Character types to add depth to your story
First time writing a novel? – Wonderful! The plot is set, the world is built, and work is underway, but there’s a problem: characters.
Characters are a very important part of a story. They’re the eyes through which a story is told, and they can easily make or break the story. They can also add depth to your story, and make it pop like a scene in a blockbuster movie.
So, how do you add depth to your story through your characters? You can start by knowing the different character types you can use in your novel, which we will be discussing in this article. So pay attention, let’s dive in.
1. The protagonist
If your novel was a concert, the protagonist would be the headliner. Yeah, the other characters are great, but this is who we are here for.
The protagonist is the main character of your story or the person who drives the plot forward. Whether they are slaying monsters or trying to get through Monday without losing their mind, your readers care a lot about them. Watching someone struggle and grow feels satisfying, probably because we all can relate to battling our personal monsters (even if those monsters look more like dirty laundry or unpaid bills).
When writing a protagonist, keep in mind that nobody likes a perfect protagonist. Your protagonist should be flawed.
Why?
Because perfection is boring and unrelatable. They could be stubborn, crybabies, or too slow that your hands burn to smack their heads. Whatever the case, those flaws make them human. Readers don’t want to see someone sail through seven seas without breaking a sweat, they want to see them stumble, trip, and get back up again. That’s what keeps the story interesting.
Your protagonist must not be a traditional goodie two-shoes. Think Walter White or Tony Soprano. They can be Anti-heroes who make you question your moral compass because even though they are technically the ‘bad guy’, you still find yourself rooting for them. This shady and morally ambiguous protagonist usually has just enough redeeming qualities to keep you hooked.
As you sit to write your protagonist, remember they are the heart and soul of your story. Make them interesting. Make them flawed. Your readers will to follow them until the last page.
2. The Antagonist
No story is complete without an antagonist. The one whose job is to make life miserable for the protagonist. This person (or sometimes thing) stands in the way of everything our hero wants to achieve. An example is Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Uriah Heep in David Copperfield, or that printer that only jams when you have a deadline.
What makes an antagonist truly memorable, is when they’re more than just “evil for the sake of being evil”. The best antagonists are the ones that are just as complex as our heroes. They have motives and believe they are the hero of their own story. You may not agree with the method, but their motivations are rooted sometimes in real pain and injustice. Your antagonist shouldn’t just be bad but also layered.
There’s also something extra fascinating about an antagonist who starts as a friend. Anakin Skywalker, anyone? A character who switches sides, or whose rivalry with the protagonist is deeply personal, makes the conflict juicer.
The antagonist is the driving force behind the conflict that makes your story interesting. They make the story worth telling as they’re mostly the reason the protagonist has to leave their comfort zone.
3. Flat characters
Flat characters are characters with little to no complex emotions, personal goals or personality. They also typically have no internal conflict or character development, and they conform to a stereotype. But that doesn’t mean they have no place in your story.
These characters can serve as comic relief, or they can just be there as some support to the main character. It’s unlikely they’ll win any “Character of the Year” award and no one is exactly dying to know their story, but hey, they’re doing their job.
Flat characters are useful because they keep the focus on the protagonist and main story, not every character needs to have an emotional arc or deep backstory (that’ll be tiring). They are the supporting cast that keeps things moving without stealing the spotlight. They might not be deep, but sometimes that’s exactly what your story needs- a little less drama.
4. Round characters
Unlike their flat counterparts, round characters are layered. You actually want to get to know these characters. A good example is Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.
One thing that makes them stand out is their motivation and the chance for them to evolve. They don’t just act for the sake of the plot but have deep reasons for everything they do, and those reasons might shift as the story progresses. Maybe your protagonist starts off wanting revenge, but halfway through, they realize what they really need is closure or your villain is evil because of a really painful past.
These characters can make us yell either out of frustration or happiness a hundred times, but those moments make them feel real.
Round characters act based on their experiences and emotions, so even when they surprise us, it makes sense…that is just who they are. When these characters are well-written, they can leave a lasting impact because they resonate with readers on a deeper level.
5. Archetypes
These characters are tried, tested, and never really out of style. They are character blueprints that have been around for a long time, from ancient myths to the latest Netflix series. But unlike stereotypes (those lazy, one-note characters we’ve all seen too much of), archetypes are dynamic and versatile. Think of them as the foundation for building memorable characters with their unique twists.
They offer a great starting point for developing your characters because they offer universally relatable roles. This helps your readers connect to the story right away. The rebel archetype, for example, instantly gives you a sense of someone ready to shake things up and break all the rules. Just because an archetype is familiar doesn’t mean it has to be boring, how you add depth and uniqueness to the archetype is what counts.
To make archetypes work in your story, don’t just stop at the archetype itself. Use it as a springboard to create someone with complexity. You can make a character have more than one archetype. See?! You have the freedom to play around and create characters who feel both familiar and refreshingly new. Because, though we’ve seen the archetype before, we’ve never seen your take on it.
6. Stereotypes
Say hi to the archetype’s less flattering cousin.
While archetypes are foundational, stereotypes can feel lazy or overused. Stereotypes might make for a quick laugh or an easy plot device, but they totally flatten a story if overused.
These characters are usually overly simple and generalize ideas about a certain group of people, reducing everything to a single, exaggerated characteristic. The blonde and dumb cheerleader who bullies everyone gives you a one-dimensional character. We have seen these characters a thousand times before, and we’ll probably be yawning by page 5.
If you’re tempted to use a stereotype, ask yourself: what can I do to make this character more unique? People are more than just one thing, and your characters should be too. You can also use these characters to make an unexpected twist. The blonde dumb may end up being the one behind a lot of chaos… turns out, she’s not actually dumb!
If your antagonist is still twirling a mustache, it might be time for an upgrade.
7. Secondary characters
Secondary characters are usually described as supporting characters who oftentimes support the main character and drive the plot forward.
Remember Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter or Sam in The Lord of the Rings? They are good examples.
You feel the absence of these characters even if they are not the main focus.
A good secondary character will usually have a mini-arc, allowing writers to create subplots that add depth to the story without stealing the spotlight. Some well-crafted secondary characters can be so compelling that sometimes, they outshine the protagonist, becoming fan favorites. So don’t underestimate them. Let them have their own goals, desires, and conflicts while writing. Whenever you get the inspiration to write that book remember that every character, no matter how big or small, brings something unique to the table. And they don’t have to strictly fit into one character type. They could be a mix between two or three character types and your own creativity. The fun part is creating your twists to these familiar roles.
