When you make certain aspects of your characters contradictory, they feel multidimensional. They become more life-like and relatable. Think about the people you know, your family, your friends — even yourself. Sometimes people have traits that seem to oppose each other, like maybe a person is highly organised and efficient at work, but completely disorganised and forgetful at home.

Or maybe you know someone who is super shy with even just three or four people, but gregarious and talkative in one-on-one conversations.

You can begin by asking yourself what makes your character unique. Is he or she known for a specific trait? Then add a layer of complexity by introducing an unexpected or opposing behaviour.

For example:

• A fearless warrior who has a debilitating fear of public speaking

• A meticulous scientist who secretly and regularly visits an astrologer

• A cutthroat lawyer who bakes cookies for a homeless shelter every Sunday.

Tension is important in fiction. It adds interest, keeps the pages turning, so to speak. Contradictions create great opportunities for tension and growth. They let your characters surprise your readers. As the story progresses, these conflicting traits can lead to powerful turning points or meaningful choices.

To practice this, list your character’s top three defining traits. Then come up with at least one contradictory trait for each one. Think about how these contradictions would influence their relationships, their choices, or the theme of the story.

When you include contradictions in your story, it not only adds layers of depth, it keeps your readers interested and intrigued. They’ll want to understand why your character has these inconsistencies, which makes them emotionally invested in your character’s journey.

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