How to Write (or avoid) Flat Characters

[@AxleBoost]

You flat out crushed this video!

[@mburks3748]

*cough* A darker Shade of Magic *cough* I just finished reading the first book in the series and _my God!_ Lila (the main heroine) is about the most static character ever. She literally tells the reader how "shrewd" and "cunning" she is... _but..._ this isn't portrayed in the novel *_at all_* the author tells us these aspects but doesn't show them in action. S.J Maas is guilty of this too in her Throne of Glass series, where she tells us how bad ass her main heroine is before we actually see her do any bad assery. The point: show dont tell.

[@lillydevil2486]

As much as I hate how they did the third book--and honestly just hate that Kell and Lila hooked up at all--I think I have to come to Lila's defense XD Although Lila has her abilities, I think her boasting is literally just her misleadingly BELIEVING that she is these things, because the alternative would make her feel weaker than she already was in comparison to all the other dangers she could face in the story.

[@lynnsmith1911]

Thank you Mrs. Reedsy! :)

[@garynaccarto8636]

As far as Gandalf goes he seems flat because the Lord of the Rings stories don't really tell you alot about him.

[@sorryforwhat1528]

Gary Naccarto well yes technically speaking, but I suppose it leaves his background up to interpretation

[@ryanratchford2530]

Me & my friend have a running joke years old where I once joked that it’s easy to make a 3 dimensional character, you just need to give them 3 different quirks 😂 that’s where the name comes from.

[@xtonibx5770]

I feel like I don't know enough about other people and different psychological nature to really develop an extremely lifelike character who I feel as if people can know as a person. Can anyone relate to this?

[@luwanabennett1054]

I thought only i felt this way

[@jspektor4747]

Arianna Heart I like taking zodiac signs into perspective when thinking about personality. For example, one of my static characters is a female Aries, so I think about all of the lady Aries I've known and borrowed traits from them to shape her make up. Some people might say it's crap, but it's helpful with creating motivation for side and main characters in relation to plot. Other personality tests, determinants, omens work equally as well.

[@xtonibx5770]

@@jspektor4747 I recently started doing this as well. :) I'm an Aquarius and I found that basing my characters off of zodiac signs apart from Aquarius and Pisces *(I feel as if I can relate to Pisces more)* helps me create a rich character with a different kind of nature than me. It really helps. I've also recently began developing the characters' parents and how their parents grew up and why they raise the kids the way they do and how the way they raise their kids affect who the characters are. I also take into account all of the different things that the character would do and say in certain situations rather than just making them do what *I* think is right or what *I* would do. Also, I think using flaws and faults from the character's zodiac sign really helps create a realistic character. Getting to that point where you feel like your character has a mind of their own feels great.

[@ryanratchford2530]

What is reedsy? How come Different people do videos?

[@rodproducts]

Reedsy is a company/community dedicated to helping writers, you can read more at their about page here reedsy.com/about

[@daniellewagner7140]

Thank you for this! Do you think you could do a video on how to write an MC who is very closed off? I have a main character who has major trust issues and anxiety on account of her past and I am not sure how to make her closed off without creating a disconnect with the reader.

[@JimmyHenDrinx]

Mention her lack of trust as trait. Write in how uncomfortable regular interactions make her. That's a good way to keep readers involved, you have tons of characteristics to relay to the reader through dialogue and exposition 👍🏼👍🏼

[@daniellewagner7140]

JimmyHenDrinx thank you! ❤️

[@quartkneek3670]

Read or re-read the first Hunger Games novel. It's sort of mentioned and shown in the film but the book explores the ways that Katniss doesn't trust people in general, or Buttercup the cat, or her mother, or the motives of anyone she meets. It's expressed in her interactions and in the narration she explores in a self-reflective way. Part of her arc is that she wants to trust Peeta because of his past kindness and eventually does come to rely on him which demonstrates her ability to trust him. Also, comments by other characters cover this material quite well. Gail tells her to go easier on her mom, Hamitch calls her out in contrast to Peeta waving to people out the train window and the whole, "he made you desirable" thing after Peeta tells the world he's had a crush on her. Just that bit by itself indirectly explores the idea that her mistrust of others can come across as aloofness, boredom, surliness, etc but through the eyes of others we get new insight into who that person is.

[@daniellewagner7140]

Quartknee K This was helpful AND gave me an excuse to reread the hunger games! Thank you!

[@aidanchiang8115]

What about Deuteragonists? Are they flat or dynamic?

[@ashirahelat4749]

This is something that we often overlook. You are a muse ✨️

[@quartkneek3670]

All of your tips to flesh out a flat character are aspects of Sherlock Holmes. Just because you can summarize him in a simple sentence is the wrong way to assess the dimensions of the character. He wouldn't be one of the world's most beloved detectives if he weren't multi-dimensional. I think many of the victims or informants he deals with can be considered flat characters so maybe you should append your definition to be something like if the character can ONLY be summarized in a simple sentence. Holmes has a very complicated relationship with his brother that heals over time. He has a twisted backstory relationship with Moriarty the series antagonist. We come to know how/why they respect one another as adversaries. You could say that Holmes might be on the Autism spectrum for his lack of emotionalism, but even there, Watson gets to know him and through that relationship, we see how his emotional reserve has covered up the great detective's true feelings for his sidekick. The flat character plot devices are people like witnesses, who might demonstrate one emotion like shock at seeing a murder or discovering a dead body, but who otherwise only exist to provide information that pushes the investigative plot forward. If you're looking for a flat MC, the first one that comes to mind is James Bond. At least the version in the original novels. He doesn't learn, change, or grow through any of his adventures and his cool British reserve, fantasy fulfillment of living out the promise of the sexual revolution and the glamor of the spy biz - especially in the cold war era - have gone quite a ways to firming up his status as a beloved main character. I think your tips apply to him because even after all the books and film adaptations we still don't know what he did before becoming a spy or much about his family or backstory. He's killed tons of people yet, as far as I know, Bond has never had a moment's regret or PTSD or any of the diversionary tactics like addiction/compulsions that many people employ to cope. One could say that his martinis shaken, not stirred, and casual sex are both coping mechanisms but they're never presented as such. In fact, they are put forth without consequence in a very aspirational manner. In terms of flat, blocky characters, James Bond tops the list but Sherlock Holmes is much more nuanced and well-rounded - too much so to be considered 'flat'

[@luwanabennett1054]

You are very intelligent!

[@sanghitadey8475]

I was thinking the same. I think Disney villains are mostly flat characters

[@georgepalmer5497]

One of the most painfully flat characters I know of is Frank Burns on M.A.S.H. You can always count on his commentary to be repulsive. Every time he opens his mouth he inflicts pain. ... Another character I find to be kind of flat is this boy scout kung fu expert who is so wonderful you can't stand it. In every scene, every time he opens his mouth, it is reinforced how wonderful he is. It is something the public likes, though. He's a big draw at the box office, and he does have his charm. Watching this character is like eating salami. I like salami. I'll eat it. But after a while it leaves a funny taste in my mouth.

[@Hermit_mouse]

Is Harry Potter flat

[@Reedsy]

Nope, Harry Potter is the protagonist so he is given quite a lot of change and depth throughout the series!

[@KenRahmoeller]

Yes, Harry Potter is widely considered a flat character. His character arc throughout the first book is about as flat as it possibly can be. He's basically the same guy at the end as he was in the beginning of the story. Now he did change over the course of the series, but the author can't depend on the reader knowing this when they're reading the first book.

[@leech1355]

Ken Rahmoeller Completely agree. First book was saved massively by epic world building. Even throughout the series I can’t think of many examples of how HP grew as a character.

[@jcandye1]

I believe he's "static." Not much arc, but definitely not flat. He loves his friends, he knows what his duties are (even at such a young age), he's bad at school work and cheats on homework, he loves quiddich, he wants to be an auror, etc. I feel like he has a lot of depth, showing his desires and fears throughout, but I don't feel like he has much of an arc, but I'm sure someone could argue that. EDIT: He actually has a small negative arc once Voldemort starts kicking around in his head. He gets a big attitude towards his friends, and even comes across as proud sometimes. But he learns to deal with it and use it for good.

[@garynaccarto8636]

A flat character certainly could work if that character doesn't a large part in the story or if there just intended to be a stock character.

[@Anubis-xk4ht]

Johan liebert is a great example of this