forum how do you make a character uniquely different?

Started January 09, 2018 by sofia I

tune

i think i keep aligning the character to what I know, and it kind of stops me from making them unique. Can I ask advice on how to create characters with less influence from already existing characters? Thank you so much

If they stubbed their toe, what would they do? Would they abandon all dignity and cuss as they curl up into a ball, or would they hiss in pain before moving on?
What books would they read? Why? Do they get invested in things, or are they emotionally detached? do they view other's emotions with amusement or distaste?
How have their experiences changed them? I'm not talking about how they see the world. Lot's of soldiers in wars had a difficult time eating meat because of their experiences in battle. People who endured physical abuse shy away from physical contact. Someone who grew up in poverty may keep that need to budget, or maybe they take their chance to blow all their money on something amazing.
A person who goes to a place they know they'll never see again may act completely unreserved, free of consequences. What rules would they break? Who would they bring with them?
How willing are they to forgive? Do they value trust, or love more? Would they spend the night with a friend in need, or would they finish their essay that takes 30% of their grade?
How do they view themselves? Are they confident, insecure, are do they not think about it?
Do they fear failure, or disappointing those around them? How affected are they by world events? Does history interest them? What are their political views? Are they pushy with their opinions, or do they step back to watch others argue it out?
How open are they with their emotions? Do they conceal it? Why? Do they want to appear strong? Do they not trust the people around them? How do they process those emotions? What are their coping strategies? Are they healthy ways to cope? If not, does the person realize that it's not a good way to deal with their feelings?
Hope this kinda helps. Fleshing out a character and finding their ACTUAL flaws, not just ones that are endearing, are the key to a good character. If only the villain disagrees with your protagonist, something is wrong, or really, not wrong enough.

I think all people are more alike than they realize. A character who seems normal is totally okay. :) Like what the comment above says, just going into detail in the way they behave will make the character feel real to the reader, they don't necessarily have to be "unique." Everybody has quirks and funny interests and habits and things they believe in or stand up for, find theirs!

Honestly, creating familiar characters can be far from a bad thing :). Having character archetypes within a story make the story more accessible to readers because it eases them into the other, more unique aspects of the book, per se. Small behaviors and mannerisms can really flesh out a character, setting them apart even if their origin was rather bland. The most important thing, though, is to make sure that your characters are unique from each other, otherwise you end up with cardboard cutouts rather than characters.

My friend said "throw an apple at their face and see how they react"