Whenever I start a new piece of fiction and start experimenting with the characters, I tend to try to think of a few different defining factors. Obviously these get modified as I go deeper into the characterization process, but I don’t always want my characters to be carbon copies of each other. So when I start to think about who they are I try to decide three things: their humor, their virtue and their sin.
Whether it’s the Ninja Turtles, The A-Team or the gals of Sex in the City, the four humors are cornerstones of any ensemble. They’re different enough that they sometimes get at each others throats, but at the end of the day they all need each other to be balanced. The Four Humors as a medical practice is outdated and inaccurate, but the idea of using the temperaments represented by these humors is a practical method to make sure that your ensemble is well balanced. While having a group comprised of “No-Rules Anti-Heroes” sounds fun, it gets a little stale when there isn’t a more rational, moral brain to try and balance their habits out. Facing off against the Big Bad is good conflict, but fighting within the group is a good chance for character growth.
Is your character charitable? Are they kind? The less popular cousin of the Seven Deadly Sins, the Seven Principle Virtues are a good starting point for defining your character. These often coincide (to an extent) with the humors above, but it’s nice to figure out what your character tries for. Even villains believe they’re doing things for the right reasons, so why shouldn’t your hero have a defining trait that drives them?
And, on the other side of the coin, each character I make tries to incorporate a sin. No one is perfect, nor should your characters have to be. Maybe your Anti-Hero has a problem with Wrath. Your great hunter takes their reputation a little too seriously and suffers from pride. Figuring out the fault that your character has creates conflict not only within the group, but within the character. It gives them something to overcome or something to hinder them on their journey.
With these building blocks in place, you can start to flush out your character by asking ‘Why?’ rather than ‘What?’. These help you to ask more questions and ultimately find the characters in an organic way.
What do you look for in a character? Where do you start?
Follow Me On Social Media
