When writing an insomniac character, it’s essential to capture more than just their sleepless nights—you need to explore how their insomnia impacts their personality, influences their choices, and shapes their world. Insomnia isn’t just a trending quirk; it’s a condition that profoundly affects people's physical, emotional, and social effects. As a result, you must depict it authentically and realistically in writing. To help you do so, here are the 5 main things you should consider when writing believable insomniac characters.
Know Their Backstory
When writing an insomniac character, the first thing to do is understand their backstory. After all, their inability to sleep will probably stem from something deeply rooted in their past. So, take time to develop their backstory, focusing on the events or experiences that may have triggered their insomnia. For example, maybe they experienced a traumatic event or it is something genetic. Whatever it is, understanding these factors not only makes your character more believable but it also adds depth to their personality.
Determine What's Causing Insomnia
Relating to the previous point, once you clearly understand your character's backstory, you should pinpoint (if possible) the exact cause of a character's sleeplessness. After all, insomnia can be connected back to emotional turmoil, physical illness, or even external factors like a noisy neighborhood or an uncomfortable bed. Therefore, make sure you delve into your character's inner world to make their story more realistic and unique. For instance, maybe they are kept awake by racing thoughts or fears. Or maybe they feel guilty over something big in their past. Or they can't sleep due to a demanding work schedule. Overall, trying to identify the cause of their insomnia not only relates to how they cope with it but can also shape your entire story!
Research Symptoms
To really write an insomniac character authentically, you need to research the symptoms of insomnia and how they show up in different people. There is a wide range of symptoms from difficulty falling asleep to waking up too early to feeling tired after a full night of sleep. Insomnia can also overlap with other conditions like depression, anxiety, or chronic pain. As a result, you need to research insomnia before writing your character to portray your character realistically. Knowing the spectrum of symptoms and their effects will also help you avoid clichés or stereotypes. For more tips on researching for a novel, click on the button below.
Show Don't Tell
It is also important to keep in mind the physical reactions/body language that come with insomnia. Insomnia doesn't just impact one's mind, but it also takes a toll on the body. And the best way to portray this is by showing instead of telling. "Telling" refers to simply explaining your character's actions without much imagery. On the other hand, "showing" allows readers to draw their own conclusions, making them active participants in the story. So, showing your character's experience with insomnia will make them more 3d and your story more realistic. Perhaps you show how their sleepless nights lead to dark under-eye circles, slow movements, or an inability to focus. Or maybe you mention the way they have to depend on caffeine to get through the day. These details are sure to ground your characters, illustrating to readers just how much of an impact insomnia has on your character's life.
Consider The Consequences
Connecting to the previous point, insomnia doesn’t just exist in isolation—it will most likely affect many aspects of your character's life. That is why you need to explore the consequences their sleeplessness has on their life. Do they make poor decisions at work because they can’t concentrate? Are their relationships strained due to their tiredness or irritability? Or maybe they develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with being tired all the time. Considering the impacts insomnia has on your character's life and how they manage these impacts will make your story more realistic and engaging. Plus, these consequences make the insomnia feel real and impactful, showing how it shapes the character’s life and drives their story forward.
To create a believable insomniac character, you need to make sure you dive into their backstory, understand the root cause(s), and portray its repercussions authentically. By balancing your research with detailed writing, you can craft an insomniac character whose experiences resonate with all readers.
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