Character creation can be the bane of many a writer’s existence, especially when creating a character for a plot that has already been developed or a setting that has already been created. There are three aspects to creating a character: role creation, physical creation, and emotional creation.

The first step in creating a character in either original fiction or fan-fiction is the role creation. This means figuring out the role the character will play in the setting. Every character has a role in the story, and the first step to creating a character within a predefined plot is to figure out what general role they will play within the story. The role could be as simple as giving a character a vital piece of information through a seemingly-irrelevant dialogue or as complex as being the main character’s foil. Understanding what role the character will play within the story can help guide the development of the character’s physical and emotional traits.

Oftentimes, this will be confused with fitting into a specific cliché, occasionally referred to as a trope, though there is a difference between clichés and tropes. While tropes are useful tools, they are not rigid guidelines in which a character should fit and are not what role creation refers to. Role creation is specific to the story for which the character is being created rather than being a broad category such as ‘wise mentor’ or ‘the main character’s best friend’. The role of the character is more of the role they play within the story as a story rather than their role in relation to the main character.

Once the author has decided what role in the setting a character will fill, the next step is either creating a physical description or creating the character’s personality. While these are often done in unison due to the influence each has on the other, for the sake of a linear essay, physical creation will be addressed first, followed by emotional creation.

Physical creation is the creation of a character’s physical aspects. This includes the physical description of a character’s attributes, along with any other traits that would affect their appearance or general presence. Mannerisms often fall under this category, along with clothing style if relevant. The physical description can be a useful way to develop characterization. An example of this is the character’s personal attire, including wardrobe choices. Having an assassin wear a glittering three-piece suit in all situations, for example, shows a more ostentatious and less practical personality than an assassin who wears a black turtleneck and black slacks while working and then changes into something more casual for their personal time.

Emotional creation, as the name suggests, is the creation of a character’s emotional aspects. This includes the personality of the character and their motivations. Emotional creation can tie in more deeply with role creation than physical creation will, but that is due to the character’s personality being more impactful on how the character fulfills their role. The character’s physical characteristics can play a large role, such as a case of mistaken identity or familial ties, but how a character reacts to a situation often is a larger impact on the plot and the character’s role within the plot.

The physical description plays a part in the emotional creation of a character and vice versa. An example of this would be the hairstyle of a character. A more active character who does not like distractions would be more likely to put their long hair up in some way compared to someone who would see no need to exert the extra effort. A character who requires wearing glasses might be more cautious about diving in after treasure compared to someone who does not. There are often tropes that tie the two together, such as a shrinking violet, who oftentimes has physical characteristics that mirror their shy personality.

Tropes can be useful tools to create narrative shortcuts that the reader will understand. These shortcuts do allow for the author to expend less time on things such as characterization for a supporting character, but they do come at a cost. While tropes are useful and can be widely understood among audiences to convey something quickly, they should not be relied upon for all characterizations within a piece. They also can become stereotypical clichés if they are used for main characters. Using the trope as a basis for a character, similar to the role creation, can be helpful, but development beyond the basics of the trope is recommended to create a well-rounded character.

The three main aspects of character creation involve defining the role the character will play within the setting or plot, the physical characteristics of the character, and the personality of the character. The interplay between the purpose, physical description, and personality of the character helps the author understand how the character will act within the plot to achieve their purpose.