For a story to be truly believable, a mix of different kinds of characters, both silly and sensible, helps to create realistic plot lines. While ridiculous characters can provide comic relief, sensible characters tend to carry the weight of the story. Consider these tips on creating characters that are sensible, interesting and real.
Creating a Believable Character
Often characters are fashioned after real people, and that way become more believable characters. A mix of characters should reflect the mix of people based on whom they are created. Think about what kinds of attributes make a person sensible. Consider these attributes in comparison to the qualities that make a situation ridiculous and what could have been done differently to make it make sense.
Make a list of ideas that can make a difference, that are well respected, that lend someone a sense of “street smarts.” These ideas can help in creating a sensible character with the qualities of a sensible person. A sensible character is smart enough to have the ability to laugh at a ridiculous character’s absurdity without being dissuaded from his own sense.
Sensible Character Qualities
For the most part, a sensible character thinks before he speaks. He understands the benefits of his actions to those around him and considers them in what he does. A sensible character is capable of providing advice that works in comparison to a ridiculous character whose advice may lend itself more to amusement than problem solution.
These qualities may make it seems as though a sensible character is less uninteresting, but he need not be. A sensible character may have a great imagination like Anne Shirley, for example, which makes her interesting without that imagination taking over her good sense. Sensible and ridiculous characters can complement one another and together make a better plot line.
Writing About a Sensible Character
Consider these character attributes when writing about sensible characters. Try to write these qualities into the way the character speaks and reacts to other characters. As conversing is how many people show their nature, a character who does the same is a believable persona. Consider also that a sensible character is not a fool. A fool may speak out of turn, but a sensible may not; it is not only what that character says, but what that character keeps to himself that will reveal his good sense.
For a truly sensible character, consider the responsibility the character has in a story and the qualities the character possesses to carry that responsibility. Bring the qualities of sensible people into the character description.
Michelle Wright - Michelle is an avid reader and writer, with a focus on book, film and music reviews, gluten free recipes, and fiction writing "how-tos."
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