Characterization


 * 6. [The rules] require that when the author describes the character of a personage in the tale, the conduct and conversation of that personage shall justify said description.


 * &mdash;Mark Twain, "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses"


 * Show, don't tell.


 * &mdash;Your English teacher and every creative writing guide ever.

Characterization (Brit. characterisation) is how a character is created and presented in a narrative. It includes the actions, interactions, thoughts, speech, and other traits that make them them.

Characterization may be simple (one- or two-dimensional) or complex (three-dimensional). When writing complex characters, it is generally considered better to show the audience what they're like by means of their behavior (indirect characterization) than to tell the audience what they're like in the narration (direct characterization).

Simple characters aren't inherently bad, but fanfiction writers often don't know how to create complex, sympathetic characters and end up writing flat, unbelievable ones instead. Discrepancies between direct and indirect characterization in fanfiction are nearly always a sign of bad writing.

Simple vs. Complex
Stories call for all sorts of characters, from the main character all the way down to the random people on the street. It is important for each character to be given a level of characterization appropriate to their role in the story.

One- and two-dimensional characters are flat or static because they have no conflict and do not undergo character development in the course of the story. Three-dimensional characters are round or dynamic because they have complex motivations, internal and/or external conflicts to overcome, and they do undergo personal growth and transformation.

One-dimensional characterization is appropriate for generics: the nameless extras that only exist to take up space and provide a sense of depth to the world. These generally have no lines and no direct interactions with the main characters, except perhaps to cheer or get in the way. Generics require only a simple description (if any) and a basic pattern of behavior consistent with their stated culture, species, etc.

Two-dimensional characterization is appropriate for bit characters, which exist to play a minor role in the story, whether helping or hindering the main characters. They have few lines (bit characters in television are commonly known as "five-and-unders" or "under sixes") and may not appear in more than one scene. They may have an individual history and motivation, but do not experience development and growth in the story.

Two-dimensional characterization is also appropriate in certain forms of storytelling, such as fairy tales and Greek drama, in which all the characters are archetypes (e.g. hero, villain, trickster, lover) or stock characters (e.g. damsel in distress, gentle giant, manic pixie dream girl). These characters are defined by their role in the story rather than individual identities.

Three-dimensional characterization is appropriate&mdash;and indeed necessary&mdash;for main characters such as the protagonist and their close friends and allies. These are the characters the audience is supposed to sympathize with and care about enough to want to know what happens to them, so they must be fleshed out enough to resemble real people in all their complexity. Real people have history that shapes them and desires that motivate them. Their appearance and various talents may be important aspects of their self-image, but then again, they may not. They have flaws, and doubt, and inner turmoil. They face challenges they must overcome in order to become wiser, better versions of themselves, and sometimes they will fail. Sometimes, in fact, failure provides more important and lasting lessons than success.

Character Writing
Characterization may be given either directly or indirectly. Direct characterization is what is said about the character by the narrator, other characters, or the character themself, and may or may not be reliable. This is also known as telling.

In indirect characterization, the audience must infer what the character is like based on their actions, interactions with other characters (including how the other characters react to them), thoughts, speech, mannerisms, and appearance. This is also known as showing, and is more reliable and thus vastly preferred over telling alone.

Sometimes a character's indirect characterization is notably different from their direct characterization. In these cases, the author may be setting up a discrepancy on purpose to create suspense, or to present a character who is not sane.

However, when the medium is fanfiction, it's far more likely to be a case of bad characterization. A common problem in Mary Sue stories is that the narrative and other characters describe the Sue as kind, caring, talented, etc., but her words and deeds are petty, selfish, and mediocre; or perhaps she has a backstory of trauma or abuse, but in the present she seems completely unaffected except when trying to win the sympathy of her Lust Object. Because showing is so much more powerful than telling, this sort of discrepancy can cause the audience to lose the ability to suspend disbelief, and when that happens they won't see the character as a sympathetic person, but as a wooden puppet of the author. At that point, they'll probably stop reading.