Building characters fiction

{{whyLabel}}: Compelling characters are driven by a conscious goal (Want) that is often at odds with what they actually require for emotional health (Need).

{{howLabel}}:

• Identify a concrete external goal (e.g., 'Win the election').
• Identify an internal emotional requirement (e.g., 'Learn to trust others').
• Ensure the 'Want' is a temporary fix for a deeper 'Need'.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have a written statement: '[Character] wants X, but they actually need Y.'

{{whyLabel}}: A 'Ghost' is a past event that continues to haunt the character, shaping their current fears and biases.

{{howLabel}}:

• Determine a specific traumatic or pivotal event from the character's past.
• Explain how this event created a 'wound' that dictates their current behavior.
• Use this to justify their irrational fears in the present story.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A one-paragraph summary of the character's most influential past trauma is written.

{{whyLabel}}: The 'Lie' is a false belief about themselves or the world, born from their 'Ghost', that prevents them from achieving their 'Need'.

{{howLabel}}:

• Formulate a sentence like 'I am only worthy if I am successful' or 'The world is a dangerous place.'
• Ensure this Lie is the primary obstacle to their character arc.
• Plan how the plot will eventually force them to confront this Lie.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: The character's core false belief is clearly articulated.

{{whyLabel}}: This book provides the industry-standard framework for mapping how characters change (or fail to change) over time.

{{howLabel}}:

• Focus on the 'Positive Change Arc' (overcoming the Lie).
• Study the 'Flat Arc' (where the character changes the world around them).
• Take notes on the 'Negative Change Arc' for tragic characters.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have finished the book and identified which arc type your character follows.

{{whyLabel}}: Archetypes provide a recognizable skeleton that you can then flesh out with unique details to avoid clichés.

{{howLabel}}:

• Choose from Jungian archetypes: The Hero, The Shadow, The Mentor, The Rebel, or The Caregiver.
• Identify how your character subverts this archetype (e.g., a 'Cowardly Hero').
• Use the archetype to guide their initial reactions to conflict.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: An archetype is selected and a subversion point is noted.

{{whyLabel}}: Readers remember characters through specific, recurring physical habits or mannerisms, especially under stress.

{{howLabel}}:

• Avoid generic traits like 'blue eyes'.
• Choose a 'Tell' (e.g., tugging an earlobe when lying, or checking their watch every 5 minutes).
• Ensure the trait reflects an internal state (e.g., anxiety, impatience).

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Three distinct physical mannerisms are listed for the character.

{{whyLabel}}: Every character should sound different. If you remove the names, the reader should still know who is speaking.

{{howLabel}}:

• Determine sentence length (short/clipped vs. long/flowery).
• Choose a specific vocabulary level (academic, slang-heavy, or formal).
• Identify a 'crutch word' or phrase they use too often.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A 10-line dialogue sample is written without using the character's name.

{{whyLabel}}: Flaws make characters believable and human. This resource by Puglisi & Ackerman provides deep psychological roots for flaws.

{{howLabel}}:

• Pick 2-3 negative traits (e.g., Abrasive, Cynical, or Cowardly).
• Read the 'Causes' section for these traits to link them to your character's backstory.
• Note how these traits will cause friction in their relationships.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have selected three flaws and linked them to the character's 'Ghost'.

{{whyLabel}}: Most people act differently in public than they do in private. This contrast creates depth.

{{howLabel}}:

• Define how they want the world to see them (e.g., 'The confident leader').
• Define who they are when they are alone (e.g., 'The insecure child').
• Plan a scene where the mask slips.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A description of the 'Public vs. Private' persona is written.

{{whyLabel}}: A foil is a character who contrasts with the protagonist to highlight specific qualities.

{{howLabel}}:

• Identify the protagonist's strongest trait.
• Create a character who lacks that trait or possesses its opposite.
• Use their interactions to show the reader the protagonist's unique nature.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A supporting character is designed specifically to contrast the lead.

{{whyLabel}}: The best villains are often dark reflections of the hero, showing what the hero could become if they gave in to their 'Lie'.

{{howLabel}}:

• Give the antagonist the same 'Want' as the hero, but a different 'Need'.
• Ensure they share a similar 'Ghost' but chose a destructive path to deal with it.
• Make their conflict personal, not just ideological.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A comparison chart between the hero and villain is completed.

{{whyLabel}}: Characters are defined by how they treat others. A web ensures no two relationships are the same.

{{howLabel}}:

• Draw a circle with the protagonist in the center.
• Add 3-5 supporting characters around them.
• Draw lines between them and write one word describing the dynamic (e.g., 'Resentment', 'Idolization', 'Competition').

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A visual or written map of all major character relationships is created.

{{whyLabel}}: Seeing a character in their normal environment before the story starts helps establish their 'Status Quo'.

{{howLabel}}:

• Write 500-1000 words of the character performing a mundane task (e.g., grocery shopping).
• Focus on how their 'Tells' and 'Voice' manifest in low-stakes situations.
• Do not include this in the final novel; it is for your eyes only.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A completed 500+ word character study scene.

{{whyLabel}}: How a character reacts to a sudden change reveals their true nature and their 'Lie'.

{{howLabel}}:

• Write the scene where the character's world is turned upside down.
• Ensure their reaction is driven by their 'Want' and 'Fear', not just plot necessity.
• Make the choice they make active, not passive.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A draft of the character's first major choice in the story.

{{whyLabel}}: Consistency is the only way to discover the nuances of a character that planning cannot reveal.

{{howLabel}}:

• Commit to writing 500 words of your draft every day.
• Focus on 'Character is Action'—show who they are through what they do.
• Don't edit as you go; just get the character moving.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Seven consecutive days of meeting the word count goal.

{{whyLabel}}: A common mistake is having characters who just let things happen to them. They must drive the plot.

{{howLabel}}:

• Go through your outline or draft.
• For every major plot point, ask: 'Did the character make a choice that led here?'
• If the answer is 'No', rewrite the scene so the character's decision causes the outcome.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Every major plot beat is linked to a character decision.

{{whyLabel}}: You need to know if readers actually care about the character's journey.

{{howLabel}}:

• Share the first 3 chapters with 2-3 trusted readers.
• Ask specifically: 'Did you understand what the character wanted?' and 'Did you find them relatable, even if they were unlikable?'
• Look for patterns in their feedback.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: You have received and summarized feedback from at least two readers.

{{whyLabel}}: Over a long novel, a character's voice can drift. This step ensures they sound the same from start to finish.

{{howLabel}}:

• Read only the dialogue of your protagonist from Chapter 1 and Chapter 20 back-to-back.
• Check if the vocabulary and rhythm are consistent.
• Adjust any lines that sound like 'the author' rather than 'the character'.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A full pass of the manuscript focusing solely on dialogue consistency.