How do you create characters that stick with your audience?

I'm going to be a little critical here of the statement on the left. Knowing your genre doesn't help you create characters. It can place them in a world that seems to fit. But it doesn't help 'create' them. For that, you need to understand how they see the world and their way of tackling problems. You want your audience to empathise with your characters, and that means how they do things. That 'how' is shared by your audience in their own lives. Think about it. If your character is an astronaut, you should present him or her in such a clear way that you would know how they would behave if they were a shopworker or plumber... ...that's character. The description of genre here is the setting. Good to know, but not the most important thing.

Contrary to popular belief, I contend that a genre's dominance in character creation is overstated. While it undeniably influences a character's backdrop, the essence lies in their individuality. Personalities, idiosyncrasies, and distinctive traits take precedence over genre-defined roles. A successful character isn't universally transferable across genres, but the focus shouldn't solely rest on the setting. The genre merely establishes the tone, providing a framework, but it's the author's responsibility to unearth a character whose brilliance outshines the confines of any particular world, creating a memorable persona.

Character of your story is like a hero in a movie. Character of your story should give a clear message to your audience. It should motivate or inspire your audience! Give them a clear identity.

Crafting unforgettable characters involves imbuing them with clear goals and motivations. I would even argue that an unmotivated character can still be memorable and resonate with an audience. Characters lacking motivation still require a compelling driving force. Establishing a sense of purpose makes them relatable, grounding your audience in their journey.

Characters with certain traits, quirks & mannerisms become memorable but in order for them to stick with the audience, we need to make them have at least some kind of human characteristics. Only then can the audience relate to the character. If the character is nowhere close to being human, the audience will feel alienated. There will neither be any empathy nor any connect between the character & audience. Take Mahabharata for example. We all have certain favourites. Some like Karna because they either have sympathy for him. Or they can relate to him in some way. Some may like Shakuni despite him being flawed, because they might see someone they know, in him. Stories become entertaining & interesting only if it's characters are relatable.

Crafting compelling characters demands a crucial element—flaws. Imperfections, akin to our own, distinguish and unite us. Uniqueness arises from our flaws, setting us apart. Ironically, it's these very imperfections that bind us together. Relatability hinges on characters navigating mistakes and setbacks. Authenticity emerges when perfection gives way to flaws, fostering connections that endure.

The one most effective way of making your characters talk to your audience is to either make the character have the same pain points as theirs, or have the character address their pain points. The finer points will include - having the same kind of vulnerabilities, having the flaws that the audience is likely to have, facing the same kind of problems that the audience face.

Drawing from my experience in marketing and communication, I can attest to the power of flawed characters in storytelling. They mirror the imperfections we all have, making stories more authentic and relatable. This authenticity is key in business storytelling as it fosters trust and connection with the audience. Moreover, the transformation of these characters serves as a metaphor for personal and organizational growth, which is at the heart of every compelling brand narrative.

Having a character in your story creates impact but do you know how to create more impact through story? It's simple, by giving voice and personality to your characters. Your audience imagine your characters so it's important to have a voice and personality to the character of your story.

Everyone suggests "show, don't tell" but how can you do it! You can do it by writing a story which your audience can imagine. Add emotions to the story to make your audience feel the story.

This is always true. It doesn't always mean that if you don't do this, then your film won't succeed. Take Christopher Nolan, for example. His characters are constantly telling each other about stuff... who they are, what they think, and more. It's terrible writing, but I'm sure he's not too worried.

Feedback is good. But there's a wrinkle to this. If your general audience - whoever is giving you feedback - has a problem with your story, they are always right. But they rarely have the answer to how to fix it. That's specialist knowledge that should come from people who know what they are doing.