Q&A for How to Create Good Personalities for Your Characters

Try to develop characters that are somewhat different from what we're used to. Very often, we see the same types of characters in particular roles. To add some variety, look at what has been done before and what stereotypes exist already in order to change or twist them.

The best animal characters are always those that have a sense of truth and authenticity attached to them. For example, if you're writing about a cat or a dog, then you're going to want the characters to have very particular attributes that people will recognize. These would be what makes them cat-like or dog-like, such as a dog's exuberant personality.

Writers block usually has to do with confidence. You may feel stressed, for example, or you may not believe in yourself or your work. Working out where the source of stress or lack of confidence is coming from is the key to unlocking your ability to write.

Give them common flaws and fears that people can relate to. Give them little quirks and habits, like biting their nails. You can also give them a relatable family structure, or an enemy like a bully.

Any character is good enough to be the protagonist. Obviously, no one wants any "Mary Sue" characters unless you're being ironic. Also, your character needs to have depth. As the article says, likes/dislikes, a believable backstory, personality, and something perhaps that gives the character a hard time (a memory, a person, a place, or a subject, it doesn't matter). If you find a missing spot, read more descriptions of random characters. Then compare it to your own.

Sure. You can write about any type of character(s) you like. Some of the most interesting stories are ones told from the perspective of someone we normally wouldn't relate to, like a 'bad guy'.

Research more about multiple personality disorder (also known as dissociative identity disorder), the symptoms, how it manifests in someone's daily life, etc. You could talk to those who have been diagnosed about their experiences or even try to find a specialist to talk to.

You need to start by laying out your plot and your basic ideas. Get everything in order. Get a solid plot in your head, and stay organized when it comes to writing everything down and putting it together.

Just write, you've done more than enough planning. You should be super comfortable with the plot by now. You don’t need to plan and scale everything; you'll come up with new/different ideas as you progress. Just start writing and let it flow naturally.

Maybe try having them experience something that not many people experience, and that affects their personality in some way. Or you can have them be interested in/do something that is uncommon for someone of their age or gender.

In detail, or not very specific at all, sometimes once you just get your creative juices flowing, you can get a lot down. If you only meant "how do I write it down " then bullet points and paragraphs are helpful. It depends on how much information you have too.

That's an interesting way to pick likes/dislikes, but if you're at home it can be troublesome, like saying "so-and-so likes coffee mugs" or "so-and-so likes doilies". Pick the likes and dislikes by first consulting your own likes and dislikes. For example, you might like fruits and sweets, or anything that tastes sweet. Therefore, your character could like pomegranates and strawberries. Then, say that you dislike people who disrespect you, and so could your character. Or, sometimes make the character like something you don't like, or the other way round, for some fun. Then keep choosing what you think would fit with your character's personality. Criminal masterminds won't like anything cute or fluffy (but we all have our guilty pleasures).

Look at the facial details: someone with a chiseled jaw might seem stern or commanding, while doe eyes might indicate a loving and caring personality.

Well, there are multiple things you can do! You could have their friend always tell them to be less timid, so in honor of their friend the character could try to put himself out there more. If it's a fantasy story, you could have the character start a quest to get the friend's soul to return to them. Or you can have this death make them act cold for a while until another friend (preferably one that was friends with the first friend) tells them that their friend wouldn't have wanted them to behave like this.

Don't include a formal description. Instead, reveal details about your characters as you develop and tell the story.

It depends on the context and genre of your story. Typically, if they were to be allies, then this may be a good idea in genres like Romance. It can show contrasting views, opinions, and lifestyles that can be united, and (eventually) each character can see the value in each other's way of doing things.

Just don't forget to add a few flaws for reliability, or you can develop your character when meeting a few other people in the story.

You could create original names by mixing existing names; for example, take the names 'Tom' and 'Jack' and mash them together to make 'Jom'. Or, try using a name genarator.

You could develop the character to slowly open up. To add depth and relatability, think about what would truly break them out of character.

It would depend on their personalities. For example, a person with gray eyes might be sterner or stricter then a person who has light blue eyes, because blue eyes are often associated with lightheartedness. Be creative and have fun! You are basically making a person from scratch, with anything you can imagine.

Websites, movies, shows, life, and even yourself can help. Examples can really help, and sometimes, based on the characters, even your own life can be helpful. It also depends on the genre/theme your going for.

Well, to add mystery, you can just not touch on their backstory. This keeps fans wondering and will let them make theories about them or write fan fictions.

Try to include infatuation, but not anything that goes past the kissing point. Try to give them both a situation where they might have a bit of rivalry, but everything goes well in the end.

Model your character based on a creative person you know in real life or a famous artist or musician.

Yes. Take "Dipper" Pines from Gravity Falls, for instance. Most everyone knows him as "Dipper" because of the birthmark on his forehead, but his real name is Mason.

If you want to look for some good examples, you can just simply open your favorite book. Read lots of books to see how their character personalities affect the story. This is really the best way to learn. Pay close attention to the characters' choices and why might they make these choices. You should look at multiple kind of books for perspective. After you've looked at the characters of other authors, you should have a pretty good idea what types of characters there are and what you can do to make yours unique.

Try to analyze the personality of hero characters, or people you look up to. The more heroes and people you can analyze, the better, because it will give you more variety. Then integrate some of those traits into your characters.

There's not a real difficulty here. Once you've established the personality, that's that. Sure, it can develop, over a story arc, deepen or change, but once you've opened up the story, then that is what its character was in the first few chapters. Imagine if your character is hotheaded, and he encounters an idiot driver. Readers might expect him to get out and start an argument, but if he stays calm, contrary to his character, then his character is still that of a hotheaded person; he's a hothead who just happened to stay calm in this event.

Good plots almost always emerge from a writer's own imagination. Use your imagination to develop something that's new, interesting and plausible. Explain your idea to a few friends or relatives to get valuable feedback before you start writing.

It depends on how it's delivered. Sarcasm can be amusing if it's presented skillfully, but it can also wound if one isn't careful.