Writing insecure characters can be a challenge for anyone, whether you're an extremely experienced writer or a beginner. Insecurities can be difficult to convey in a meaningful way without making the character seem too one-dimensional or even unlikeable. Crafting a believable and sympathetic character involves understanding the root causes of their insecurity and having it bleed into the character’s behavior and decisions. But with the right techniques, you can craft a realistic and engaging character that readers can relate to and understand! This article will explore the process of writing a well-rounded and sympathetic insecure character and provide some tips and tricks to help you get started. Continue reading for more tips!
Define Their Insecurities
Defining the insecurities of your characters can help to make them more relatable and believable to all of your readers. Plus, it will make them more detailed and 3D because there are tons of things your characters may be insecure about. So when writing an insecure character ask yourself these questions: Is this character insecure of a physical trait? Is this character insecure about a skill? Is this character insecure about relationships? Determining their insecurities can reveal the underlying motivations for some of your character's actions, decisions, and reactions to situations. By digging deep into the character's insecurities, you can create a more detailed and complex character that your readers can connect with! Insecurities can also be used to create tension and conflict in the story, which can help to keep readers engaged.
Identify The Backstory
Identifying the backstory of an insecure character can help you create a more believable and well-rounded character. Knowing your character's backstory will provide insight into why they may feel insecure and it can help you create a more realistic and three-dimensional character. For example, your character may be insecure about their hair color because they were bullied about it as a child. Or your character may be self-conscious about their weight because they grew up in a toxic home environment. In general, knowing your character's backstory can help you create a more compelling and interesting character, as well as a more engaging and meaningful story! Identifying their backstories helps to understand why your characters might feel insecure and a backstory can provide potential sources of conflict and negativity which you can use to further your plot and overall story.
Avoid Stereotypes
Stereotypes create a lot of biased and inaccurate representations of individuals and groups of people. They can be hurtful and offensive, which is why it's important to avoid them altogether. Plus, they limit the potential for your characters to be developed in a nuanced and complex way. By avoiding stereotypes, you can craft and develop insecure characters that are more relatable, realistic, and compelling.
Don't Make Insecurity a Character Trait
Relating to the previous point, insecurity can be a pretty sensitive and personal topic for many and it can be easily abused or misinterpreted when writing insecure characters. By not making insecurity a character trait of your characters, you can ensure that your characters are more well-rounded, and complex. Insecurity can be a powerful tool when writing a story if it's used sparingly and in a meaningful and realistic way. But it can quickly become offensive, boring, or a one-dimensional character trait if overused. As a result, it's important to remember that all of your characters should be complex and have a wide variety of traits and motivations that drive their decisions and actions. Avoiding making insecurity a character trait can help to create more meaningful and realistic characters!
Consider Their Body Language
When writing insecure characters, it is important to consider their body language because it can be a powerful form of communication. An insecure character may display discreetly. signs of discomfort or anxiousness through their body language such as avoiding eye contact, covering their face, or making themselves as small as possible. By paying attention to these details, you can write a more realistic character. You can use language to show the contrast between an insecure character and a more confident character. For example, if a character is feeling insecure, they may slump their shoulders or cross their arms. On the other hand, a confident character may stand tall with their arms open and their chin up. Just these minor details can help to convey the difference between an insecure and confident character without having to rely on dialogue alone! Body language can also be an important tool for you to consider when writing insecure characters because it can give your readers insight and understanding into the inner thoughts and feelings of your insecure characters. But it's important to remember that not all insecure characters appear as being insecure and you should avoid relying on stereotypes. Listed below are some body language acts your insecure character may exhibit:
Biting nails
Avoiding eye contact/looking at the ground
Crossing arms
Blushing
Fidgeting or bouncing legs
Although it can be hard, it isn't impossible to write well-rounded and engaging insecure characters. It is essential to remember that insecure characters are just like regular characters, but they may be slightly more self-conscious or uncomfortable. But still insecure characters can make great characters and are great for providing representation for insecure people. With these 5 tips, you are sure to craft an insecure character that readers adore.