Lecture #9: Characters — Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Introduction

This tutorial aims to guide you through the key insights on character creation as discussed in Brandon Sanderson's lecture on writing science fiction and fantasy. Understanding how to develop compelling characters is essential for any writer looking to create engaging and memorable stories.

Step 1: Understand Character Roles

• Identify Character Archetypes: Familiarize yourself with common character roles such as the protagonist, antagonist, sidekick, and mentor. Each serves a specific function in the story.
• Consider Their Motivations: Define what drives your characters. This could be personal goals, fears, or external pressures. Motivations add depth and make characters relatable.

Step 2: Create Depth with Flaws

• Incorporate Flaws: Flaws make characters realistic and relatable. Consider traits like jealousy, stubbornness, or insecurity.
• Show Growth Potential: Allow your characters the opportunity for growth. This can involve overcoming their flaws or learning from their mistakes.

Step 3: Build Backstories

• Develop Detailed Histories: Create backstories that explain your characters' motivations and flaws. This adds authenticity and depth.
• Use Backstories Wisely: Integrate elements of the backstory into the narrative without overwhelming the reader. This can be done through dialogue, memories, or flashbacks.

Step 4: Explore Relationships

• Establish Dynamics: Consider how your characters interact with each other. Relationships can reveal personal traits and drive the plot.
• Create Conflicts: Use relationships to create tension and conflict, which can propel the story forward.

Step 5: Use Dialogue Effectively

• Craft Unique Voices: Each character should have a distinct way of speaking. This can involve variations in vocabulary, speech patterns, and tone.
• Show Character Through Dialogue: Use dialogue not just for conversation but to reveal character traits, motivations, and conflicts.

Step 6: Ensure Consistency

• Maintain Character Consistency: Ensure that characters behave in ways that are true to their established traits and motivations throughout the story.
• Track Development: Keep a character sheet or notes to track changes and growth to avoid inconsistencies.

Conclusion

In summary, creating compelling characters involves understanding their roles, motivations, and flaws, while also crafting rich backstories and relationships. By focusing on dialogue and ensuring consistency, you can develop characters that resonate with readers. As a next step, consider drafting character profiles for your own stories to explore their complexities further. Happy writing!