos and challenges.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
You might come across this problem while writing. You’re working on a chapter, but something isn’t working. The pieces of your chapter aren’t melding together the way you want them to.
Today, we’ll discuss this problem, how to work through it, and ways to help improve the chapter and get you moving forward.
Let’s talk about it!
What’s the Point?
When you realize a chapter has a problem, take a step back and ask yourself what the intent of the chapter is. Does the chapter introduce or add to a current conflict or storyline? Does it enhance the reader’s knowledge about the characters? Does the chapter set up or pay off story elements? Is the reader learning anything new that will help them understand the characters or conflict?
Knowing why a chapter is in your story will also help you decide if it’s necessary. If you can’t answer the basics as to why the chapter is needed, then you may want to consider cutting it. This is especially true if the chapter adds nothing to the story, doesn’t move the plot or characters forward, and doesn’t enhance the conflict.
Yes, cutting whole chapters that you may have worked hard to finish can be a challenge. But if they don’t add to your story, they aren’t worth keeping in the book.
Switching Characters
Let’s say that the chapter adds to the conflict and gives the reader some insight into the main character, but the chapter is flat and uninteresting. It might be time to recast the chapter.
Who is currently with your main character? Is it someone who adds life to the chapter? Who else is available in your cast of characters that can help elevate your main character, the conflict, and help move the story forward?
The trick is to find the right combination of characters to pair together that will help keep the momentum going. Maybe they have a run-in with the antagonist. Perhaps the person they are with challenges the main character about their views or opinions, leading to external and internal conflict for the hero.
The trick to this is twofold:
1) There needs to be a logic behind why these characters are together.
2) Once you’ve locked them into this chapter, you must ensure their pairing isn’t forgotten. Whatever happens in this chapter isn’t happening in a vacuum, which means you’ll have to decide if this interaction between your chosen characters changes their relationship and how it will impact the story going forward.
Experiment with swapping out different characters and seeing which works best for the chapter.
Changing the Location
Once you decide on the characters, look at the setting. Are they at home? Are they at the grocery store? Are they on a walk down a quiet pathway in the forest? Choosing a better location for a chapter to take place can also give you more insight into your characters and provide possibilities for smaller conflicts.
Ideally, you want to pick a location that logically works within the confines of your story. Experiment with different locations and see what works best to keep the storyline moving forward and keep readers engaged.
What are They Doing?
If your characters are human, standing in the middle of a location and speaking to each other would be pretty dull. They should be actively doing something while the chapter unfolds. Even if the activity doesn’t have any bearing on the overarching conflict, you can use the setting and what can be done at the setting to your advantage by giving the characters something to do.
You could have them playing a board game together if they are at home. If they are out and about, maybe playing pool, at the batting cages, or any other location where interaction is necessary. You can even play against this by having them in a library arguing while trying to stay quiet.
It’s important to give readers characters who act human and do realistic things. Even if they are bad at the activity, it’s better than just standing and talking to each other.
What’s Next?
As I said before, this chapter doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Your characters came from one place and will head off to another once this chapter – or series of chapters – is over. If this chapter changes things going forward in the story for the positive, that’s great. It’s okay to rework your story to make it better.
Final Thoughts
I’ve found myself doing this exercise more than once to get the characters, setting, and activity just right for the story's sake. Yes, it can be cumbersome and frustrating at times, and sometimes, after all that work, you’ll decide the chapter isn’t needed. But that’s all part of the writing process. Embrace its chaos and challenges.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
