How to Develop Your Main Character in a Story

In order to tell a good story, a relatable, well-rounded main character needs to be created. But among the plot lines and hidden themes, the importance of a character can be forgotten and the character itself neglected. A well-written story requires both a strong story-line and a strong character. Before you begin telling your story, find out how to develop your main character.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Create the character’s profile. This includes a physical description, the character’s background, their likes and dislikes, their religious and political views, even their favorite commercial. The profile needs to include more than just the basics, if you want to create a well-rounded, complicated and sympathetic main character.
2. Give the main character a starring role. That sounds stupid, but some people are so wrapped up in writing a decent plot that they forget to bring the main character into it. The main character will help in moving the plot along, so try not to neglect him or her.
3. Become the main character. There’s a big difference between writing about a character and becoming a character. You, as the writer, need to understand their motives, their emotions and their responses in every situation. You need to know them from the inside out. Become the character and play along with them in the story. It will make the story more relatable if you’re doing more than just relaying information about the character to the audience.
4. Make the character's nature consistent. Your main character can have inconsistencies and flaws, but there should be a reason for them. You can't collect random traits, weave them together and then not bother to have a motive match up with the core nature of the character. It will only confuse your readers.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't lose sight of the plot. Yes, your character is important. It's what makes the story relatable. But if the story is all about the character, and it lacks a problem in need of a solution...then there's no story to tell. It's merely a descriptive essay of a person.

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