Creating Original Characters

Creating Original Characters Whether you’re a screenwriter, author, or short story-ist, our stories are simply only as good as our characters. Characters are the glue which hold our stories together. They are the vessel and the captain which keeps our plot in motion.

So… how do we make the glue Gorilla-esque grade, if you will. As a writer, I have googled this topic a million times, hoping something I hadn’d heard before -by the grace of god- would pop up. I’d close my eyes, say a prayer and type. Ya know- “How To Creaye Uniquw Charatecters” (Yes I meant to do that, my eyes are closed remember).

My belief is that each character must be a completely painted picture. Though your audience only sees one square inch at a time. Each character ought to have unique experiences, perspectives, and coping mechanisms (to me watching how a character copes and responds to good and bad stress/trauma is one of the more important qualities of a character). Even if they happen to be in similar situations, their experiences MUST be different.

As a writer, it can be difficult to get inside your characters head. Especially when there are many different heads to get into.

We must feel their facial expressions- not simply see them. We must hold the awkward silences yet hearing their inner monologue.

As I scoured the internet, reading list after post, they all seemed to ultimately parrot the other.

So I took a stab at coming up with some of my own. I mean I will give credit where credit is due- the “How- to’s” mimic each other because the simple fact that they work really well. Even so, I think I can offer some fresh takes.

While my list is short, I hope it is impactful. If even one point begets a breakthrough, my time was worth it- and so was yours. I think we can all agree that if we have to read another blog post about the importance of giving your character a meaningful backstory, I will scream- like no shit Sherlock.

So here ya go.

1. Originality Can be Unnecessary

The harsh reality of story telling is that no character is 100% original. I was recently watching Anthony Bourdain “No Reservations” and it took place in this remote village on a mountain in Malaysia. A village so remote that Europeans or any foreigner must be invited by either a local or official of the government. From there- you must be accepted by the chief of the village.Bourdain was, with rational reasoning, a little on edge. Even maybe fearful of the encounter. Long story short, he was happily accepted by this energetic and boozy crowd. A crowd much like you’d find at your local watering hole.

That said, whether you are in a remote village, with no cellphones, cars, or convinces- having only known a people just like you, who live off the land, or you are living in a brownstone in the Upper East side, we are all very much the same. We crave community, likeness, and of course vodka. We all having the same fears, motivations, and desires. We, for the most fall into coping mechanisms that can be thrown in a box with a percentage of the population.

So it is your voice that makes a story worth reading. It is your take on your experiences, or for the sake of this post- your characters experiences. What drives them, why, and what happens if they don’t reach their end goal?

And think about it, when you are watching your favorite show, reading your favorite book, or listening to a song that cuts deep, what is the reason?

Relatability.

So why strive for a purely original character, a character no one can connect with? Use the idea of no is all that different, to your advantage.

David Lynch says, “I think new [screen]writers are too worried it has been said before. Sure it has, but not by you.”

Your lens is unique, not your character or even your storyline. YOU. You are the God of your characters. You are the author in your own version of a “choose your own adventure.” You throw shit at your characters and make them respond to it. Let me emphasize that... Your characters must respond to the shit- not react to it.

Responding indicates intention. Your character must build some type of pattern, to then break that pattern as their arc grows.

Predictability is reliability. We all see ourselves in chronic bad decision making. Whether sex, alcohol, drugs, shopping, or envy.. We can empathize. We all have our go to mediators.

So, instead of being discouraged by this notion of “you really aren’t that special”, use it. And use it well.

Focus less on what you think a good plot-line is, and focus more on what makes your characters voice unique, what makes them who they are, and why they are who they are. What moves her, what drives her, what is her bodies reaction, then her response... to conflict or miracles? From there your plot will move. And it will do so, organically.

I have heard experts say to try not to base characters off of people you know, but I do. I loosely base them off people I know, key word loosely. People I love, people I hate, but people I, at varying degrees, know.

For me it can set some clear lines so I don’t begin to dilute them or confuse them.

That visual helps me keep my characters unique, not necessarily original. When you have some point of reference for your little minions, a characters originality is born in a natural way.

2. Don't Miss the Forest for the Trees

As I mentioned above, when you base your characters off people you know- you are familiar with their oddities and rituals. While all these little things can create a clear boundary to help fill up their lives- it can be a double edged sword. I would caution you to yes, utilize these oddities, but also not to get so caught up in them that you drive yourself mad trying to make your character so incredibly real it is over the top. Especially when it is on screen. It could eventually become over-whelming and just annoying. Boundaries keep you on track, but are made to be pushed and breached as well. They will grow, bend, and parts will break off as your character grows.

Example:

Let’s say my character is based off my mom- I can effortlessly and unintentionally get material.

For example, my mom eats candy corn (Possibly the most controversial Halloween candy, which is a storyline in and of itself depending your genre), but she has a right way to eat it. She eats it color by color, and layer by layer.

Is that important, not really… But does it bring your character more to life? Yes. And the beauty of that is, you didn’t have to spend a week thinking about a quirk for your character.

I/We get caught up in these details, which ultimately eats up our writing time. Time which should be spent taking your story to the finish line.

I stumbled upon a blog that gave a questionnaire on getting to know your character. I read the questionnaire once, which emphasized the fact that you must know every detail about your character before you began writing. And take a guess on how long that SOB was...?

I’ll wait, I want you guess…

Ok i've waited long enough, it was THIRTY PAGES.. Yes you read that right. THIRTY PAGES. On what planet is that a requirement to start writing… The title should’ve been “Hot to procrastinate under the guise of productivity.”

I mean can we all agree your characters first pets name is not driving the plot?

Unless of course her childhood dog is actively shaping her experiences or is haunting her, then sure ponder.

Which brings me to my next point.

3. Your Plot is not the pilot, Your Characters are.

This one is pretty self explanatory, and has been said before-so I will be quick, and then end here.

Plot is necessary. A beginning, middle, and end are obviously keys to storytelling. The thing to keep in mind is, can your story stand on it’s on two feet, or is your character the glue that holds your story together?

Can you imagine Grey’s Anatomy without Meredith Grey, Scandal without Olivia Pope, New Girl without Jess? Probably not. The characters hold the show in their hands. You take those characters away, and you’ve lost the audience.

These characters make or break their stories because they are the pilots. They drive the plot forward, they hold the other characters together, and they are who we see ourselves in.