forum Please critique my character, thanks!
Started by Alex
tune

people_alt 41 followers

@The_Cactis_Lord

Good character. One thing I noticed is that he's very relatable. He's just an average guy. I've always stuck to "if your character is not relatable, make them interesting. Or both." However… your character is not very interesting. Maybe that was the point? I don't see much trouble he would get into that would start conflict. I don't know if this was the point, like he's a side character, but that's what I noticed.

@tiredandconfused group

He seems well rounded enough. I agree he could be a boring character, but it really depends on what you do with his character in the story and what conflicts he faces. Something that could help this is to think about how he grew up, those are things that really influence characters and really add life to them. Was he raised in a nuclear family with his parents? How does he get along with his sister? What was his childhood and school life like? Who are people, like family and friends, who influenced him to the person he is? How did he realize he was gay, and he has come out to others? How'd he meet his boyfriend? Backstory really affects a character and thinking over it will really add dimensionality to him.
Another critique is that he doesn't really have any physical flaws that are mentioned, other than the birthmark. Most characters are portrayed as conventionally attractive, or people are quick to imagine them as flawless if you don't mention any imperfections. Birthmarks could count, but they're not something that detract too much from one's appearance. Adding small quirks like a too-big nose, weak jaw, or blemished face really help. I'm not saying you can't make beautiful characters, but small flaws really make them more believable.
Hope this helped, and good luck with your writing!