You know a story is good when you feel what the characters are feeling. These emotions can range from terrified to euphoric, but each emotion is designed to make the reader feel what the character is feeling. This sensation is specifically prevalent in character-driven stories. Character-driven stories are stories that primarily focus on the characters and their specific goals, obstacles, and struggles rather than the plot. Character-driven novels use emotions to drive the story, rather than an action-packed plot. Character-driven stories are common in realistic fiction or books based upon real life. Character-driven stories are engaging and interesting, but are very difficult to write. Though they are not impossible, here are 5 tips for how to write character-driven stories.
Create a Strong Backstory
To create a good character-driven novel, your characters should have interesting backstories that are unique to them. A rich backstory will engage the readers and make the characters realistic and compelling. Having characters with engaging backstories, doesn't just benefit the readers, but they may also benefit your writing process. Creating a riveting backstory will help you develop a well-rounded character and you may discover certain themes or obstacles you want to introduce.
Give Each Character Goals
Giving your characters goals is essential to a successful character-driven story. Simply-put characters with goals, will be characters that take action and come across conflict. The specific goal doesn't matter, it could be as simple as walking home from school to something large and complex, like saving the world from zombies. Either way, goals give your characters initiative and lead readers to feel engaged in what will happen next. When choosing a specific goal for a character, it is important to make sure the goal fits true with the type of person they are. In most cases, a character's fears and goals intertwine.
*For example, a character who wants to enter a surfing competition, but who is afraid of shark may have a goal of learning facts about sharks and overcoming their fear, so they feel safe for the competition.
Focus on Inner Conflict
Inner conflict is largely focused on in character-driven stories, whereas external conflict is focused on in plot-driven stories. Inner conflict is when a character struggles their own doubts, fears or beliefs. As the name implies, inner conflict is internal and within a character. In character-driven, stories it is important to focus on the inner conflict of a character and to let it run their development. Character-driven stories center on inner conflict and how it impacts the character.
Let Character's Make Mistakes
On paper or in the real world no one is perfect. Character-driven stories are concentrated on the characters, the good parts, and the bad parts. As a writer, it can be difficult to let your character do something wrong and make a mistake, out of fear that readers won't like them, but in most cases, it is the opposite. Readers want to see relatable and realistic characters and real characters aren't perfect. Don't fuss over letting your characters make mistakes, instead, let them face the consequences and see how it impacts the story.
Have a Specific Character Voice
Character voice refers to the distinctive way a character speaks and expresses themself. Character voice should always be kept in mind when writing a novel, but specifically in character-driven stories. Having individual and unique voices for characters helps readers get to know the characters better and understand who is speaking. There are many things to keep in mind when writing and describing the voice of a character. Remind yourself of the backstory of your character and how that might impact the way they speak.
*For example, character A who was raised in a castle may speak tersely and demand others to do things for them. While character B who was taught how to read and write at a very young age may speak very intellectually.
Character-driven stories make up some of my favorite books and are often used in literature. They give readers a chance to meet someone new and possibly become someone else. I hope these tips help you create interesting characters and write a character-driven story.