What Is Unacceptable To Your Character? Building Character, Part I

Recently, a few readers have asked me about steps to develop a character in fiction. I’d like to try answering that question in a few different posts, as I address different aspects of the process. Today I’ll begin the series by returning the question with a question. In fact, the first way to build a character is to ask questions of yourself. And this week, we’ll talk about a question that is actually pretty fundamental to a character’s existence.

What is unacceptable to your character? And by this question, I mean to ask, what would unmake your character? If all you can come up with are run-of-the-mill woes like a boring job or having to do the dishes, you’re not working hard enough. If all you can come up with are events that would devastate anyone with a pulse, like murders or rapes or world catastrophes, then you’re also not working hard enough. I’m not asking you “what’s annoying to anyone?” or “what’s devastating to anyone?” I’m asking, “what would make your character betray himself?” When you can answer that question, you’ll begin to know not only about who your character is, but also what your story should be about.

It sounds like a tall order. But let’s begin by breaking this very big question down a little further. You might have begun imagining a character as a vague impression — the face of someone with an interesting mustache that you saw on the bus, or an altered version of a relative. Now you need the tools and the details to make this person seem real on the page. Start thinking about what this character holds most dearly in their estimation of themselves — and what is under threat. Is someone very prideful? Clinging to his or her masculinity or femininity? Devoted to his or her vision of him/herself in a particular career? Whatever it is, the threat is what will make it seem real to us. It’s only qualities that are in danger that we will remember as readers.

So now consider the threat that is looming on the horizon. What could dismantle this cherished aspect of your character’s life? What could make a person who loves to be honest lie? What could make a person who loves to be callous fall in love? What is the weakness that could topple everything? When you understand the fragile alliances and deals many people have made with themselves, then you’ll be able to create a character with that same, real, fragility.