Developing Characters in Short Stories: Techniques for Creating Likeable and Engaging Protagonists
Overview
This paper examines key techniques for developing likeable and engaging characters in short stories. The author argues that writers can employ proven methods including creating intriguing backstories, incorporating humor, and developing ambitious character goals to enhance reader engagement and emotional connection.
What this coursework covers
- Introduction establishing the importance of good characters in short stories
- First technique: providing intriguing backstories shaped by family, trauma, employment, education, and environment
- Second technique: developing funny characters through exaggeration and wit
- Third technique: creating characters with ambitious and worthy goals that demonstrate human strengths and weaknesses
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Developing Characters in Short Stories
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Developing Characters in Short Stories
Many readers acknowledge the importance of good characters. They make reading enjoyable. Often the protagonist should be likeable by the readers through their actions and speech. Besides the protagonist, the rest of the cast must show desirable qualities that can thrill the readers. Notably, writers can use proven techniques to make their characters likeable and admired.
The first technique is to provide an intriguing back story. A character becomes likeable if their past shape who they are when encountered by the reader. A backstory can be influenced by key factors such as family members, past trauma, job, school, or where they grew up. It becomes a major influence on how the character evolves through the story (Writing Coach, 2017). For instance, a writer can give a character a tragic or interesting backstory to establish an emotional connection. A fascinating backstory makes readers interested in reading the work.
Secondly, characters should be funny. Slight exaggeration of their physique, ideologies, beliefs, or speech makes a character to be funny. Characters who make readers laugh often compel readers to flip through the next page. Readers love characters who express clever wit, entertaining snark, and are funny. Usually, good characters are surprising and will always thrill the reader with their unpredictability (Writing coach, 2017). Besides, characters can be interesting and funny if they’re developed to pursue ambitious and sometimes worthy goals.