The character details that really matter
Your main character is the beating heart of your story. Your goal is to take them on a transformation journey so powerful your reader will be itching to turn the pages of your novel.
Considering how important character is, I’m always surprised at how many writing teachers don’t teach proper character arcs. I’ve taken classes where I was taught to fill out a character questionnaire to get to know my character. The questionnaire had deep questions like ‘Who does your character love the most?’ or simple questions like ‘What is their favourite type of ice cream?’ I was even taught to role-play as my character so that I could answer the questions better. Unsurprisingly, none of these exercises helped me improve my character or story on a deep level.
There is nothing wrong with these types of questionnaires, unless you use them exclusively, without understanding the key building blocks of great character arcs. The reason is, these types of questionnaires tend to neglect the most important aspects of character, the things you should decide on before you begin writing your story.
Here are four building blocks for creating a compelling main character (that definitely don’t include knowing their favourite flavour of ice cream).
1) The flaw or wound
Ironically, building a strong main character begins with a compelling weakness. Within your very first chapter, your reader should have a very good idea about what is wrong with your main character. And there should always be something wrong with them, otherwise, you wouldn’t bother forcing them on a long journey to make them better. When your character has something wrong with them, readers identify with them and become curious to read about how this character is going to be fixed. Your character might be too arrogant, like Tony Stark; or reckless with money like Becky from Confessions of a Shopaholic; or lack belief in themselves like Luke Skywalker. Whatever it is, make sure you are crystal clear on your character’s flaw and that your plot is designed specifically to help them break free of it.
2) The ghost
The character’s ghost is directly tied to their flaw. The ghost is usually a part of your character’s backstory and it answer’s the question: ‘Why are you the way that you are?’ (cue classic Michael Scott GIF). Your character has a deep wound, so something in their past had to have made them that way. What was it? In Star Wars: A New Hope we see clearly in the first Act that Luke’s uncle does not want him to know about his father and wants him to remain a farmer on Tatooine. Luke will have to learn about his father and break free of other people’s plans for his life in order to accept his destiny.
3) The want or goal
Your character needs to have a goal in mind or something they want. This want drives the external story or plot forward. They should be laser-focused on getting something they think will fulfill them or improve their life. The want can change or evolve as the story progresses, but it’s usually the thing the character desires most. To make matters more confusing, the character is usually dead wrong about the thing that will fulfill them and bring them happiness. The want is usually something tangible. Your character might be seeking a relationship, more money, a better job, recognition or getting into a prestigious university.
4) The need
The need is usually the truth or big realization that finally sinks in for your character at the climax of the novel. The need is more internal because it will really and truly heal the character’s wound. The need may have been in front of your character all along, but they were unable to acknowledge it, until you took them on the plot journey. K.M. Weiland does a great job of explaining the difference between the want and the need in her blog post Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Pt3.
The reason you should solidify these details about your character before you begin writing is because they inform your plot and the choices your character makes. It’s much easier to get the arc solidified at the beginning, rather than trying to adjust and fit it in during rewrites. However, a character’s favourite flavour of ice cream and other small details can always be added at later stages of writing!
