Writers wear many hats. Little did I know back in 2016 when I first started writing fanfiction, ON PINTEREST of all places, that I would not only be a screenwriter but a producer, stunt coordinator, script supervisor, director of photography, gaffer, catering — thank heaven for PAs (my husband) who brings me all the writing fuel (sour gummy worms).
And in all of those roles, never did I think I would also have to be a character designer. Granted, with fanfiction, characters are just handed to you like dolls and action figures to play with in whatever world you can imagine.
Because designing characters is freaking hard.
One of the leading voices in character design is New York Times bestselling author, Brandon Sanderson, well-known for his intricate and fantastical worlds and unforgettable characters. In his latest season of lectures at BYU (go Cougars!), he breaks down the 3 key ingredients that make characters not only compelling but likable.
Let’s explore these writing tips and how to design characters in our own stories.
The 3 Key Ingredients to Character Design
Every cajun gumbo needs the holy trinity: onion, celery, and bell pepper. Now, how much of each of these ingredients you toss into the pot determines its strength. Similarly, Sanderson introduces three vital ingredients for good character design: Capability, Proactivity, and Relatability. He explains these as adjustable dials that can shape the appeal of your character.
Capability in Character Design: Crafting Strength
Capability refers to the skills and strengths a character possesses. This can spark admiration or curiosity — how did they learn those skills? What happened that made them adapt to be this way or to know that thing?
For example, Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games showcases capability with her archery skills in the first chapter, demonstrating her strength. (And setting up a promise that pays off later AKA that Katniss being an impeccable bowman will be used throughout the story - but that’s mainly a plot structure tactic, though it does play into strong character design — do you see how writing is cyclical?!)
Proactivity in Character Design: In the Driver's Seat
Proactivity involves how actively your character seeks to accomplish their goal. A proactive character drives the story, making bold choices that create tension with the external conflict and allow for personal growth with their internal dilemma.
For instance, Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice is proactive in her decisions, leading to her development and active role in the narrative while dealing with her, say it with me, pride and prejudice for Mr. Darcy. Conversely, a character who only responds to the external conflict, who lets things happen to them without intervening can come across as passive and uninspiring.
Good character design includes proactivity. As author Fred White puts it, “Characters become memorable when their actions and decisions, noble or ignoble, ring true, enabling us to put ourselves in their shoes.”
Relatability in Character Design: Meme-ability
Relatability is the quality of being understandable, of being relatable. Relatability is essential for connecting with readers. You design a character that people like by making them relatable. Relatable characters are memeable and better have the hashtag #me #relatable stamped all over them.
A character that mirrors the breadth and depth of the human experience resonates with audiences. And audiences will gravitate to whichever one is most relatable. In Supernatural, while Jared Padalecki was first on the call sheet, I’d say most watchers are bigger fans of Dean because Dean’s sarcasm and dark humor as a defense mechanism resonates with that audience more than Sam’s softer demeanor.
Designing Relatable Characters
So, how can we design characters that resonate? Sanderson references the classic writing advice: save the cat. This age-old adage symbolizes a character's inherent goodness, selflessness, or at least willingness to help others. Which is typically a trait everyone values.
On the flip side, if you want readers to dislike a character, show them kicking a dog.
And why does this work? Because those animals are helpless, particularly the dog. Dogs have never had to work a day in their life. They pay the rent by being happy to see you when you get home from work and doin’ a lil dance when you dangle a treat in front of them. That’s a pretty dang good gig.
When a character has a soft spot for others and proactively works to maintain that affinity for others, it highlights their moral values and builds sympathy with the audience. And the audience may feel a little inspired to be a little better simply for the fact that the character cares. No one wants to hear, watch, listen to a character that doesn’t care.
And there are some characters that I don’t like, but I love to hate them because they’re so good, so capable, at whatever they’re doing. And that’s usually because they care about what they want and are being proactive to achieve it. Author Donald Maass says, “Characters become real to us, but that is because of what they caused us to feel.”
Again, it’s all about how you use the ingredients, how much you put in, or leave out.
Antagonists Matter, Too
And these character design ingredients works for antagonists, too. Every character has motivations, even the villains. Everyone cares about something, so just leave the mustache twirling bad guys who do bad things simply because they’re “bad” at the door. Everyone’s got a reason. Everyone’s got a dream, okay? Cue Tangled.
By dialing down the antagonist’s capability and amping up their relatability, you open up rich storytelling avenues. For instance, consider the Joker from The Dark Knight. His chaotic actions stem from a complex past and a skewed philosophy that creates a captivating dynamic with Batman. By crafting multi-dimensional antagonists, you integrate conflict that challenges your hero and enriches the story.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
However, Sanderson advises against the trap of crafting an overly capable antagonist as this can diminish the protagonist's significance. If the villain is unbeatable in strength or intellect, the hero can appear weak or feeble which can hurt reader engagement — DEPENDING ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED PRIOR.
An example of this is Thanos from Avengers: Infinity War. Thanos is incredibly powerful and continues to wipe the Avengers off the board throughout the movie, causing the audience to take Thanos seriously because we’ve seen the Avengers take down antagonists before. We know they’re capable. We know they’ve succeed before and we want them to do it again.
And they’re dropping like flies. They are still losing against Thanos. Thanos’s character design didn’t diminish the heroes’ significance, it enhanced it for the protagonists and the antagonist. It dialed audience empathy to a ten. That’s what made that ending so emotional.
Granted, that is the result of a decade-long, multi-billion dollar production and planning franchise, but when character arcs align with their development, it leads to a satisfying experience for the audience. Even though the Avengers lost, it was the right ending.
Simmer, Stir, and Serve
Achieving a balance among capability, proactivity, and relatability is essential for unforgettable characters. Character design inherently includes personality, and while relatability draws readers in, capability maintains their interest, and proactivity propels the narrative forward.
As you develop characters, turn up the heat by tossing in one or two more of these ingredients throughout the course of the story. A character should be relatable throughout and initially start with moderate capabilities but gradually become more proactive as they face external conflicts.
And if all else fails, the wise Anne Lamott recommends, “If you stop trying to control your mind so much, you’ll have intuitive hunches about what this or what that character is all about.”
Brandon Sanderson's insights into character design are invaluable for writers and storytellers. By focusing on relatability, capability, and proactivity, we can create characters that are not just likable but deeply engaging.
As we stir the gumbo forge of character design, let’s strive for balanced narratives that challenge our darlings while allowing their growth to shine. Building captivating characters captivates readers, ensuring our stories resonate long after the final page.
So, how will you mix up your next character design? What’s cooking in your current strategy now? Meet you in the comments, yeah?
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