Feb 08 2009
Creating Unbelievable Characters - Stereotypes
The goal of character creation is to make characters with whom a reader can not only emphasize, but believe could exist. While many exercises exist to show how to create believable characters, a writer can better come to understand how to make believable characters is said writer understands what makes a character unbelievable.
Stereotypes exist because people tend to view the world in generalization. Exact matches to those stereotypes in the real world, whatever the stereotype may be, are likely not to be found except in writing. Listing various known stereotypes a writer can start with a base character. By listing all the traits the chosen stereotype typical possesses a writer can further add to the base characters actions. Begin writing the story by describing the stereotypical character and go from there. Please, for the sake of my sanity, avoid beginning the story with the lines “Jimmy was just your average ….”
Have the stereotype interact with the environment and possibly some nearby people. When you have reached a satisfactory example of character example, the story needn’t be perfect or even complete. Just get enough to examine and compare later.
Go back to your list of traits, and add one that does not fit into the conventional idea of the stereotype, or switch a trait to its opposite. This tiny flaw in an otherwise perfect stereotype can add to the characters depth. Go back and re-write the story keeping the new trait in mind, if the new trait does not affect the story try switching a different trait.
Examine the two examples of interaction. Which piece seems more believable? Which piece seems more interesting?
Though admittedly not every character in a story can have a bases as a stereotype, or the depth of a full back story, small alterations to stereotypical characters can add a degree of realism to stock characters, which is important even if the character is only around for a few lines.
Creating Unbelievable Characters - Stereotypes By Devin P. Edwards © 2009
