Character development is arguably what gives any story its depth, and in turn its impact on the reader.

But if you’re new to writing (or reading for that matter) then you may be wondering what character development is exactly.

So that’s exactly what this article is going to address. And as a bonus, we also touch upon how you might showcase character development in your story.

Definitions

But first some basic definitions…

Character development is the showcasing of a character’s complex nature and their development in regard to growing as a person and developing the necessary wisdom and qualities that will see them through to the conclusion of the story.

And in discussion on character development, we will also be using the term character arcs.

A character arc is a character’s personal growth and also their adaptation to the various conflicts in the story.

Why Is Character Development Important In A Story?

Readers will keep reading your story only if they are genuinely interested in the character.

If the reader finds your central character relatable and/or flawed, they will become invested in the character’s story and what is happening for them.

And this becomes especially important when the character is faced with a seemingly impossible mission. They may have something to achieve or a battlefield or equivalent to navigate.

In this case, the character may be required to acquire new traits such as bravery, strength, or develop a new perspective of themselves or of others or of society as a whole.

If the story is to have a happy ending, then such character development can be incredibly inspiring.

If the reader relates to your protagonist, they can witness first hand how their own character flaws can be overcome and that they can succeed at whatever challenge comes their way.

On the flip side, if your character begins to improve in their overall nature but then goes back to square one because, for whatever reason, something prevents the ultimate goal of character growth, and the story ends badly, then this too can be very moving and teach the reader a valuable lesson about what people can be like.

For a story that’s character driven rather than plot driven, character development is essential, because it’s the whole point of the story.

How To Showcase Character Development

Your story needs to feature realistic, even if extreme, personalities. And this is the case whether it’s a historical novel, set in the future, set in modern day, or even in another galaxy, with creatures of any realm or description.

This means that the characters, whatever positive traits they may have, must also have negative character traits as well. Since in the real world, everyone has their flaws.

The purpose of a character arc, and in turn character development, is to showcase how one individual can gravitate from a relatively limited and flawed background to one in which they can either see things in a whole new way or achieve much greater things, things they thought they could never manage.

You can have just one character arc in your story, or you can have several character arcs for a number of characters.

Typically, a story with a happy ending will feature a protagonist who is very flawed, growing into someone a lot more well-rounded and wise.

As a writer, your task is to paint the picture perfectly. Leave the reader in no doubt as to the character’s flaws at the beginning of the story, before painting them in a whole new light by the end of the tale.

Overcoming the flaws that once held them back.

It helps to imagine people you already know, or maybe the person you used to be before you grew into who you are now.

Knowing Your Character/s

To achieve such a character arc in your story, you have to really know and understand your characters. What motivates them, what they’re afraid of, and so on.

That way, you can feel how they would approach the conflict that they have to contend with, and what changes would have to occur for their purpose.

Before you put pen to paper, you should give serious thought to your characters. You need to know what makes them tick, their backstory, their philosophy, their beliefs, their values and so on.

You can develop your characters and their story by asking the character questions, such as what they stand for, what drives them, what are their hopes, what are their regrets, what are their strengths and weaknesses, how would they interact with other characters, what is their role in the story and so on.

Tips For Nuanced, 3-Dimensional Character Development

I recommend writing a comprehensive list of character traits for your characters prior to writing your story, so you can imagine how they might handle what the story is going to throw at them.

You can showcase what’s going through a character’s mind by writing a passage or chapter or two from that character’s perspective, displaying their innermost thoughts to the reader, so the reader gets a fuller picture of the character and their perspective.

You can also include flashbacks, which are important for demonstrating a character’s backstory, and thus explaining how they came to be so flawed in the first place.

Consider their origins and upbringing. What makes them who they are, and what effect does it have?

Wrap Up

So now you know what character development is, why it’s important, and the value of character arcs, as well as their role in a character driven story.

What’s more, you’ve also got some great tips for thinking about the characters and showcasing their character arcs in their story by painting them as flawed but also with the ability to redeem themselves in the eyes of the reader by the end of the story.

Readers appreciate characters with both relatability and depth so that they can get a fuller experience from reading the story you have to offer.

That’s how to deliver real impact.

Character development is arguably what gives any story its depth, and in turn its impact on the reader.

But if you’re new to writing (or reading for that matter) then you may be wondering what character development is exactly.

So that’s exactly what this article is going to address. And as a bonus, we also touch upon how you might showcase character development in your story.

Definitions

But first some basic definitions…

Character development is the showcasing of a character’s complex nature and their development in regard to growing as a person and developing the necessary wisdom and qualities that will see them through to the conclusion of the story.

And in discussion on character development, we will also be using the term character arcs.

A character arc is a character’s personal growth and also their adaptation to the various conflicts in the story.

Why Is Character Development Important In A Story?

Readers will keep reading your story only if they are genuinely interested in the character.

If the reader finds your central character relatable and/or flawed, they will become invested in the character’s story and what is happening for them.

And this becomes especially important when the character is faced with a seemingly impossible mission. They may have something to achieve or a battlefield or equivalent to navigate.

In this case, the character may be required to acquire new traits such as bravery, strength, or develop a new perspective of themselves or of others or of society as a whole.

If the story is to have a happy ending, then such character development can be incredibly inspiring.

If the reader relates to your protagonist, they can witness first hand how their own character flaws can be overcome and that they can succeed at whatever challenge comes their way.

On the flip side, if your character begins to improve in their overall nature but then goes back to square one because, for whatever reason, something prevents the ultimate goal of character growth, and the story ends badly, then this too can be very moving and teach the reader a valuable lesson about what people can be like.

For a story that’s character driven rather than plot driven, character development is essential, because it’s the whole point of the story.

How To Showcase Character Development

Your story needs to feature realistic, even if extreme, personalities. And this is the case whether it’s a historical novel, set in the future, set in modern day, or even in another galaxy, with creatures of any realm or description.

This means that the characters, whatever positive traits they may have, must also have negative character traits as well. Since in the real world, everyone has their flaws.

The purpose of a character arc, and in turn character development, is to showcase how one individual can gravitate from a relatively limited and flawed background to one in which they can either see things in a whole new way or achieve much greater things, things they thought they could never manage.

You can have just one character arc in your story, or you can have several character arcs for a number of characters.

Typically, a story with a happy ending will feature a protagonist who is very flawed, growing into someone a lot more well-rounded and wise.

As a writer, your task is to paint the picture perfectly. Leave the reader in no doubt as to the character’s flaws at the beginning of the story, before painting them in a whole new light by the end of the tale.

Overcoming the flaws that once held them back.

It helps to imagine people you already know, or maybe the person you used to be before you grew into who you are now.

Knowing Your Character/s

To achieve such a character arc in your story, you have to really know and understand your characters. What motivates them, what they’re afraid of, and so on.

That way, you can feel how they would approach the conflict that they have to contend with, and what changes would have to occur for their purpose.

Before you put pen to paper, you should give serious thought to your characters. You need to know what makes them tick, their backstory, their philosophy, their beliefs, their values and so on.

You can develop your characters and their story by asking the character questions, such as what they stand for, what drives them, what are their hopes, what are their regrets, what are their strengths and weaknesses, how would they interact with other characters, what is their role in the story and so on.

Tips For Nuanced, 3-Dimensional Character Development

I recommend writing a comprehensive list of character traits for your characters prior to writing your story, so you can imagine how they might handle what the story is going to throw at them.

You can showcase what’s going through a character’s mind by writing a passage or chapter or two from that character’s perspective, displaying their innermost thoughts to the reader, so the reader gets a fuller picture of the character and their perspective.

You can also include flashbacks, which are important for demonstrating a character’s backstory, and thus explaining how they came to be so flawed in the first place.

Consider their origins and upbringing. What makes them who they are, and what effect does it have?

Wrap Up

So now you know what character development is, why it’s important, and the value of character arcs, as well as their role in a character driven story.

What’s more, you’ve also got some great tips for thinking about the characters and showcasing their character arcs in their story by painting them as flawed but also with the ability to redeem themselves in the eyes of the reader by the end of the story.

Readers appreciate characters with both relatability and depth so that they can get a fuller experience from reading the story you have to offer.

That’s how to deliver real impact.