First Draft: Your Characters Lack Uniqueness? Use These Seven Ways to Give Them Fresh Voices

5. Identify Character Types

Identifying the problem is the easy part. Those above four steps will help with that. Now comes the hard part — making them distinctive.

What a character says—or doesn’t say—can often identify much of what and who they are. Natural leaders will take on that role, access the situation, and take action. Followers will be less vocal and more reactionary. Disruptors will question the natural leaders and decisions of the group. Peacemakers will find common ground between the opposing characters. Antagonists will antagonize.

Look through your lists of characters and try to determine what type of characters they each are. They don’t have to be put under that full umbrella, but it’s an easy place to start as you develop each character.

If you identify what type each and every one of them is, you can allow them to come to life through their dialogue.

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