What is a Flat Character?

“Riddled with flat characters” is perhaps the worst thing an editor or reviewer can say. An allegation that your characters are cardboard cut-outs is a writer’s worst nightmare. The world isn’t over if you have a few bland characters in your tale. A three-dimensional character is much easier to create than a two-dimensional one. It’s not always easy to tell whether you have a flat character, particularly if you’re not sure what one is. That’s why we’re here to help you understand what a flat character is and how to repair it in your writing. Let we first define this word.

What is a flat character?

A flat character lacks deep emotions, motives, or personality. They also don’t get changed to be more rounded. A “round character” has a completely developed profile and evolves during the narrative. A flat character usually:

• Have no internal conflict
• Conform to a stereotype
• Never experience character development
• Lack a multi-faceted personality

Instead, 3D characters typically:

• Have internal conflict
• Undergo significant character development
• Experience mental and emotional changes
• Have a multi-faceted personality

Flat characters are sometimes called one-dimensional or two-dimensional characters. Both terms describe a character with little depth, which makes the narrative less credible.

Not all static characters are flat

Don’t confuse a flat character with a static character. “Static” (or “dynamic”) indicates how much a character changes during the narrative. “Flat” is a character complexity test. That is, not all two-dimensional characters are static. We wrote extensively about what creates a dynamic character here.

Are flat characters bad?

Again, two-dimensional characters do not automatically kill a novel. A bland character may even help your story! For example, Charles Dickens was a master at creating casts full with unforgettable caricatures. How flat are Mrs Micawber and Mr Jaggers? They have few complex traits and mainly exist to interact with the main character of their tales. Are they boring or unimportant to the narrative because they are flat? No way. Flat characters may populate the protagonist’s path and carry the narrative along in a plot-driven novel. Your primary character(s) must be flat, or your viewers will lose interest in them.

How to fix a flat character

So you want to flesh up a flat persona. Great character development may be found here, however we’ve listed a few important methods for character development below. How to transform a flat character (without resorting to a pie-eating contest).

1. Flesh out profile and backstory

Consider a character as a real person to give them more “dimension”. Who are they? What distinguishes them from others? What gets them up in the morning? What are their idiosyncrasies, assets, and

Start with a two-dimensional figure like a greedy businessman. But is he a dog person with five Corgis? Is he a weekend Zumba fanatic? Do he spend his nights planning how to send his kids to private school? It should help him fill out his personality, interests, and motives.

Backstory gives a character a lot of “depth”. This includes a character’s schooling and upbringing, as well as the influences on their personality and decisions now. You may utilize a character profile to ensure you’ve covered all your bases! Below is a template for one.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

2. Use character development exercises

A well-written, three-dimensional character will make readers feel like they are living the book’s life. The richness of both personalities allows us to picture it for ourselves.

Similarly, you may evaluate your character’s depth by placing them in irrelevant situations. These scenes do not need to be in your novel. Instead, write a few scenes of the guy going about his daily routine or dealing with a common issue. Check out these character exercises for a more focused push.

3. Chart the character’s internal arc

As you continue with your character development, consider how your characters are going to evolve over the narrative. To accomplish their goals, characters must develop in order to achieve their character arcs. “Every character should desire something, even a drink of water,” said Kurt Vonnegut.

Characters with depth strive towards this narrative objective. It will be the raison d’être for your tale and will significantly influence the forms of both the narrative and character arcs.

Visualize each arc by drawing a timeline on a blank piece of paper. Make a list of your story’s key events. Then add a second line underneath the timeline to show character development. Each external experience impacts your character. If so, how far away from the narrative objective is your character? A character’s internal growth isn’t always clear (see Hamlet), but it does usually correlate to the events that are occurring simultaneously in the narrative arc. They should assist prevent flat primary characters. The examples below show how they may be utilized successfully as small or basic characters, or in highly plot-driven tales.

Examples of flat characters

Two-dimensional figures are more prevalent than you believe! Now that you know what a flat character is, let’s look at some instances from various genres and media.

1. Sherlock Holmes from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Deductive reasoning genius. The unassailable centerpiece in a pure detective series.

 2. Joe Gargery from Great Expectations

A simple, friendly blacksmith. To love and support Pip as his uncle. Joe is the book’s moral compass.

3. Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter

The Weasleys’ youngest sister, a fiery girl. Story purpose: To be Harry Potter’s love interest.

Sidenote: Mid-series personality change for Ginny! In the sixth novel, she transforms from a timid girl to a strong-willed and vocal adolescent. These changes are “told” to us, not “shown,” and they don’t make Ginny more complicated. Her character shift is mostly for narrative convenience.

4. Gandalf from Lord of the Rings

A knowledgeable magician who is a force for good. To lead the Fellowship across Middle-Earth to destroy Sauron. In the Hero’s Journey, he is also Frodo’s personal mentor.

5. Cinderella from Cinderella

Unassuming beauty with a golden heart. It’s a classic tale about virtue triumphing over evil and individuals receiving their karmic due.

6. Mary Jane from Spider-Man

In one sentence: Peter Parker’s crush on the girl next door. Your role in the tale is to play the damsel in distress that Peter saves.

7. Karen Smith from Mean Girls

A popular high school student with average intelligence. In the narrative, to provide comedic relief.

8. Mr Collins from Pride and Prejudice

In one sentence: A egotistical, arrogant, vain, obsequious priest. Story purpose: To depict the foolish, subservient elements of British society that Jane Austen eviscerates.

So why do authors write flat characters?

See how writers use flat characters in various ways. Writers use them when:

• The narrative is really plot-driven. For this reason, detective books and thrillers (like Sherlock Holmes and The Da Vinci Code) have more two-dimensional characters.
• The narrative is basic enough to avoid complicated characters. This is common in children’s movies like Cinderella.
• We need minor characters. Characters with little depth exist to help a three-dimensional protagonist on their quest.

It’s all about how you utilize a flat character. In several famous tales, everyone except the protagonist is flat (s). However, when it comes to classic literature, it’s better to avoid it. The more complex and multi-dimensional your characters are, the more deeply readers will be drawn into your story’s vivid universe – and that applies for all characters, not just the main ones.