Stop Making These 9 Character Mistakes

Summary

Key Points

• Ensure characters are developed with both the 'head' method (competency and knowledge) and the 'heart' method (frankness and vulnerability) to create a strong reader connection. 0:36
• Avoid writing overly likable characters by giving protagonists significant, realistic flaws, as imperfections make them more human and relatable. 2:14
• Make sure every character, including sidekicks, has a crucial role in the plot; if removing them doesn't affect the story, they are unnecessary 'third-wheel' characters. 4:26
• Utilize impressionistic characterization by focusing on a few salient details about a character's physical appearance and abilities, rather than lengthy, exhaustive descriptions. 7:04
• Eliminate 'ghost characters' by assigning actions and dialogue to main characters instead of introducing one-off characters who never reappear, thus deepening existing relationships. 10:01
• Integrate both 'perpendicular' characters (at odds with each other) and 'parallel' characters (running alongside each other) to create a balanced dynamic of conflict and support. 10:59
• Distinguish characters through their unique mannerisms and movements, ensuring readers can identify them solely by how they act or enter a room. 12:19
• Counterbalance any negative actions a character performs with positive ones to maintain reader empathy and portray a more complex, realistic individual. 13:05
• Develop compelling internal conflict by creating tension between a character's outer persona and their inner self, showing the strain, providing private spaces for expression, and pushing it to a breaking point. 14:21