The Good, The Bad, and The Boring—How to Write Complex, Relatable Characters

I can only enjoy the beginnings of horror movies.

I used to love horror films much more when I was younger, but as I got older, the need for quality and substance outweighed the thrill of simple scare tactics, and for the most part, I now find horror movies disappointing.

Horror movies usually start out well—there’s intrigue and just a hint of an ominous feeling in the air that doesn’t yet reveal what the ominous thing is or what it wants. But then the main characters get a glimpse of the thing that’s been turning creepy toys on at 3 AM / lurking in the woods / possessing a family member, and the magic is gone.

In the end, the ominous presence turns out to be nothing more than a demon, the spirit of someone who died a horrible death, or some psychotic killer monster. And it’s disappointing. Why? Because the mystery is gone, it’s just another monster.

More disappointing still is the reason why the demon, the monster, or the restless spirit chose to torment the family that just moved to the house / the teenagers staying at the cabin / the innocent-looking yet creepy child. And that reason is because it’s evil, and therefore it does evil things.

Remember The Nun? That’s exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about.

And this is where I stop my ranting and tie this back to writing—too often we encounter (in both movies and books) the idea of some evil force whose sole purpose is to create obstacles for our protagonists to overcome.

This force is unexplainably bad, and the protagonists—who are just as unexplainably good, or at least positively inclined—must defeat it.

Stephen King is often guilty of this (The Stand is probably the most famous example), and while I find his writing absolutely brilliant, this detail always bugs me. Why is the big bad monster evil?

Of course, it’s not the case in all books, and if you wanted to argue with me, you could find plenty of complex and conflicted characters (I filled my own debut book with morally complex characters).

But it’s still a tendency that exists, and one you might want to steer away from if you aim to be a truly great writer.

50 Shades of Black and White

While it is common for a book to have protagonists and antagonists, simply labeling them as innately good or evil does a disservice to both your readers and your work. Unless you’re targeting fourteen-year-olds, your readers might wonder why your villains are the way that they are and what made them this way. Because just like in real life, most things are not black and white.

In life, if you step into the villain’s point of view, you might discover reasons that, while not justifying their actions, at least explain their less-than-benevolent inclinations. You might also find that pure-hearted heroes are not always as flawless as they seem.

And the same is true for the characters you create in your books.

Future Halloween Costumes

In The Lord of The Rings, an amazing work of art that inspired many that followed, the bad guys never had a chance to explain themselves (most of them, at least).

Consider why more people might dress up as Gollum than as Saruman for Halloween (even though ewww), and “relatability” might come up as a common answer. Saruman, while wearing finer garb than the raw-fish-loving former-hobbit, is simply not complex. We never learn his motivations, goals, the trauma that led him to be as he is, or the path that corrupted him.

At the same time, Gollum, while not a good guy for sure, is shown wrestling with internal conflicts. Add a pinch of trauma and sadness, and you get an antagonist, but a relatable one.

When you give characters depth, people will find them more compelling. This relatability creates the emotional weight you hope to inspire in your readers because, as I said before, it’s the love for your characters, the hate for them, or the curiosity about their fates that makes people want to read the book.

Relatable Villains and (Not-So) Good Guys

So, how do you write characters that don’t simply fall into the shallow “Good” or “Bad” puddles?

The answer is in the character’s background—you’ll need to consider their lives prior to their role in the book you’re writing and the events that led them to where your readers first meet them.

The following questions can help you dig deeper into your heroes and villains, and make them more complex and interesting:

1. What is their story?

Each character should have their own story.

This history might not be played back to the reader in full detail, but it will help you understand your character, their motives, and how they would respond to different situations.

When writing your protagonists and antagonists, consider their pasts. They don’t necessarily have to be tragic, but they should align with the roles these characters play in your book.

2. What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Whether their intentions are ill or pure, your characters will excel at some things and struggle with others. Writing a hero or a villain with no weaknesses makes them less complex, less relatable, and more cliché.

Strengths and weaknesses for both your novel’s protagonists and antagonists create an interesting and believable tapestry, making your characters neither wholly one thing or another, but a mix of flaws and virtues.

3. What could make them change?

If you’re willing to be adventurous, and if that aligns with your storyline, consider whether your characters could change their alignment. This might not happen in your book, but it could create a moment of suspense, a tipping point that makes readers hold their breath.

When characters are not purely good or evil, they could be susceptible to influence, and that can make them more engaging.

Bonus points if you consider what could corrupt your good guys and gals, not just what could redeem your villains.

4. Are they acting out of choice?

An interesting question for either a hero or a villain is whether they act the way they do and follow the path they’re on out of free will.

A hero might be bound by a code of honor, promises, and obligations while not being particularly kind at heart. Conversely, your villain might act the way they do because their loved ones are under threat.

Considering external influences on your characters’ choices can enhance their development and conflict, as well as create compelling twists.

5. Do they change throughout the book?

As mentioned in point 3, you can decide whether your characters will stay on the same course or change as the story progresses. Coincidently, considering your characters’ past, strength and weaknesses, and external influences might reveal if such a change makes sense.

Not only can this intrigue your readers, it can also result in a well-designed character arc, where they start from a high point only to be corrupted, or begin at rock bottom only to be redeemed.

Conclusion

Our world is full of shadows, hues, and ambiguities, and so should our writing be (at least when it comes to heroes and villains). Investing some time in building your characters and questioning why they are the way they are can add depth and intrigue to your writing.

Was the evil goblin king bullied in school? And does the heroine only save the prince from the dragon’s claws for fame and glory?

Like in real life, no character is purely good or bad, and that’s what makes them unforgettable.