Asked by: Kenneth Bin

How do you write a book with two main characters?

As a general rule, a novel with multiple characters must present a balanced approach to the part they play in the plot. Each character should be very different, sometimes complementing the other main characters and other times antagonistic to the other characters. Actions and speech should be different and distinctive.

How do you write a story with two characters?

And makes the play move forward the protagonist is the character who drives the story. They are the reason there is a story at all and the protagonist.

Can you write a book with only two characters?

Can a story actually thrive with only two characters on the page for long stretches in a novel? Well yes. But it’s tricky. Here are some techniques Heather Burch learned while writing her new release, Summer by Summer.

How do you outline a character in a novel?

Write the name of your character, and answer questions with that character in mind. Choose the questions that you think are interesting or helpful – don’t feel obligated to answer every question for every character if you don’t want to.

How many characters are too many for a book?

A good rule of thumb might be: Include as many characters as needed to tell the story and evoke the proper style and scope—and no more. For intimate novels, this number might be as small as 2-5 secondary characters, and for broader stories, this number might be 20-30.

How do you write a character group?

10 Rules for Handling Large Casts of Characters

1. Rule #1: Characters Should Exist to Represent Theme and Move Plot (Preferably Both) …
2. Rule #2: Fewer Characters Are Better. …
3. Rule #3: Avoid Repetition by Recognizing Which Archetype Each Character Represents.

How do you write a scene with multiple characters?

Four Tips for Writing Scenes with Many Characters

1. Stick to a single point of view. Stay in one character’s point of view throughout the scene. …
2. No more than four or five speakers (maybe six) …
3. Don’t introduce any new characters in this scene. …
4. Try to use as much dialogue as possible, but use tags to keep it clear.

Mar 5, 2012

Can there be 2 protagonists?

Dual protagonists are characters who are both the central actors in a story, work toward a shared or similar goal, and take up approximately the same amount of screen time. Like most protagonists in film, they must both embark on inner and outer journeys that culminate in an emotional or physical change.

How do you introduce multiple characters in a story?

The easiest solution is to split up the introduction. If it’s possible at all, have the MC share a scene with one or two characters, then with two or three others, and so on until you’ve introduced them all. It can also be helpful to mention a character not present in the scene, before he is properly introduced.

How do you plan a character in a story?

How to create vivid characters for your novel or screenplay

1. Start with a character archetype. …
2. Add specific characteristics. …
3. Build the backstory. …
4. Give them quirks, faults, and flaws. …
5. Give your character an arc. …
6. Add visual references. …
7. Organise & refine. …
8. Create the rest of your characters.

What should a character profile include?

What to include in your character profile:

• Character basics such as name, age,
• Physical description of character’s appearance.
• The personality traits of the character.
• Overview of the character’s health.
• Career and education details.
• Preferences of the character.
• Description of the character’s family life.

How can I make my characters likable?

12 Tips on How to Write a Likable Character

1. Introduce your character early on in the story. …
2. Make your character a flawed person. …
3. Give them a backstory to help readers connect with them. …
4. Make sure they have goals and motivations that are relatable. …
5. Show their vulnerability, but don’t let it become too much of an issue.

How do you write a strong character?

1. Establish the character’s story goals and motivations.
2. Give the character an external and internal conflict.
3. Make sure the character has strengths and flaws.
4. Decide whether the character is static or dynamic.
5. Give the character a past.
6. Develop the character’s physical characteristics.

How do you make readers connect with characters?

Here are five ways to make readers care about your characters:

1. Make Your Characters Need Something. …
2. Make Your Characters Take A Stand On Important Issues. …
3. Make Your Character The Underdog. …
4. Give Your Characters Idealistic Qualities. …
5. Give Your Characters Formidable Foes.

How do you make a powerful character interesting?

So here they are.




1. Give your characters something to care about. This is the easiest one, but I often see stories where characters do things for no apparent reason. …
2. Create a threat. This doubles up as a way to create a plot when you don’t have one. …
3. Give them a unique skill. …
4. Make them flawed. …
5. Make them grow.

Jan 24, 2020



How do you create a character book?

Here are the 5 Steps of Strong Character Development to Create Memorable Characters in Your Novel:

1. Step 1: Identify Your Characters & Their Roles in the Story. …
2. Step 2: Get Inside Your Character’s Head. …
3. Step 3: Research, Research, Research. …
4. Step 4: Strong Dialogue = Stronger Character Development. …
5. Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell.

Apr 26, 2018



What makes a character boring?

A boring character fails to capture the reader’s attention and interest. I’ve fallen into this trap while exploring realism. I wanted my characters to be everyday people with everyday problems.

How do you create a unique character?

Let’s go!




1. Tip 1: Make Their Actions Different, Not Looks. …
2. Tip 2: Prejudices, Enemies, Faults and Fears. …
3. Tip 3: Give Them Their Part of the World. …
4. Tip 4: Give Them a Unique Goal. …
5. Tip 5: Give Them Unique Phrases and Speech. …
6. Tip 6: Grow Them, Don’t Change Them. …
7. Tip 7: Give Them Values, Give Them Choices.

Feb 5, 2020



How do writers come up with characters?

In any good novel, a writer creates fictional characters by giving them goals, throwing obstacles in their way, and creating conflict. Writers connect a reader to a story by making characters relatable.

What are the 12 character archetypes?

There are twelve brand archetypes: The Innocent, Everyman, Hero, Outlaw, Explorer, Creator, Ruler, Magician, Lover, Caregiver, Jester, and Sage.

What is a OC character?

OC as “original character” is often used in fan communities. OCs are characters that are not part of an existing intellectual property and are created by people online.





How can I get a good character?

Five Ways to Build Your Character

1. Be Humble. Humility is the beginning of wisdom. …
2. Live out your principles and values. …
3. Be intentional. …
4. Practice self discipline. …
5. Be accountable.




What is OC slang for?

According to Urban Dictionary, the acronym OC is an internet slang word that stands for original character. This is used in fanfiction to refer to a character that the author made up and inserted into a story.

What’s the difference between an OC and a character?

OC = Original Character



For example, if you’re writing Star Wars fan-fiction and you give Luke and Leia a younger sister, that would be an OC / original character because it is original to you, the fan-fiction writer, and is not part of the canon source material.

What does OC mean in books?

OC just means “original character”, so it’s the creator’s character. It’s nothing to do with how much the character has been fleshed out. People use OC when talking about their original characters in fanworks and also for characters they make for original works.





What is an au character?

Stands for ‘Alternate Universe’. Some games do not accept AU characters. In role play, AU is occasionally used so that a character can have a relationship with more than one character without technically “cheating”. An alternate universe, as implied, is a universe where things are different from the original.