Creating Believable Characters

I came across an article titled "Creating Round Characters" by Beth Fowler. It caught my attention because of an article I read in (Writers Digest?) that extolled the benefits of writing “believable” characters. In essence, you’re more likely to side with a protagonist when that character has flaws just like the rest of us (think Detective Monk...to a lesser degree).

I agreed whole-heartedly with the following excerpt from Beth's article:

“Readers crave characters that are consistent enough to be recognizable and plausible, yet possess a potential for change. Characters like this compel readers to turn the page.

Writers find it difficult to write sustainable plots with cardboard characters. They fall flat. And readers become bored with one-dimensional characters that are totally wonderful or totally awful.”

Of the countless problems that I’m aware of, creating “real” characters seems to be one of the major problems I have in writing. I’m not going to say it’s the worst part of my writing, because I think that wonderful title goes to my grammar skills. I’m working on it!

Are your characters believable? Do you struggle with “cardboard characters” as well? Feel free to share an example or sample if you have one.

Comments

[prying1]

Simple solution is to write about or use people you know.

After that just make sure you have a good lawyer.