Hey, {{ first_name | Rebel }}!

A quick confession.

When I started writing seriously, I thought complexity came from backstory.

So I gave my characters tragic childhoods, complicated relationships, and pages of internal thought.

None of it helped.

They only became interesting when I gave them a belief that sabotaged them.

Turns out, contradiction creates depth.

Plot problems are often character problems in disguise.

When a story feels thin, it is usually because the character lacks contradiction.

So let’s focus on depth.

Characters become compelling when they hold competing desires, fears, or beliefs. Internal friction and external opposition drive meaningful decisions.

Surface traits are forgettable, and we want our reader to throw your book across the room (in a good way, obvs).

Give your character a habit they would hate being exposed.

Write a scene where someone almost notices.

This exposure reveals vulnerability without explanation.

Write a moment where your character congratulates someone they secretly resent.

Keep the dialogue polite. Let the resentment leak through body language or thought.

Now you’re layering in the emotional realism.

Write the exact moment your character decides they have had enough.

Avoid dramatic speeches and focus on the internal shift.

If your turning point has a “get out of jail free card”, their choice doesn’t have high enough stakes.

What belief does your character hold that may sabotage their goal?

That belief likely shapes their arc.

If you want accountability for consistently developing your craft and feedback on building complex characters, our Fiction Village inside the Studio exists for that.

Remember: Creating structure around your writing practice makes bravery easier.

Trial Studio Sonder for Free →

— Demi

Founder & Creative in Chief | Studio Sonder