Did you know that every story relies on three main pillars? Plot, character, and setting. Out of these, it’s the character that truly resonates with the reader. Let us ask you something:
You’re reading two books. The first book’s plot is thrilling, with lots of twists and turns. But you don’t really care for the protagonist—they feel too generic. In the second book, you absolutely love the protagonist. They feel real and relatable, and you’re completely invested in their journey.
Which book would you keep reading?
While some might still lean towards book 1, most people would actually prefer the second one. Why? Because characters can make or break a story.
In this blog, we’ll share some tips for creating realistic and relatable fictional characters, inspired by Vishal Patil’s excellent work in Whispers of a Distant Heart.
Fool-Proof Ways to Make Your Characters Connect with the Readers
Identify Your Audience
Before you immerse yourself in the writing, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your target audience and what they expect from your genre and style. Different readers have different tastes, preferences, and values, and your characters should reflect these while fitting your story’s overall tone and theme.
For instance, if you’re writing a fantasy adventure, your characters might need to be bold, adventurous, and imaginative—someone readers can root for as they face thrilling challenges. On the other hand, if you’re writing a realistic drama, your characters should be complex, flawed, and relatable.
Make Your Characters Normal
At first glance, the idea of making your characters “normal” might seem boring, especially if you’re aiming to create something unique or exciting. But here’s the thing: normal doesn’t have to mean boring. In fact, normal can be highly relatable because, in one way or another, all of us are “normal.” Of course, this idea has a lot of nuances, so let’s explore this concept further.
When we say your characters should be “normal,” we’re not suggesting they should all be everyday people like grocery store clerks, office workers, or medieval farmers. Nor are we saying they can’t have quirky personalities, unique talents, or flaws. These traits are essential! What matters is balance. The key is to avoid creating characters who feel too perfect or conveniently suited to face the challenges the story throws them.
In our experience, characters that need the most work often suffer from being too extraordinary. Maybe they start with unique knowledge or abilities that happen to solve the story’s problems, or they gain new skills so effortlessly that they face too few obstacles.
Sometimes, their “plot armor” is so thick that they can survive dangerous situations too easily, reducing the tension in the story. And then there are characters who are suddenly thrust into new, intense situations but seem completely unfazed, without any doubts or concerns.
The trick is to create grounded characters who face real challenges and grow along the way.
Give Them a Motivation
Every character, no matter their role, is motivated by something, and those motivations should always feel genuine and justified. Even a villain needs a solid reason for their actions. Take Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, for instance. His bitterness and greed aren’t just random traits; they stem from his difficult childhood. His experiences growing up taught him to place an unhealthy value on money, which in turn caused him to lose sight of what truly matters in life.
When creating characters, it’s essential to consider what drives them, whether it’s love, revenge, fear, or ambition. Their motivations should shape their actions and decisions throughout the story, giving them depth and feeling authentic.
Show the Character’s Thought Process
A character’s internal dialogue should feel natural and genuine to their personality, not forced or cliché. Unfortunately, when a character’s thoughts are awkward or overly simplistic, it can turn readers off.
On the other hand, some characters don’t seem to think before making decisions, and that’s a common mistake in certain stories. Readers want to understand a character’s thought process—their reasons for making their choices. Showing inner conflict or rationalization helps readers connect with the character’s journey.
Portraying complex thoughts can be tricky, though. It’s a challenge to get inside the head of someone different from us, but this is what makes the character feel real. Every character has a unique way of processing their world, and depicting that thoughtfully can add layers of depth and relatability to your story.
Introduce the Conflict
One of the best ways to make a character truly come alive is by putting them in a high-stakes conflict that drives every action they take. The conflict should be deeply personal, with the stakes feeling real and urgent. Here are a few things to think about when crafting that conflict:
What does your character want? This is tied to their motivations and goals. Make sure the conflict is personal. It’s not just about defeating the villain—it’s about something that resonates deeply with the character. For example, they may not just want to defeat the antagonist; they may want to rescue their family from an awful fate or seek redemption for past mistakes.
What’s standing in their way? A compelling conflict is interesting because it’s hard to resolve. Maybe it feels impossible at first, or it will take everything the character has to overcome. The obstacles should directly challenge the character’s goals, making it feel real and engaging. This gives the conflict weight and relevance to the character’s journey.
What happens if they fail? The consequences of failure need to feel huge. If the character doesn’t succeed in achieving their goal, what’s at risk? Failure should carry realistic, life-altering consequences, making it clear how critical their success is. This raises the stakes and deepens the reader’s emotional investment in the character’s journey.
Thinking about these questions can help you create conflicts that challenge your characters and make them feel more alive, real, and relatable to your readers.
Summing Up
Creating relatable characters is one of the most important things you can do to hook your readers. While a great plot and setting are important, it’s the characters who make your story come to life.
To make your characters believable, give them depth—let them have strengths, weaknesses, and even quirks. Ensure they have clear motivations and goals, so readers understand why they act as they do.
Finally, show how your characters grow or change throughout the story. This gives readers a sense of progress and makes the journey feel more rewarding. In the end, it’s these relatable, evolving characters that will make readers want to keep turning the pages.
