Character Development Adds to Plotting
A writer asked: You explained last month about the importance of developing characters through traits that fit the plot too. Can you give an example?
Answer: Sure! Let’s say you have a brother and his dog who eventually get lost in the woods and you want to develop the boy’s character more. Maybe the father has taught the boy many survival type things. Play on that a bit. Show that he not only automatically knows a bear when he sees one, but ALSO knows it is a certain type of bear, maybe some of its characteristics. Let him exhibit his survival/wilderness knowledge a bit early in the story and we’ll learn more about him, his talents and interests. You can this into the plot by showing the inner or personal conflict that involves this trait.
For example:
- Maybe he spouts his knowledge off too much and the others ignore him—they just aren’t impressed, or maybe are bored with his bragging.
- Maybe he hesitates to share the facts he knows, because he has low self-esteem.
Yet that knowledge pays off later as he faces various wilderness challenges and solves the plot problem. More importantly, it helps his character grow:
- If he’d been the bragging type, this experience can show him that his knowledge was never meant for impressing people–but for saving their lives. He learns to respect that knowledge.
- If he’d had low self-esteem, his experience will give him a chance to earn respect for himself, his natural talents, and his acquired knowledge.
Either way, what he does to save them, gives his friends and family a chance — in the end — to truly appreciate the boy’s interest and knowledge and not take him or his knowledge for granted anymore.
In this way, a small trait can play into the resolution of the plot AND into the growth of the relationships and characters too!