Write wild

A likeable character should be as real as any person in real life. Only better. That’s why we all have to pay attention to their deepest emotions and secrets in order to create beliveable, convincing and interesting characters. In my opinion, you only have to know the answer to three simple (only not) questions:

What is my character’s biggest fear?

What’s their biggest dream or aspiration?

What is their sense of morality like?

So let’s talk about each one and see if you agree with me or not. Your opinion is highly appreciated.

1. Fear

There are some people who say ‘fear is stronger than love’ which I agree with a lot, especially in literature. Fear is one of the strongest emotions a human being – or even an animal – can feel and depending on what your biggest fear is it can shape your whole personality. Everyone has something that they’re terrified of; loneliness, loss of power, loss of freedom, being forgotten etc. That fear will influence your actions. Whenever you’re facing an important decision you will instinctively choose something that will drive you farther away from any possibility of your ‘fear’ happening.

So, first of all, think about what your character’s biggest fear might be. If you’re having trouble finding that out, think about the way he/she was brought up – what could have triggered a particular fear?

You can also try and think about other famous characters and observe what their fears are and how they act accordingly. Voldemort’s (from Harry Potter) every action was basically determined out of his fear of dying and being ‘average’. Katniss’ (from The Hunger Games) fear was losing her family and she was determined to do anything to save her people. And so on.

Fear is what determines many (most) actions in stories. As soon as you figure out what your character’s biggest fear is, you’ll be able to understand him/her better.

2. Dreams and Aspirations

In every storyline characters are either trying to escape whatever their fear is from happening (for example: losing their family) or trying to make their dream come true (example: becoming rich and powerful). There must be either the chase of a dream or the flight from some fear for a story to be interesting. If your character’s just sitting around thinking about life he’s probably thinking about some dream or fear as well. There’s no escape: you have to know what your character’s dream is.

Figure out what your character’s aspirations are and you will know their motivations. This way you’ll know how he/she reacts according to different situations.

3. Moral sense

If you’re vegetarian, love animals and are against animal curelty, you won’t ever participate in anything that causes animals harm. And if you do, it’s because you’re very desperate and have no other choice. Someone’s sense of right and wrong is very personal and has been taught or learned throughout their life. It’s extremely difficult for anyone to do something that goes beyond their moral sense.  

Try to think about what your character would see as right or wrong and stick to it. His personality needs to make sense and be consistent – he can learn new views and ideas and he can shape his opinions during the story but at least in the beginning his point of view should be consistent.

As soon as you’ve figured these three points out you will understand your character much better and it will be easier for you to know how he/she reacts during any kind of situation.

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The topic of problematic writing has been a reoccurring one and I just wanted to address my thoughts on it, particularly regarding white, straight, able-bodied writers who try to include diversity in their stories. 

To those writers (the ones who are cis, white, maybe even male), I know writing diversity is not easy when you have not experienced it. I can’t tell you how often I have white male writers approach me at conferences and tell me they want to include strong females or strong POC in their stories, but they don’t know how. And when they do, they tell me they are afraid of the backlash for not getting it right. But I think it is important that people keep trying. I think it’s okay to fumble a little. I think it is important to learn why others are finding certain writing problematic. 

My advice to writers who have gotten backlash for trying: 1) DON’T GIVE UP. Don’t quit. Don’t stop trying. 2) Don’t get defensive about it. Listen to the reasons why people are finding your work problematic. 3) Research on how to address those problematic things. Look at how diverse creators address the same issues. Talk to people. Empathize and evolve. I think if writers do this, the world WILL change. 

When authors write about experiences that are not their own, particularly when these experiences involve a marginalized community, they may feel apprehensive, afraid, or anxious about the backlash they might receive if they do something wrong, which there is a 99.9% chance that they will. Here, I will outline some microaggressions that I notice when reading, each relating to anti-blackness and misogyny (as well as misogynoir, which is a combination of the two), as those are microaggressions that I face myself. If anybody has anymore to add, or would like to add some not related to anti-blackness or misogyny, feel free!

1. Comparing our skin to food. (coffee, toffee, caramel, chocolate, etc.)

2. Getting AAVE wrong. My degree is in linguistics, and although I am by no means an expert, I do speak a variant of that particular dialect, and can discern when it is being used improperly. Perceptions of Black English speech patterns are very racialized and politicized, and it annoys me when someone (probably white lbr) throws words that they’ve heard Black people say into a sentence without considering if this would be generated by the grammar of that dialect. If you have questions regarding a particular dialect, speak to someone who speaks it. Say your dialogue out loud to them and ask if that sounds grammatical.

3. The “Black Girl Best Friend” trope. We are not born sidekicks. We are not all sassy walking stereotypes. Some of us do embody stereotypes about Black women, and that’s perfectly fine! But do not stuff your Black girl character with stereotypes and call them character traits. Additionally, do not write your Black Girl Best Friend characters so that she is only there to uphold your white protagonist and step in when they need her. (Think Bonnie from The Vampire Diaries)

4. Hypermasculine, hypersexual Black men characters. Just don’t do it. This stereotype is harmful and contributes to a wider fear and distrust of Black men and black bodies.

5. The Magical Negro. We are not here to provide your protagonist with sage wisdom or solemn advice 

6. Colorism/”Palatable Blackness,” LISTEN. If your Black characters all look like Zendaya or Jesse Williams and have curly or wavy, rather than kinky hair? You might wanna consider the colorism ingrained in that choice, fam.