When I sit down to write, one of the first things I think about is this: who lives in my story? Not just the plot, but the people (or beings) who make the plot matter. That’s what “character” really means for me.

A character isn’t just a name on a page, it’s a living presence in your imaginary world. It could be a person, an animal, or even an idea, but what makes it a character is that it has beliefs, desires, conflicts and through it, you give your story a heartbeat.

Character vs. Characterisation

• Character: The core: who your character is. Their personality, their moral compass, their internal struggles.
• Characterisation: How you present that character to readers, through what they do, what they say, how they behave, how other people respond to them.

When I build a character, I don’t just think about how they look; I think about why they act the way they do, what they dream of, and what they fear. Through characterisation, I slowly peel back the layers for the reader, bit by bit.

Direct and indirect characterisation

There are two powerful ways to show who someone is:
• Direct characterisation: You tell the reader something: “She always wore a bright red dupatta, even on cloudy days.”
• Indirect characterisation: You show them through action: “She rushed across the crowded street to help a stranger pick up fallen books.”

Both matter. Direct lines give clarity; indirect moments give depth.

Round vs. flat characters

In stories, I often think in terms of round and flat characters:
• Round characters are like real people. They are layered, contradictory, and capable of change. Their beliefs might shift; their decisions might surprise you.
• Flat characters are simpler maybe they exist only to move the plot, or to highlight something in the main character. That’s okay; not everyone needs to be deeply complex.

When I write a protagonist, I lean toward making them round because I want readers to feel their journey, to empathise when they fail, and rejoice when they grow.

Character arc: Their inner journey

For me, a character isn’t just someone reacting to external events. The real story often lies in their internal journey, how they change (or don’t) over time.
• Maybe they start with a deeply held belief that later breaks.
• Maybe they face a crisis that forces them to make a difficult choice and see the world differently.

That transformation however big or small is what gives a character arc. It’s not just about what happens to them, but how they respond and how they become.

Why strong characters are non-negotiable

Here’s why I spend so much time on character:
• Relatability: If I get them right, readers will care. They’ll love them, root for them, hate them but they won’t forget them.
• Theme Embodiment: My characters often carry the themes I want to explore. Their fears, desires, and choices reflect deeper truths.
• Emotional Weight: Plot without character is hollow. Characters give the plot its emotional stakes.

And when a character feels real not just because they have quirks, but because they feel like someone you’d meet in a street in Delhi or in a chai shop in Chennai the story resonates.

An example

To make this more concrete: imagine I’m writing a story about a young woman, Meera, from a small town in Haryana.
• Her Character: She’s ambitious, but loyal to her family. She dreams of becoming a teacher and wants to change her village.
• How I Characterise Her:
• Directly: I describe how she dresses simple salwar kameez, her hair always tied in a braid.
• Indirectly: I show her helping kids in her neighbourhood read from old textbooks under a streetlight after sunset.
• Her Arc: At first, she’s afraid to challenge the local school board. But after a confrontation, she gathers courage, challenges the status quo, and helps start an evening tuition centre.

Meera isn’t just a “village girl with a dream.” She is her own contradictions, hopeful and doubtful, caring and fierce. That’s what makes her a character and not just a plot device.

Some practical tips

• Start with a belief: What does your character strongly believe in? That becomes their guiding force.
• List their fears and desires: These drive every decision they make.
• Use action for revelation: Not just “she’s kind”, show her giving away her one pair of shoes to someone.
• Plan the arc: Even a small internal change, “now she speaks up instead of staying silent”, is powerful.
• Use relationships: How they treat others, and how others treat them, reveals a lot.

Conclusion

To me, a character is not just someone in the story, they are the story. They are the emotional anchor. They are the question, “What would I do in their shoes?” And when I write, I strive to make characters so real, so flawed, so deeply human that readers carry them in their minds long after the last page.

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