In a post on Writers in the Storm, Janice Hardy says you can create stronger characters by making sure each has a specific role in your novel. “Knowing what role a character plays in the story helps you determine which character does what in every scene—which helps characterize them at the same time,” she says.
The role can be the mom, best friend, confidante, inspiration, resource, comic relief, or adversary. “Whatever it is, any time something needs to happen in a scene that fits their role, they’re the ones to do it,” Hardy writes. “Roles help differentiate the characters, and allows you to develop them with traits unique to them.” For example, the character who fills the “mom” role in your book – regardless of whether he/she is anyone’s actual mother – will be the one to comfort other characters, help someone in need, or give a gentle lecture.
Assigning roles can help you write better dialogue and ensure that each character has a purpose in your story. When Hardy got stuck in her recent WIP, she worked backwards to see what her supporting characters did the most, and used that information to assign them a role. With those roles in mind, the character’s dialogue and motivations became stronger on her next pass-through.
When assigning roles, Hardy suggests thinking about what aspects of your story you want to convey to your readers. Do you have a lot of information or a specific profession you need to explain? Do you have themes you want to hammer home? By assigning a role to your characters, you’ll know how and why they will share the details you need your reader to know. This also gives all your characters a chance to shine.
“It’s easier to write great characters when you know why they’re there,” Hardy says. “They have a job to do, as well as a life to live. Understanding that role and that life gives you a deeper well to draw from when writing a scene, because you’ll clearly see what that character has to offer.”
