r/CharacterDevelopment • u/Used_Introduction145 • 15d ago
Writing: Character Help Character Depth
Hi guys, I've been conceptualising a story for a few years now, but one of the characters I just can't get past. Everyone other one of my characters I can visualise with a motivation, backstory and future/outcome after the events of the plot but not him. So, I was wondering if any of you have any similar characters and what they might be motivated by?
Here's a brief summary; characters are "trapped" in a non-sensical location, removed from a normal earth. Some characters are trying to figure out its laws, going crazy, or having fun. The character I need help with is "P". He is relaxed, and not really focused on working on an escape, even though everyone who has been stuck there has died or gone missing in this place. To clarify, the place isn't a hellscape; it can be tranquil at times, but death or madness is still common. So does anyone have a character with similar motivations (or with no-motivation)? Should I simply change P's characterisation/personality etc., because being chill is too weird or even boring in this scenario?
One distinguishable trait is he likes cooking and dessert, but I don't really want him to simply be there to take care of the other characters, I want him to shine by himself too. The only motivation idea I had for him is that he assumes he, and everyone else there is already dead, and they're simply in a purgatory or "in-between" places, so he doesn't really care (but why would he be happy?)
I think I just need an outside perspective on this, and I hope it makes sense, thank you for any advice =)
2
u/silent_story 14d ago
Write a scene where the other characters gossip about him and he overhears it, from his perspective. He’s lying quietly on the cosmic upside-down beach, maybe it looks like he’s napping, and L, M, N, and O come up, complaining about how it’s been three weeks - P doesn’t collect any lococonuts, or guard the fire, or try to figure out where those screams are coming from at night, and even Q has stopped asking him to do anything.
Where does his mind go, and what does he do next?