Writing Processes: Character Creation

Leon "Gale" Casma
Inspired by your average romance
book cover. Well, not really...

How to Create 3-D Characters: Psychology of the Human Spirit Dissected (warning: not for the faint-hearted)

Just thought I'd share a bit of my writing habits with you. Let's compare notes!

Character creation, as we all know, is damn important. Creating amazing characters comes directly after an amazing storyline. That feeling you get when your characters leave such an impression on readers to the point that they just want more (who knows, maybe even less) [insert character name] in general? One of the most rewarding feelings you could ever feel as a writer.

So what can we do to avoid making something 2-dimensional, or, even worse, ignorant? Well, for one thing, we can think. Deeply. That, and try to understand and sympathize with your fellow human-beings. It's less than getting to know how people function, yet a little more.

If you're a fantasy writer, chances are, your roster is not going to consist only of humans. And if not, that's fine too. At this level, which is the psychology of characters, the process works much the same for creatures human or otherwise. As long as your character is capable of thought and feeling, it is capable of being influenced and affected by its surroundings, which likely include family, friends, society, politics, nature, media, and so on and so forth. It will be a complex creature.

You've probably heard that certain people do the crooked things they do purely out of greed. Or better yet, purely because they're jerks. Take Hitler; why'd he kill so many people? Most common answer: cause he's a racist, homophobic, power-hungry psychopath! Then we all shrug the matter aside. That's that. People are just born horrible.

Remember this, dear reader: no one is purely evil. No one is purely good. Everyone is right, but no one is justified.



Try to understand that the spirit transcends race, sexuality, politics, good and evil. It is people who instill these institutions. At the very, very core, we are all creatures simply looking to survive. But with time, we evolve. We learn more. We realize things. Suddenly, we reach that point in life where we no longer want to simply survive, but to live. To live better.

So let's take it one step higher, shall we? Why so greedy? Why such a jerk? Why so power hungry?

 

Nilec
Inspired by Greek effigies and the
pure beauty of androgyny.

No one (normal) is born thinking: I am going to rule this world. What did this person see/go through to want the world bad enough to murder for it? Perhaps they have smelt the decay of poverty, the burning ashes of a smoldering culture that only years ago thrived with life. What would you do when you saw so much injustice? What will you do when you realize, with certainty, that no one will step up to try and help all this?

Then what happens when the people who inflicted all this injustice in the first place, people who also happen to be the majority, turn against you? On top of that, they use their mass media to turn the rest of the world against you as well. The only ones left on your side now are your closest friends and the people who you tried to help, only they are too small and weak to defend you.

So, I ask again, why?

Here's what I think: desperation. On any level; mild, moderate, to severe cases of desperation. People will almost always act when they are desperate. Desperate, starving characters make some of the best villains. Look at some of the most memorable ones out there: the Joker, Voldemort, Saruman...All desperate for something. As for the protag, perhaps it/s/he doesn't realize it in the beginning. Heck, it/s/he might even be happy as a bird in paradise, but I'm willing to bet that as events unfold, desperation begins to fester. If done right, readers feel this. They understand this. They realize subliminally, before your characters even come face to face with that dragon, that your character is diving into some deep shit.

By the way, I am amazed you're still reading this.

We are naturally needy creatures. Usually, we are not simply desperate, but desperate for something. I believe this is where love, pride, honor, friendship, vengeance, or so on and so forth kicks in. These themes are also generally attached to the story in general, hence "theme", but that is another topic. Anyway, at this point, it is a lot of imagination. But of course, everything about writing is imagination. That is why there is no excuse for making flat characters that are obviously products of stereotype and preconceived notions! Not gonna point any fingers here...


I'd love to hear from you. Comment below and tell me your views!