Character building with peaks and pits

In this lesson, we delve into the art of character building, focusing on crafting well-rounded characters that readers can connect with. A well-rounded character is central to the plot and continually evolves, allowing readers to understand and relate to them.

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What are round and flat characters?

• Round characters are often the protagonists or central figures in your story
• Flat characters are those who support the hero's journey without extensive development

Round characters are those you could envision leading their own stories, whereas flat characters play roles that solely advance the plot and shouldn't require too much thought from your reader.

Golden Boy serves as an example, featuring both round and flat characters.

Golden Boy's round characters are Barbara who is the main character, but also Fiona, Barbara’s sister. Why is Fiona a round character? Because the reader is constantly learning more about her and can understand her actions because of what they know about her.

The story is also packed with flat characters. For example, Aiden, Barbara’s lost child, is probably one of the most surprising ones. Aiden is the reason for the entire story, however, he isn't a rounded character, he simply progresses the plot.

Try to identify such characters in your story and consider why they fall into these categories.

For business writing, you can take the same approach to what you're sharing, your characters will just look a little different. However, identifying flat or well-rounded subjects will ensure your writing stays on track.

For example, well-rounded characters in your writing would typically be your customer, your product, or a previous way of doing things. Whereas, a flat subject may be research, an SME, or another feature. These things are crucial to making your point but wouldn't stand alone. Identifying flat and round subjects in your writing will help ensure you're staying on track, writing as concisely as possible, and keeping the focal point where it needs to be.

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What are peaks and pits?

Peaks and pits, represent the highs and lows in a character's journey and are instrumental in character-driven storytelling. They allow readers to emotionally connect with the characters.

Barbara Bridges in Golden Boy is highlighted as a character who evokes empathy due to the experiences she undergoes throughout the story: both peaks and pits.‍

Peaks represent a character's moments of celebration and greatest happiness, while pits signify their moments of suffering and sorrow. These two elements must be intertwined to create emotional story arcs that immerse readers in the character's journey.‍

Remember: It's crucial to show, not tell, to create empathy and connection between characters and readers. Show your characters going through their peaks and pits.

A great way to connect your character to your readers is by writing in the first-person. However, in business writing, which often employs a third-person perspective, achieving this level of connection can be challenging. A great way to overcome this is by weaving customer stories or SME experiences into your writing. These people will have peaks and pits of their own, enabling the reader to relate to your "characters" and work better.

Now that you know how to create the bread and the characters of your story sandwich, you're ready to move to the final module where you'll explore the secret sauce of style and language in storytelling.

See you in the next lesson!