How do you develop complex, multi-dimensional characters that readers can connect with and care about?

These are some of the areas I see authors struggle the most:

1. Even the best protagonists need to have some struggles and flaws to be relatable. Even the worst antagonists need to have some redeemable qualities to not feel flat and cheesy. 

2. Don't just tell me, as a reader, about your character, let me see who they are through their interactions with others, how they act in tense situations, and what small things do they do that tell me a bit more about who they are as a person. Inner monologues or lengthy comments about who characters are overused. Dialogue with other characters as well as scenes where they are interacting with others or undertaking some task often develop characters in a natural way. It's the old concept "show me" vs "tell me". Showing is usually preferable.

3. The major, often surprising, actions characters take in a story need to be believable, even if they are unexpected. So be sure to help readers understand enough of a character's motivation and thought process that they can accept what is happening and not mentally check out of the story. This means giving glimpses of internal struggles leading up to the unexpected choices.

Creating complex, multi-dimensional characters involves crafting individuals who feel authentic, layered, and capable of eliciting emotional connections with readers. Here are steps to develop such characters:

 

1. Understand Their Core Identity

 

• Define Goals and Motivations: Every character should have clear desires and reasons for pursuing them. This provides a sense of purpose and drives their actions.

• Establish Flaws and Strengths: No one is perfect. Flaws make characters relatable, while strengths make them admirable. A mix of both creates balance.

• Explore Backstory: A rich backstory shapes a character’s personality, fears, and dreams. Include key events that inform their current behavior and worldview.

 

2. Make Them Dynamic

 

• Allow Growth and Change: Show how the character evolves due to experiences in the story. Growth can be subtle or dramatic but should feel earned and believable.

• Introduce Internal Conflicts: Inner struggles, such as doubts, insecurities, or competing desires, make characters feel real and multidimensional.

 

3. Craft Distinct Voices and Behaviors

 

• Dialogue: Give each character a unique way of speaking that reflects their background, education, and personality.

• Body Language and Habits: Small details like a nervous tick, a habitual phrase, or how they react under stress can make them more vivid.

• Decision-Making: Let their choices reflect their values, fears, and priorities, even when those choices lead to mistakes.

 

4. Add Complexity Through Relationships

 

• Develop Contrasting Dynamics: Relationships reveal facets of your character that might not otherwise come to light. For example, a character might act bravely around friends but be vulnerable with a sibling.

• Conflict and Bonding: Let relationships include both tension and connection, as these dynamics are true to real life.

 

5. Balance Relatability and Uniqueness

 

• Relatable Qualities: Show struggles, desires, or dilemmas that readers can empathize with, even if the character’s circumstances are unusual.

• Unique Traits: Add quirks, talents, or viewpoints that set them apart, making them memorable.

 

6. Use Their Environment to Reflect and Challenge Them

 

• Tailor Settings to Suit Their Story: A character’s surroundings can reveal their traits and challenge their growth. For example, a shy character might be forced into social situations that test their limits.

• Cultural and Social Influences: How do societal norms, upbringing, or external pressures shape their decisions?

 

7. Create Moral Ambiguity

 

• Avoid Pure Good or Evil: Add shades of gray by giving characters conflicting motives or making them act contrary to their values under pressure.

• Show Consequences: Let them face moral dilemmas where their choices have significant impacts, making readers question what they would do in the same situation.

 

8. Write from the Inside Out

 

• Focus on Their Inner World: Spend time writing their thoughts, emotions, and fears, even if it doesn’t all make it into the final story. This helps you stay true to their perspective.

• Empathy as a Guide: Treat them like real people, understanding their decisions without judging them harshly.

 

9. Test Their Realism

 

• Ask Questions: Can you imagine this character in various scenarios outside the story? If they feel like they have a life beyond the page, they’re probably well-developed.

• Seek Feedback: Share your characters with others and ask if they find them relatable, compelling, and believable.

 

10. Embrace Contradictions

 

• People are often inconsistent. A bold character might have moments of crippling doubt, or a loving person might act selfishly. These contradictions make characters human.

 

Example: Creating a Multi-Dimensional Character

 

Let’s take an example: Anna, a paramedic.

• Goals: She wants to become a flight medic.

• Flaws: She avoids emotional vulnerability, keeping people at arm’s length.

• Strengths: She’s quick-thinking and deeply compassionate.

• Backstory: Growing up with an alcoholic parent taught her to stay composed under pressure but also left her wary of forming close bonds.

• Conflict: She wants to help others but struggles to accept help herself, leading to tension with her colleagues and friends.

• Relationships: Anna’s dynamic with her younger brother, who resents her protective nature, reveals her guilt and need for control.

This combination of traits, history, and conflict makes Anna feel like a real person.

The key to developing a complex and multi-dimensional character is understanding that the characters in a story are just like the people you meet in your day-to-day life. They may look perfect on the outside but once you get to know them better, you understand that there is more to them than meets the eye. They’re like onions: the more you peel it, the more layers you’ll find. The writer has to think of the character they’re developing as a real person with both strengths and flaws, not an ideal machine-like being programmed to perfection (this is one of the reasons why I believe AI would never be able to conjure up relatable characters).

We have to understand that the characters in a story don’t have to be transparent, direct, and perfect for the story to become an enjoyable read. In fact, it’s the opposite. If the reader can easily see through the character, they would soon lose interest and become bored. The more complex the character is, the more enjoyable the read would be. But this doesn’t mean you have to make them too complex. Just give them enough complexity to make them seem real. The right balance is important here.

Sometimes, I even do a little SWOT analysis for my characters  It’s really fun!

Ultimately, my tip is: Don’t try to make your character a perfect being. Instead, try to make them relatable and real.

I've always been quite good at reading people and I think that helps a great deal in shaping characters. I notice things about people's appearances, personalities, likes, dislikes, and mannerisms. (That's a very long-winded way of saying I'm observant.)

I've said this as part of my response to another question, but reading is a great way to sharpen your skills. When we read, we relate to characters. If you read your own writing and it feels like just words on a page without anything relatable in the character mix (even down to the antagonists), you're not creating characters with depth. 

Character building is one of my favorite pieces of the writing puzzle because I get to create an entire human being (or other living humanoid creature) from nothing. Their slang, emotions, facial expressions, height, scars (physical and emotional), eye color, and everything in between are so incredibly exciting to create. I equally love creating backstories.

Fiction is just such a sweet escape for a writer. 

 

Edited November 10 by Melissa M

Writing real characters can be a challenge, but I've found empathy and compassion for everyone - not just the hero - is one of the most important skills for writing solid people into your projects.

Recognising that the antagonist isn't only the 'bad guy' but has had a childhood, has fears and can be caring, and that the hero isn't flawless, makes mistakes and doesn't always act altruistically, will help any writer develop stronger characters.

Readers look for characters that have the same traits, and flaws, as them to relate to.