Last Updated on January 13, 2023 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD
If you’re looking to add a bit of spice to your writing, and want to create a flamboyant character that your readers will love, then you’ll want to read on! In this article, we offer you nine tips on how to write a flamboyant character that will captivate your readers. Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or anything in between, these tips will help you craft a character who is full of life and eccentricity. So, if you’re trying to spice up your writing, keep reading!
What is a flamboyant character in novel terms?
Simply put, a flamboyant character is one who stands out from the rest. They’re vivid and dramatic, and they usually react on impulse rather than analyzing things. This can make for an exciting read, as readers want to see what will happen next with these characters. Additionally, flamboyant characters often have moments of vulnerability that show their human side (even if they don’t always let others see it).
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9 useful tips to write a flamboyant character in novels
A writer’s most vital responsibility is to create intriguing, relatable characters in addition to inventing a tale and a rich environment in which to put it. Using these suggestions, you may build a character that will pique the reader’s interest.
#1 Take references from reality!
The old adage “write what you know” may be overly broad in practice, since it applies to too many situations. Create a fictitious character based on someone from your own life, and you’ll have a good start. From hair color to eye color to minor vocal tics and bodily mannerisms, your character may share a physical look with a real individual. Perhaps you’ll recognize personality traits in them after all. It will help keep the characters memorable by grounding them in traits of real people.
#2 Modify your characters over the duration of the novel
In order to stay in a reader’s or viewer’s memory, the main characters must change. Your protagonists must go through a character arc that transports them from one emotion and perspective to the next, whereas secondary characters might exist in a static state.
#3 Use indirect characterization
When you can show a character’s personality profile via their actions, conversation, and inner monologues, resist the impulse to spend a lot of time describing them. Indirect characterization is a more effective way to build characters than halting the action to explicitly describe each new person who crosses your page, and they are all examples of indirect characterization.
#4 Make your main characters interesting as well!
The primary character is the driving force behind a tale. He/She should be relatable, moral, and reliable to readers so that they want to read your novel from beginning to end. Minor characters that are memorable add depth to a story, but they cannot carry it. You must make sure your readers and viewers are interested in your main characters if you want them to invest in your vision. As a result, don’t use secondary characters to display your most difficult characteristics and rich backstories. The protagonists are given the greatest opportunities in great fiction writing.
#5 Create sympathy with a narrative style
Do you want people to be interested in your character? From their standpoint, write. Since we are able to observe their feelings, reactions, and so on, first-person narrative is the obvious choice. Nevertheless, to mimic this effect, you may also utilize third-person restricted (and limited instances of second-person).
#6 Create individual characters
You’ll emphasize your character’s uniqueness by surrounding him with individuals who are different from him. In Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, for example, All of the Capitol stylists were flashy and surface. Cinna was a simple yet profound man. Subtle. Collins emphasizes Cinna’s distinction and positions him apart as an individual by clearly demonstrating the norm in his world.
Characteristics of real people can be found in professional and personal life. It is not necessary to have deep knowledge of psychology, sociology, and other social sciences for understanding real people; however, some skills are helpful like observing the characteristics of real people such as their behavior, habits, or style. Besides that, you need innovative thoughts to express your ideas with the character’s personality which would make it lively.
#7 Create relatable and believable flaws
- Greed
- Stupidity
- They’re too bright but not clever (which really means they’re intelligent).
- Easily excitable
- Easily frightened
We can’t possibly cover all of the character flaws. The character must have a redeeming quality if the flaw is their own fault. The character’s handicap is not the result of his or her actions. As a consequence, there can be no forgiveness.
#8 Give them conflicting traits
The ambitious coworker, the brilliant honor student, and the devoted grandmother are all examples of types of characters that we’ve all heard about. Give these individuals conflicting characteristics that aren’t usually present in the stereotype to make them stand out.
In the first place, it is important to understand that stereotypes are a huge part of our culture. We live in stereotype-conscious times where we have been brainwashed into thinking certain types of people do things and act based on their stereotypes. Therefore, writing about any stereotype would be pretty bad because you will not get away from it easily.
By adding characteristics that don’t usually go together, you may develop multidimensional characters who offer a new take on an old cliche. (Visit The Bookshelf Muse’s character trait thesaurus for further information on this.)
#9 Surprise your readers
Even if we try to not stereotype, we all do it to some degree. We have an idea of what sort of person he is and how he will behave just by looking at someone in a certain way. The same thing happens to readers. Take advantage of this tendency by making your character appear to be one way while behaving differently.
The daughter of Smoke and Bone uses this approach to perfection. Brimstone, a major demon with a foot in the human realm, is featured in this narrative. Taylor avoids the demon becoming a cliche by making him a nice guy, and his arrival is as terrifying and nasty as you would expect. This surprise, coupled with the author’s intriguing twist, piqued the reader’s interest and led him to want to keep reading. Readers enjoy the unexpected in plots, endings, and characters. As a result, they like it.
Final Words
After reading this post, you should be ready to create a flamboyant character of your own. Keep reading this page and try our 10 tips later to get started on the right path.
While writing your character, it is important not to forget that the audience will get bored if you put too much focus on an individual’s grandeur and status at once. Try keeping their goals and traits under control when crafting them carefully within the story!
Related FAQs
What makes a good character?
A good character is someone who is believable, interesting, and relatable. They should have a backstory that ties into the story and makes sense within the context of the world you’ve created. Additionally, they must be easy to empathize with – whether they are good or bad characters.
It’s important to remember that your readers will become emotionally attached to these characters – so it’s essential that you create compelling fiction that pulls them in from page one. In order for your reader to invest in your story, they need to feel like they know and understand your protagonist(s). Let them see what motivates them and why their actions matter. Finally, make sure the dialogue is well-written and flows smoothly between scenes – no difficult words or choppy sentences!
Which personality type is most prone to flamboyant characters?
The most likely personality type to have flamboyant characters is ENTJs. This is because they love discovering new ideas and want to share their creative side with the world. ENTJs often enjoy a challenge and thrive in environments where there is stimulation and excitement. They also have a big ego, so it’s not surprising that they would be drawn to careers or personalities that require great public speaking or stage presence.
This makes them natural leaders who can motivate others to achieve incredible heights, as well as entertainers who can captivate an audience with their unique brand of storytelling.
What types of personalities do not work well with flamboyant characters?
Flamboyant characters often come across as pushy and attention-seeking, which can be difficult for those who are not wired this way. Those who are more reserved or shy may find it hard to approach someone with a flamboyant personality and feel like they’re being taken advantage of. As a result, these individuals may prefer working with other personalities that are less ostentatious.
Those who enjoy taking risks or living on the edge might also struggle when working with flamboyants because their excessive behavior is likely to scare off potential business partners or clients. In addition, those who tend towards anxiety or bipolar disorder might experience extreme highs and lows due to such an intense emotional connection to the character in question. Consequently, work environments where there is frequent exposure to high-energy characters could be very challenging for them long-long term.
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