literature

How To Write A Well-Rounded Character

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NdumeHodari016
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    Writing is a good creative exercise and it can be pretty fun. However, one of the most difficult aspects of writing seems to be crafting good characters, more specifically well-rounded characters. A well-rounded character is, by my definition, a fully believable human, like a real person. Like a real person, they should have flaws, be affected by the things around them, and should come off as a person, not as a designated role or stereotype or a cliche. With that in mind, here are four simple steps for making a well-rounded character.


  1. Give a character likes and dislikes

    1. This one is fairly basic, but it is a good place to start.

    2. It can three or thirty things, but this gives your character some opinions and things to work with, something that makes them unique and stand out.

    3. So, creating my own character, I will name him Michael, my character likes volunteering. His favorite food is shrimp, he prefers to use a pen, and he is not a morning person.


  1. Give a character flaws in addition to their strengths.

    1. This one seems to be more difficult and somewhat counter-intuitive. You can do anything with a character, why make them flawed?

    2. However, balancing a character with both weaknesses and strengths makes him or her more relate-able and human, as well as more interesting. Everyone has flaws and high points. A well-rounded character should not be an exception.

    3. Going again to Micheal: he is a very good listener, a strength, but this is contrasted with a weakness, as Michael has some issues with commitment. This will lead to the next step...


  1. Make a character's situation affect them

    1. People are shaped and changed by their experiences and surroundings. Maybe something happened while a person was growing up, and still effects them in the present. Being inside all day perhaps makes someone long to spend some time outdoors.

    2. Continuing with Micheal; Micheal's family moved around a lot when he was young. As a result, Micheal did not want to make friends because he thought he would lose them, and is still not the most sociable person.


  1. Make A Person, not a Character

    1. This is probably the most important point.

    2. Think of your character as a person, someone you might run into on the street, a family member, someone you could talk to, someone you could form a relationship with. Some of the best characters often do form some kind of relationship with invested readers.

    3. A person has likes, dislikes, flaws, and are shaped and changed by experiences.

    4. Micheal's family moved a lot; never stayed in one place for long, he has some issues with forming bonds or making commitments, but he is a very good listener. He likes to volunteer, his favorite food is shrimp, he prefers to write in pen, and he is not a morning person.

This is a quick tutorial that I originally wrote for school.  It was written as an informative speech; some people seemed to like it, so I thought I would convert into a tutorial and post it.  It is my first tutorial.  I hope it is helpful in some way. 
© 2014 - 2024 NdumeHodari016
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