As a creative writer, you possess the ability to transform words on a page into believable personalities that keep audiences hypnotized.

And inside this week's issue of TSS, we'll dig into the art of building a diverse ensemble of characters for your stories.

Also, we'll use AI to spark your creativity so your characters can stand out.

Understanding Common Character Roles

Characters in a story have different jobs, or "roles.”

Knowing these roles can help you create inspiring characters that work well together.

Here are seven common character roles along with examples from seven popular films and novels.

1. Protagonist:

This is the main character of the story. They are the hero or the person we follow through their adventure.

Examples:

• Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) = Luke Skywalker

• Harry Potter series = Harry Potter

• The Wizard of Oz = Dorothy

• The Hunger Games (Book 1) = Katniss Everdeen

• The Lord of the Rings series = Frodo Baggins

• The Matrix = Neo / Thomas A. Anderson

2. Antagonist:

This character is usually the "bad guy" or the person who causes problems for the protagonist.

Examples:

• Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) = Darth Vader

• Harry Potter series = Lord Voldemort

• The Wizard of Oz = The Wicked Witch of the West

• The Hunger Games (Book 1) = President Snow

• The Lord of the Rings series = Sauron

• The Matrix = Agent Smith

3. Mentor / Guide:

This character helps the protagonist by teaching them important lessons or giving them advice.

Examples:

• Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) = Obi-Wan Kenobi

• Harry Potter series = Albus Dumbledore

• The Wizard of Oz = Glinda, the Good Witch of the North

• The Hunger Games (Book 1) = Haymitch Abernathy

• The Lord of the Rings series = Gandalf

• The Matrix = Morpheus

4. Sidekick / Best Friend:

This character is a loyal friend to the protagonist. They often help and support the main character.

Examples:

• Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) = Han Solo

• Harry Potter series = Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger

• The Wizard of Oz = Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion

• The Hunger Games (Book 1) = Peeta Mellark (limited role, also Love Interest)

• The Lord of the Rings series = Samwise Gamgee

• The Matrix = Trinity

5. Love Interest:

This character is someone the protagonist cares about in a romantic way.

Examples:

• Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) = Princess Leia

• Harry Potter series = Ginny Weasley

• The Wizard of Oz = N/A

• The Hunger Games (Book 1) = Peeta Mellark (also sidekick)

• The Lord of the Rings series = N/A

• The Matrix = Trinity

6. Foil:

A foil is a character who is very different from the protagonist. They show the reader or audience what the protagonist is not.

Examples:

• Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) = Han Solo (initially)

• Harry Potter series = Draco Malfoy

• The Wizard of Oz = The Wicked Witch of the East

• The Hunger Games (Book 1) = Effie Trinket

• The Lord of the Rings series = Boromir

• The Matrix = Cypher

7. Comic / Relief:

This character adds humor and fun to the story. They can make us laugh even during serious moments.

Examples:

• Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) = C-3PO and R2-D2

• Harry Potter series = Fred and George Weasley

• The Wizard of Oz = Cowardly Lion (partially)

• The Hunger Games (Book 1) = N/A

• The Lord of the Rings series = Merry and Pippin

• The Matrix = Mouse (limited role)

Now that we know about some of the common character roles, let's explore a few chatbot prompts to create your own characters.

AI Prompt to Jumpstart Your Characters

Your favorite chatbot can be a powerful tool to help you come up with new ideas for your characters. (I have primarily used OpenAI’s ChatGPT the past year, but I’m currently experimenting with Anthropic’s Claude3 Opus.)

Here’s a starter prompt you can use to start building your ensemble around an existing story idea.

NOTE: Keep in mind that only the first two placeholders with bold text in brackets (genre and story summary) need to be updated with your story information, but for each character role, you can either insert information from your story or leave them as is.

/ Prompt below - edit the bold text in [brackets] /

/ Prompt above - edit the bold text in [brackets] /

Mixing and Matching Character Roles

Sometimes, characters embody a blend of different roles.

Combining roles can make your characters more unique and engaging. Here are some ideas for mixing and matching character roles:

• A mentor who also serves as a comic relief character. This character imparts essential lessons while making the story more enjoyable with their humor. e.g. Yoda in Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) and Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games (Book 1)

• A sidekick who doubles as a foil to the protagonist. This character supports the protagonist while also highlighting the differences between the two characters. e.g. Ron Weasley to Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series and Dr. John Watson to Sherlock Holmes in the Sherlock Holmes stories

• A love interest who is also a protagonist in their own right. This character has their own goals and desires, making their relationship with the main protagonist more engaging. e.g. Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun in The Notebook and Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean series

• A comic relief character who also serves as a sidekick. This character supports the protagonist while using humor to bring levity to the story. e.g. Olaf in Frozen and Dory in Finding Nemo 

By mixing and matching character roles, you can build multi-dimensional personas that will make your characters even more unique.

Additional Tips for Developing a Well-Rounded Cast of Characters

Creating a group of interesting characters can make your story more fun to read.

Here are some final tips to help you develop a well-rounded cast of characters:

1/ Make each character different:

• Give each character their own personality and way of speaking. This will make it easier for readers to tell them apart and enjoy their unique qualities.

2/ Give characters their own goals:

• Every character should have something they want or need. This will help readers understand why the characters do what they do and make them more relatable.

3/ Think about character relationships:

• How do your characters get along with one another? Characters can have friendships, rivalries, or other connections that make the story more exciting.

4/ Don't overcrowd your story:

• Make sure you have just the right number of characters. Too many characters can make the story confusing, and important characters might not get enough attention.

Final Thoughts on Character Development

Building a cast of characters is a critical when crafting a gripping plot.

By understanding common character roles, collaborating with AI, and following these tips, you can create a group of interesting and inspiring characters that audiences will love.

Just remember to have fun and experiment with different ideas to make your characters and your story truly special!

That’s it for this Saturday.

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See ya next week!

— Dave