Despite any confusion, authentic dialogue is essential to a story. It involves crafting conversations that feel natural and true to each character's personality. Dialogue is a powerful tool for revealing character traits and advancing the plot.

How to write authentic character dialogue

To create authentic dialogue, immerse yourself in the character's mindset. Consider their background, personality, and current emotional state. Pay attention to speech patterns, vocabulary, and unique quirks that distinguish their voice. Dialogue should serve a dual purpose: conveying information and revealing character nuances.

Dialogue must also be suited to the setting of the story.

An example of this is C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake book series. The story is set in 16th-century England and takes place during the reign of King Henry VIII. Matthew Shardlake, our protagonist, is a lawyer with a disability that sees his back bent at an angle. He often gets drawn into murder investigations and the plot follows the resolution of these cases.

As expected, the dialogue in Sansom’s Shardlake reflects the story's time. “Doublet,” “codpiece,” “dowry,” and “vainglory” are a few of the words used in the book series that you won’t find in more contemporary novels. Exclamations such as “Jesu,” “God’s wounds,” and “Pox on you!” are quite common. It is also not uncommon to find that words have slightly different meanings and are spelt differently.

Matthew Shardlake's words reflect his education and his profession. As a lawyer, we read Shardlake talking about contracts, legal proceedings, land agreements and inheritances.

The discrimination towards Shardlake’s disability is also displayed via dialogue. By the harsh words and gestures used by people to describe the lawyer, we see the bias people of that time had towards disabled individuals. Throughout the book, we see Shardlake called a “hunchback,” “crookback,” “bent back,” “humpback,” and a “bent spider.”

Painful and inflammatory as the statements are, they are a true reflection of the mindset of individuals at that time. This is what good dialogue should do. Convey information, reflect character nuances and be suited to the setting of the story.

Developing your characters effectively ensures that they evolve, learn, and change in meaningful ways. 

Forgive my handwriting.

How to write a good character arc

Study your plotline. Study your character profile. Study the inciting incident, the plot points, the climax and the resolution. How does your character react to obstacles as they arise? Are there significant changes in how your character reacts?

Plan character arcs that involve a natural progression from an initial state to a changed or evolved state by the end of the narrative. If your character is hot-headed and quick to action, how do they react at the end of the story? Are they calmer, and more likely to think before they act?

Consider the challenges and conflicts that will prompt this growth, as well as the lessons or realisations characters will experience.

Maybe brash action from your protagonist resulted in injury or the loss of a loved one. Consider how this affects your protagonist and how the change is reflected in their attitudes.

One prominent example is Lockwood in the Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud. At the beginning of the story, we meet Anthony Lockwood, a young man with a lot to prove. After the suspicious death of his parents, Lockwood inherits their house and uses the space to set up the ramshackle ghost-hunting agency, Lockwood & Co.

Lockwood is…audacious, to say the least. Along with two other ghost-hunters, teenagers like himself, he tackles cases no one (in their right mind) will take on. Initially, we meet a charismatic but reckless young man. One with deep-seated trauma surrounding the death of his parents and his sister. He wants to prove himself. To his dead sister, to his parents, to the elite ghost-hunting agencies, to DEPRAC (the police-like agency-monitoring system), to Lucy and George (his companions). And most of all, to himself.

He is often brazen and impudent. But as his actions bring his colleagues and friends closer and closer to danger, we see Lockwood change. Anthony mellows. He thinks before he dives. He opens up about his past. He stops responding to provocative words. Yes, once in a while, we still see a glimpse of that cocky teenager, but at the end of each book (and the entire book series), we see a new Lockwood.

One polished by a great character arc.

If it isn’t obvious, I enjoyed Jonathan Stroud’s book series and I have read it numerous times. And each time, I see a new way to improve my character arcs.

This is what a character arc should do. Show growth and development.

What not to do when developing a character

Unrealistic and rushed character development.

This is a common pitfall. Characters must change in response to experiences (the plot), and these changes should be portrayed gradually and realistically.

Lockwood didn’t change in one chapter. He didn’t completely change in one book. His character arc spanned the entirety of the five-book series and it was a delight to read.

Summary

Foreshadow character development, showing the gradual impact of experiences on the character's beliefs and behaviours.

Do not rush character development or force changes that are inconsistent with the character's established traits and experiences.

This might seem impossible. After all, humans in real life are quite similar at times. I’ve met complete strangers who had identical mannerisms and beliefs as my family members and friends. And over time, I have adopted behaviours from the people around me.

Humans are similar. But we are also unique.

No two people are completely alike. No two characters are completely alike. They just have similar archetypes.

What are archetypes? Archetypes are recurring traits that embody specific qualities. In simpler words, archetypes are the maps each individual uses to navigate the world; to make decisions, set goals and pursue motivations. A window through which a person sees the world.

In fact, the word “archetype” comes from the Greek word “archetypos” meaning “original pattern.”

To write a successful novel, writers need to understand archetypes and how to manipulate them.

How to use archetypes when giving your characters personality

Now, if you type the word “archetypes” into the Google search bar, things like “the 12 archetypes” and “Jungian archetypes” will definitely pop up. Do you need to dive into research mode and get an unofficial degree in psychology before you can apply archetypes to your writing?

No.

Here’s what you need to do.

Decide if your main character is the hero or the villain.

List the traits readers expect to see when they think of your protagonist. For example, if your protagonist is a hero, your readers might expect to see an extroverted, bold, and optimistic individual. If your main character is the villain, readers might expect to see a broody, selfish, criminal mastermind.

Think of ways you can subvert these stereotypes.

We all know the Joker to be evil and violently ruthless. Yet, we can’t help feeling…sad when we think of Arthur Fleck because, at the end of the movie, we begin to see them as two very different personas. At the end of the movie, you can’t help but wonder: what if?

What if his adopted mother wasn’t an abusive narcissist?

What if he wasn’t given that gun?

What if the budget cuts never happened and he got the medication he so desperately needed?

What if his relationship with Sophie was real?

The Joker excellently subverts the villain archetype. The evil for evil’s sake narrative.

What if your main character is a hero?

Well, consider Yoshiki Tanaka’s Legend of the Galactic Heroes. This ten-book series focuses on a period in the far future when humans have colonised and terraformed the galaxies. Despite the advances in technology, however, some things remain the same.

War, for example, is the predominant theme of this story. In the very first chapter, we are quickly introduced to a century-long intergalactic conflict. Our main characters are on opposing sides of the war and from the onset, it is impossible to pick a side.

Our “hero”, Yang Wen-li is an admiral of the Free Planets Alliance and despite his great achievements in the war, Yang’s greatest desire is to retire. Yang, a man of superior intellect and intuition, wants only to study history and watch it pass him by. Not make it.

This is an excellent subversion of the hero archetype. Yang is motivated by a desire to do good. He repeatedly protects his subordinates and encourages them. Still, he is introverted, and lazy and submits a resignation letter as often as possible.

My dear reluctant hero.

What not to do when using character archetypes

Clichés.

Archetypes are nothing more than a framework. A useful one, yes, but still a framework. Relying too heavily on them without adding unique elements can result in run-of-the-mill characters.

Use archetypes as a starting point, then add layers of complexity to make characters more interesting and unpredictable. Set your character apart and make them unique.

Summary

Get the archetype (the broad classification your character falls into). Get the stereotype. Subvert the stereotype. Make your character unique.

Is it his hair? Wayward, sticking up at different angles, no matter how hard he brushes it?

Is it his glasses? Circular lenses, spindly, easily broken and easily mended with a flick of the wand?

Is it his green eyes? Glinting with his famous anger and so similar to his mother’s?

Or is it his lightning-shaped scar? An unrelenting reminder of his connection to the Dark Lord, Voldemort?

No matter your choice, you must appreciate the importance of each of these traits and how they added layers of complexity to Harry’s story and personality.

This is the power of symbolism. Symbolism in physical appearance is essential because our appearance is a result of our origin and our origin is a part of our story.

Physical appearance can take two forms. Our biological appearance and our affected appearance.

Our biological appearance is a result of our genetics. Our race, our gender, our height, the curl pattern of our hair and so on.

Our affected appearance is a choice. As a pharmacist, I often find myself in a lab coat and trousers. My sister is a doctor. When I picture her at the hospital, she is in deep blue scrubs and a pair of Crocs.

Ask yourself: Where was my character born? How do people in this region speak? What is the race of my character? What are the physical features common to people of this race? What is my character’s occupation? What style of dressing is common among people in this profession?

Define your character’s biological and affected appearance and imbue these features with deeper meaning, connecting their appearance to the themes of the story.

If you’ve watched Shōgun, you’ll see how Blackthorne’s appearance slowly changed over the course of the show. He is first given traditional Japanese robes to replace his European outfit. Then, he is given katanas to replace his guns. 

Initially, Blackthorne looks discomfited in his new outfit. With time, however, he embraces his appearance, looking more comfortable with the garment and with the Japanese culture.

Symbolism adds nuance to a character’s portrayal.

How do you use symbolism when writing a character

Identify the core themes of your story or the internal struggles of your character. Consider how certain physical traits could symbolise these themes. A birthmark could identify a character as the destined saviour. A scar could represent past trauma.

I used to think that fantasy writers have it easier than others when it comes to weaving symbolism into the physical traits of their characters. Because they can make up anything they want to.

Hahaha. I mean, how many lightning-shaped scars have you seen in real life?

That opinion has changed slightly over the years, however. After all, Shōgun, a show (based on a book) based on historical fact used symbolism exceedingly well. I still think fantasy writers have the upper hand here but writers of all genres can use symbolism that aligns with the overall tone and message of the narrative.

Something to avoid when writing a character

Subtlety is key; readers appreciate discovering symbolism on their own rather than having it explicitly spelt out for them. Try not to be overt or heavy-handed with symbolism.

Summary

Imbuing the physical traits of your characters with symbolism can add layers and nuance to your narrative. Make sure to integrate symbolism seamlessly into the narrative and allow readers to infer meaning.

For you to craft memorable physical traits, you must keenly observe the character in your mind’s eye. Study the character profile created in the last step until you have a good idea of what your character looks like.

Use specific and evocative language to paint a clear picture. Instead of merely stating eye colour or hair length, go deeper.

She had fiery red eyes. Her eyes were a furnace and as she held my gaze, I felt my soul ignite.

She smiled cunningly. She smiled like she knew all my secrets.

Her hair was tied down in a humble ponytail. Her hair lay flat on her scalp, as defeated and submissive as the rest of her.

Describe the intensity of their gaze and the way their hair falls and connect it with their personality. Use metaphors and similes to connect the reader emotionally to the character. Sound, touch, smell and taste can also enhance the description; don’t rely on sight alone.

What not to do when writing descriptively

Avoid generic or clichéd descriptions. Try to be as original and specific as you can while ensuring your reader understands you.

Don’t over-describe your characters. Descriptive and evocative writing is best used during impactful scenes.

Summary

Use sensory details to create a vivid image. Engage the reader's senses beyond sight – touch, smell, and sound can enhance the description.

Don’t settle for generic descriptors. Instead of “he had grey eyes,” consider “his eyes, the colour of stormy clouds, held a quiet intensity.”

Think of a house. Think of your house. Think of the features you like the most about your home. The patio, the ensuite bathrooms, the heated driveway? Think of how those individual features were created and how they fit together to make a complete home. 

Those features were only made possible because your house was built according to a blueprint. The blueprint dictates the details of a structure, even details and features that are not readily visible but are instrumental to making a house habitable. Architects, engineers and builders worked hand-in-hand to construct your home, referring to and altering the blueprint when needed.

A character profile is a blueprint.

A character profile encompasses every aspect of a character’s existence. Character profiles are comprehensive blueprints writers use to construct their characters. Just like a builder, character profiles act as a guide for writers, ensuring cohesiveness among individual traits and habits.

What does a character profile contain?

Like a blueprint, character profiles can be created in numerous ways. I took technical drawing in secondary school and I remain amazed at the sheer number of ways there are to stencil and draw and interpret the blueprint of a house. However, no matter the variation you choose to adopt, they must all contain certain crucial elements.

The first is what I like to describe as the basics. This includes the simplest information you have on your characters. Like their name, age, and gender.

(From the Comprehensive Writing Dashboard. Download the Notion template here.)

The second is the physicality of your character. What do they look like? Height, (weight?) hair colour, eye colour, face shape and other distinguishing features like scars, limps, and accents come in here.

Personality traits must also be included. What are your character's strengths? What are your character’s weaknesses? Do they have tics? Are they religious? Are they political? What are their idiosyncrasies?

Explore their past and their relationships with others. How are they viewed in the society? Are they seen as troublemakers? Are they looked up to? What significant event occurred in their past? Any significant romantic relationships, past or present?

(From the Comprehensive Writing Dashboard. Download the Notion template here.)

Consider their motivations and their goals. What are they striving to achieve? Dive deep into their psychology.

Lastly, construct a detailed backstory, explaining how their experiences shaped the person they are today and how that pushes the storyline forward.

What not to do when creating a character profile

The biggest challenge to constructing a good character profile is knowing where to stop.

Do you include your character’s favourite colour or not? What is their favourite song/band?

While these details might be interesting, if they do not contribute to the narrative, you might want to skip them when crafting the initial profile. The good thing about character profiles is that they are blueprints, not buildings.

They can be reviewed and revised. Polished and altered.

It is always good to start with a basic character profile and refine it as the writing progresses. Strike the right balance.

Summary

Prioritise relevant details that contribute to character development or plot progression. These include the basics, physicality, motivation and psychology of the character.

Do not include details for the sake of quantity. Every aspect should add value to the character's complexity or narrative.

Download the Comprehensive Writing Dashboard here and start crafting your characters.