Why Your Characters are Boring (and How to Fix Them)

In this video, I delve into the common writing mistakes that make characters boring and uninteresting in your stories. From lack of depth to clichés, I break down why your characters may be falling short and provide practical writing tips on how to breathe life into them. These insights will help you transform your characters from mundane to memorable. Tune in to learn how to make your characters truly awesome!
Transform your boring characters into unforgettable legends!
Stay tuned for valuable advice on character development that will take your storytelling to the next level.
Stay tuned for more writing tips and writing advice on our channel! Check out our website for more information about our writer's group and newsletter. While you are there, be sure to sign up for the newsletter, which is packed with writing tips, writing advice, and so much more.
smuinmedia.com/
Self publishing can be hard, don't go it alone. Follow us through the process. We have self published seven books. Some are fiction, and some are non-fiction. We are here to assist in the self publishing and writing process.
00:00 Introduction
00:08 10 Reasons Your Characters are Boring
00:16 Character Motivation Unclear
00:50 Nothing New to Discover
01:35 No Emotion
02:50 Character Reaction is Boring
03:57 No Flaws or Weaknesses
04:45 Characters are all the Same
05:50 Life is too Easy
06:34 Too Vague or Generic
07:16 No Values and Doesn't Stand for Anything
08:11 Inconsistency
~~~~~~~
Books and videos mentioned in this video.
Creating instant character connection; Writing Tips - • Creating instant chara...
Mastering Character Development: 5 Essential Tips for Your Writing - • Mastering Character De...
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something, we receive a small commission. Your price doesn't increase. Thanks for supporting the channel.
~~~~~~~
Connect with us
smuinmedia.com/
/ followangiesmuin
/ angiesmuin
~~~~~~~
Books by Dave and Angie Smuin
Fiction:
Shimmer - amzn.to/3i57L9Q
Redemptions Price - amzn.to/3VxA1jf
Non-Fiction:
Intentional Motherhood - amzn.to/3jByDPm
Intentional Motherhood Daily Journal - amzn.to/42hnyW4
Intentional Discipleship - amzn.to/3hZvtnW
The Spirit of Truth - amzn.to/4aBhZoZ
~~~~~~~
#Writingvlog #booktube #authortube #writingtips #self publishing

[@DaveandAngieSmuin]

What is your biggest struggle to write engaging characters?

[@joshuam2212]

I always start with internal conflict and make the story around that my story I'm writing write now was sparked my a story prompt that could have gone so many ways but with Johnny's internal conflict he made a decision that fuels the story without it there would be no story

[@DaveandAngieSmuin]

Internal conflict is a huge part of a good story! Some writers start with the character and the internal conflict and the story unfolds from there. I love that we are all so unique and have different ways of constructing our stories. But the internal conflict is a good place to start!

[@stgr6669]

For me, it's a challenge to keep the balance between #1 and #2. Describing the character's motivation may contradict discovering the character over time.
My plot contains a lot of conspiracy and betrayal, with multiple people turning out to have different motivations than expected. A reason my concept of giving about twenty people at least one POV chapter probably won't work is that it feels like betraying the reader, like hiding thoughts and feelings of characters while telling less important stuff just to tell something.
That's why I now concentrate on the POV of a few low ranked people, who have no clue about what their higher-ups are really planning. So I have to reveal to the reader only what the other characters reveal to these originally four people, of whom after a major turning point in the middle only two are still alive.

[@DaveandAngieSmuin]

I love this! It is always tricky to decide whose POV the story is told through. If done correctly, it allows for revealing a little bit at a time. I love the conspiracy and betrayal themes in a book. It is a great way to elevate the tension and conflict.

[@stgr6669]

@@DaveandAngieSmuin That's true. At the moment, I'm wavering between two options.
I may use four POV characters, two fom the "goodies" and two from the "baddies" teams. The former will be a disillusioned veteran soldier and a brash, overconfident young activist, the latter a disgraced and disgruntled military officer (a truly horrible human being) and small fry criminal he hired as a henchwoman (eventually the most important character of the story).
Or I may write in first person, from the good soldier's POV. Scenes where he wasn't present, but will later have the opportunity to speak to someone who was, will be told by him too, with his more or less correct evaluation. While he is the narrator, the henchwoman is the person whose character arc is told over the course of the story and who has to sort out things at the end.