Steps to Creating an Original Character

Creating a unique, original character is arguably one of the hardest things about creating a good story. It’s difficult to keep your character from becoming boring or part of a stereotype. By taking these four easy steps, you can create a character that is both original and exciting.

Step One: Think of the Basics

A good way to start making your character is to decide the basic things about them. These small details are the stepping stones for creating your character.

What is their name? Does their name say something about their personality? When thinking of a name, try to think about the type of story you’re writing and whether or not the name fits with that genre or era.

How old is your character? What does your character look like? What color is their hair? To make your character more original, think of something that can make their looks more unique. Let them have big ears, a pointy nose, crooked teeth, or a cleft chin. No one looks perfect, so your character shouldn’t look perfect either.

Step Two: The More than Basics

In this step, think about the things that define your character. What is their job? Are they in school? Do they have any hobbies or play any sports?

Step Three: Developing a Personality

An easy way to develop your character’s personality is to ask questions and answer them as if you were your character. Pretend you are interviewing your character and ask them questions about their family, likes, dislikes, and background. What is their motivation and what are their goals? Do they have a catchphrase or any pet peeves? Think about things that can make your character unique like a fear of dogs or a fascination with buttons.

Step Four: Develop Relationships

An important part about having a unique character is the character’s relationships. Think about who your character likes and dislikes. Why does your character feel that way about them? How does your character act around them? How do they interact with one another?

These are four easy steps you can take to make a unique, original character. After you have created and developed your character, write them into your story and make sure they stay true to their personality. Always ask yourself: What would my character do?