WRITING TIPS | LEARNING FROM THE BIG NAMES
What I’ve Learned From Brandon Sanderson’s Writing Class (3)
And what you can learn, too, on character.
In case you haven’t read the last two posts in this series, this post is based on best-seller author Brandon Sanderson’s Creative Writing class on YouTube.
In fourteen videos we get to hear everything his vast experience taught him on plot, setting, character and the publishing industry. Since he covers plenty of great writing points, each post I focus on something else.
This time — character.
Incredibly written characters are the ones we can’t forget about. The ones that make us feel. As we go throughout the plot, we cry, laugh and fall in love along with them. We climb mountains, cross oceans and fight enemies side by side with them.
Since characters are the core of every story, mastering writing them is crucial. Here are a few tips that may help you achieve that.
Empathy
When we feel empathy towards another, we connect with him. We identify with his story and circumstances. He makes us feel.
Think of Spider-Man. He is bullied at school, he’s afraid of asking the girl he likes out, and he lives with his aunt. Most of us like him already even before he gets powers, because he reminds us of ourselves.
If you want your readers to connect with your characters, show them how they are alike. Ask yourself:
- What is your character’s backstory?
- How is your character’s backstory similar to your target audience?
- What quirks does the protagonist have that will make him unique?
- How are my protagonist’s fears similar to the ones of the readers?
- Do other characters like or don’t like your protagonist? Why not?
Desire
We all want something. It may be a short-lived want, or one we long for years. But at the end of the day, we all have desires.
Good characters are no different. They have a desire that shapes the plot. If they don’t crave to achieve something, your story will feel flat.
The true art is making your reader care about the character’s motivation. Root for his or her success. If the two are similar and you’ve established empathy, they are already connected. Now you have to make sure your reader wants the same thing as your protagonist.
Ask yourself:
- What does my character want to achieve? Why?
- How does my character’s desire show his personality and background?
- How is my protagonist’s desire unique for the story?
- What obstacles does my character face throughout the plot? Is it inner obstacles like fear, or outside obstacles like enemies?
- If you were the reader would you care for the protagonist’s desire? Why?
Progress
No one likes to feel stuck. To live in a dull loop without changing, growing and evolving. We all keep learning and developing over time.
So should your characters.
If you want your readers to connect with your characters, they have to be human. They have to have flaws, struggles, and make mistakes. They have to learn and change over the plot. They have to make progress — whether it’s for the better or for the worse.
Ask yourself:
- Who is my protagonist at the start of the story?
- What are my character’s flaws?
- With what obstacles does my character face throughout the plot?
- How do obstacles change the character over time?
- What does my character learn?
- What quirks does my character have? Is it in the way he looks or the habits he has adjusted to over the years?
- Who is my protagonist at the end of the story?
Proactivity
Incredible characters don’t just make us identify with them. They make us think. They inspire us. Sometimes they even challenge us.
If you want to write characters that do that, they have to be proactive. Instead of letting the plot shape them, make it the other way around. They will have to make choices and difficult decisions. They will have to come up with ideas and develop plans to solve their problems.
Ask yourself:
- What decisions does my character make?
- Where does my protagonist follow the plot instead of taking action? How can I change that?
- Does my character face a tough decision? When?
- What mistakes does my character make?
- How does my protagonist's choices shape the plot?
- With what consequences does my protagonist face because of his choices?
Final Thoughts
Can you imagine a story without characters? I can’t. Characters are the core of every story. Correction — they are the story. We escape to fictional worlds to experience adventures we lack in real life. To feel.
Nothing makes people feel better than other people. That’s why writing intriguing, complicated characters is essential for any good story.
If you want your reader to remember your protagonist, establish empathy. Show how the two have similar interests or why the reader should care about the protagonist achieving his goal.
Don’t be afraid to make your characters human. Show us their flaws, mistakes, and their actions to make things better. It will make us cry, laugh, and fall in love with them. More importantly — it will make them unforgettable.
The previous posts in the series focus on plot and setting. You can find them here:
https://medium.com/@noabaliz55/list/learning-from-the-big-names-d44db404dec7
If you don’t want to miss the final piece in the series, don’t forget to follow and subscribe.
Thank you for reading!
I’ll see you next time.
