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Writer's pictureS. A. Crow
Jul 177 min read

Bringing Fictional People to Life: Character Development


Writing fiction is a beast of another caliber in the world of literary writing.

The characters in my novels are my own unrealised possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by them. Each one has crossed a border that I myself have circumvented. ― Milan Kundera

When you pick up a book you want to be introduced to believable and engaging characters that are well-developed with motivations, a growth arc, and flaws you can empathize with. In this article we will explore character development because if you have great characters, you can place them in any plot.


Understanding Character Development

It's the process of creating a character and evolving that character in the story and sometimes over a series. You need to make them well-rounded, believable, and engaging. It involves a character's personality traits, backstory, motivations, goals, strengths, flaws, and growth.

It's crucial because:

  1. Engage the readers: You want well-developed characters that readers resonate with, causing them to be invested in the story and not put it down or at least reluctantly.

  2. Drives the plot: If you have well-developed characters, you can place them in any plot because they have their own goals and drives that the plot will still be resolved.

  3. Depth and Realism: Multidimensional and realistic characters help the story be believable. You want to mirror real-life complex people. No one is truly all good or all bad, logical or illogical, we are gems with facets and flaws.

  4. Enhances Themes: All your characters including your antagonists embody the themes (a central topic, subject, or message within the narrative) and messages of your story.

Examples from The Fire series of themes

Into the Fire- Courage

The Fire Inside- Faith

If the Seas Catch Fire- Vulnerability

5. Creates Emotional Impact: When your characters go through something impactful your readers should identify and empathize with them leaving a lasting memory of those characters and your novel.

6. Fosters Connection: If you can impact a reader with your characters, they will follow your career and seek more of your work.

Elements of Character Development

  • Personality Traits- traits are consistent behaviors, attitudes, and emotional responses. Forming the core of a character's identity, and how they interact and handle the world you create for them.

  • Backstory- the events and experiences that happened in your characters past that might impact their personality, motivations, flaws, and strengths. Often act as blocks in their character arcs.

  • Motivations and goals- Your character needs to be driven to get out of bed, help others, or hate someone or something. What do they want to do? What are their dreams?

  • Strengths and weaknesses- Positive and negative attributes, skills, limitations, habits, hobbies.

  • Character arcs-transformation or growth of your character throughout your story.


Using Personality Types to Create Characters

Sometimes a writer has a clear picture of the elements of a character, but it doesn't hurt to use a tool to help keep your character grounded in reality and make your cast of characters as well-rounded as your main characters. One of the ways that can help is to use personality types e.g., Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or Enneagram.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

It's a pseudoscientific self-report questionnaire that claims to indicate your personality type. It comprises of sixteen personality types.

INTJ ISTJ

INTP ISFJ

ENTJ ESTJ

ENTP ESFJ

INFJ ISTP

INFP ISFP

ENFJ ESTP

ENFP ESFP

These are broken down in:

Extraverts (E) or Introversion (I) the first letter of your personality type.

Second letter of your type is the way you take in formation Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)

Then how you make decisions Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).

Lastly is how you deal with the world Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

You can take a test here to find your own MBTI

Using MBTI to develop character personalities... Do I need to take a test for each character?

No you don't need to take a test for each character. Instead by understanding the types, writers can create diverse and well-rounded characters. Here's how to use MBTI for character development:

1. Understanding the MBTI Dichotomies

  • Introversion (I) vs. Extraversion (E)

  • Introversion: Characters are reflective, reserved, and gain energy from alone time.

  • Extraversion: Characters are outgoing, energetic, and gain energy from social interactions.

  • Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)

  • Sensing: Characters are practical, detail-oriented, and focus on the present.

  • Intuition: Characters are imaginative, future-focused, and see the big picture.

  • Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)

  • Thinking: Characters make decisions based on logic and objective analysis.

  • Feeling: Characters make decisions based on personal values and emotions.

  • Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)

  • Judging: Characters prefer structure, organization, and planned activities.

  • Perceiving: Characters are flexible, spontaneous, and open to new experiences.

2. Identifying Character Types

  • Determine the Four Preferences: Decide where your character falls on each of the four dichotomies. For example, an ISTJ character would be Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging.

  • Research the 16 Types: Familiarize yourself with the descriptions and typical traits of each MBTI type. This will help you create consistent and believable behaviors for your character.

3. Creating Consistent Behaviors

  • Personality Traits: Use the MBTI type to determine key personality traits. An ISTJ character might be reliable, detail-oriented, and responsible.

  • Behavior Patterns: Consider how the MBTI type influences the character’s interactions, decision-making, and reactions to various situations. For instance, an ISTJ might approach problems methodically and prefer clear rules and guidelines.

4. Developing Character Relationships

  • Complementary Types: Explore how different MBTI types interact with each other. Complementary types can create dynamic and engaging relationships. For example, an ENFP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) might bring out an ISTJ’s (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) adventurous side.

  • Conflict and Growth: Use MBTI differences to create conflict and opportunities for character growth. For example, an ISTJ might clash with an ENFP over their spontaneous nature but learn to appreciate their creativity over time.

5. Enhancing Character Arcs

  • Personal Development: Use the MBTI framework to guide your character’s growth. For example, an ISTJ might learn to be more open-minded and flexible, balancing their structured nature with spontaneity.

  • Consistency in Change: Ensure that any changes in your character’s personality are consistent with their MBTI type. Gradual growth and development should feel natural and believable.

6. Practical Tools

  • MBTI Profiles: Create detailed MBTI profiles for your characters, including strengths, weaknesses, and typical behaviors.

  • Scenario Planning: Use MBTI to plan how your character would react in different scenarios. This can help maintain consistency and deepen their development.

It is also easy to look up how each MBTI type would handle different situations like stress as an example. I use these personality types for my characters so one of the first things I look up for my main characters is their relationship fatal flaw and solution, pros and cons of dating this personality type, love language for the personality type.

Here is an example of a character from the Fire Series novel If the Seas Catch Fire


Using Astrology to create characters.

  • Western Astrology This is the most common astrology with 12 zodiac signs

  • Aries March 21-April 19

  • Taurus April 20-May20

  • Gemini May 21-June 21

  • Cancer June 22-July 22

  • Leo July 23-Aug. 22

  • Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22

  • Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 23

  • Scorpio Oct. 24- Nov. 21

  • Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21

  • Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19

  • Aquarius Jan. 20- Feb. 18

  • Pisces Feb. 10-March 20


You can use the dates and create a birthday for your character and use the personality and traits of their zodiac sign.


  • Eastern Astrology


This is astrology used in most Asian countries, consisting of 12 animal signs mixed with one of the five elements.

  • Ox

  • Sheep

  • Rat

  • Snake

  • Dragon

  • Tiger

  • Rabbit

  • Horse

  • Monkey

  • Rooster

  • Dog

  • Pig or Boar

In Eastern Astrology (Chinese Astrology) the zodiac signs last a year long

Instead of picking a birthday you pick a birth year that fits your character.


Blending Personality Types and Astrology

If you would like to see the dating profiles for our Fire Series guys check them out here and learn their birthdays and more.

Combining the two can give your characters depth and complexity. Understand the chosen personality type and the key traits of the astrology sign you've chosen.

Identify core traits between the both and blend strengths and weaknesses from both. Layer motivations and behaviors. Add unique flavors from astrology like moon sign, rising sign, or element traits from Eastern astrology.

Examples of Blended Characters

  • Example 1: An ENFP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)

  • Traits: Energetic, adventurous, optimistic, spontaneous

  • Blend: This character is a free spirit, driven by curiosity and a desire for new experiences. They might struggle with staying focused but inspire others with their enthusiasm and open-mindedness.

  • Example 2: An ISFJ (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging) Virgo (August 23 - September 22)

  • Traits: Practical, detail-oriented, caring, organized

  • Blend: This character is reliable and nurturing, always willing to help others. Their perfectionism and attention to detail might make them excellent caretakers but could lead to overthinking and stress.


Tips and Tricks

Worksheets and Templates

One Stop for Writers https://onestopforwriters.com/


Character Development is Paramount

Using some or all of the tips we discussed can help you create rich, multifaceted characters that will stick with your readers long after they close your book. Whether you set a birthdate or pick a personality type to understand your character you can get amazing results and help keep your character's personality consistent and give them a compelling character arc.


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