How to Write a Good Character : Richard Powers’ 7 Keys to Complex Characters

Richard Powers, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Overstory,” recently sat down with David Perell on the “How I Write” podcast to discuss the intricacies of character development, how to write a good character, the nature of drama, and the evolution of storytelling.

In this enlightening conversation, Powers shared valuable insights into the craft of writing and the complex relationships between characters, voice, and drama.

The Complexity of Character

Powers begins by emphasizing the complexity of character in storytelling:

“Character is complex and we all do this in course of Our Lives… we our brains have adapted to try to understand the hidden motivations of other people”

He points out that our ability to understand and interpret the motivations of others is a fundamental aspect of human evolution.

This skill, which we use in our daily lives, is the same one writers employ to create compelling characters in their stories.

The Three Levels of Drama

Powers introduces the concept of three levels of drama in storytelling:

1. Person against themselves (Interior Drama)
2. Person against person (Interpersonal Drama)
3. Person against the environment (Environmental or Metaphysical Drama)
   

Let’s explore each of these levels in detail:

1. Interior Drama: Man vs. Himself

This type of drama focuses on the internal conflicts of a character. Powers explains:

“I would always challenge my students I would say push them to the wall push them to the wall yeah and that’s where the drama of being alive is can you live with yourself if you have to do something that you ordinarily would hate to do but the circumstance makes it necessary for you”

He suggests creating scenarios where characters must choose between conflicting core values, forcing them to confront their inner struggles and make difficult decisions.

2. Interpersonal Drama: Man vs. Man

This level of drama involves conflicts between characters with different core values or goals. Powers provides an example:

“Now we have interpersonal drama now we have the sociological novel or the political novel where I can make you completely sympathetic to the reader and I can make myself completely sympathetic to the reader but now the reader is watching two people Collide”

This type of drama allows readers to empathize with multiple perspectives and grapple with complex social or political issues.

3. Environmental Drama: Man vs. Nature

Powers highlights the importance of this often-overlooked level of drama:

“Human beings want to have a certain story in the world they want to have a project they want to have they they have a conception of what a good life is and how we can best go about doing that on this Earth the rest of the world and it is a very large rest of the world a very big comprehensive and interconnected living planet might be hostile to that idea of what it is that we want most”

He notes that this type of drama has been less prominent in contemporary literary fiction but is now re-emerging due to growing awareness of environmental challenges.

The Evolution of Storytelling

Powers discusses how the focus of literary fiction has shifted over time:

• Early literature often included all three levels of drama
  
• From the mid-20th century, there was a trend towards focusing primarily on psychological and sociological drama
  
• Environmental drama became less common in literary fiction, though it remained present in genres like science fiction and fantasy
  
• Recent years have seen a resurgence of environmental themes in literary fiction due to growing ecological concerns
  

Characterization Techniques

Powers shares several techniques for developing rich, complex characters:

1. The Onion Approach:
   • Outer layer: Traits (physical appearance, behaviors)
   • Middle layer: Mannerisms (habits, quirks)
   • Inner layer: Core inner values (beliefs, motivations)
     
2. Creating Conflict:
   • Identify a character’s core values
     
   • Put them in situations where these values conflict
     
   • Force the character to make difficult choices
     
3. Using Alter Egos: Powers reveals his own approach:
   “I used them almost psychoanalytically to get to various things in my personal past that I wanted still to work through here at the age of 67”
   
4. The Stanislavski Method: Adapted from acting techniques, this approach involves:
   
   • Identifying core values in a character that the writer can relate to
   • Using personal experiences to inhabit the character’s perspective
     
5. Exploring Relationships: Powers emphasizes the importance of character interactions:
   
   “I let them Collide I you know they formed a friendship that was tight dedicated but also highly competitive and with a certain degree of weariness and distrust”
   

The Role of Voice in Character Development

Powers discusses the relationship between voice and character:

“If character drives drama and voice drives character what drives voice”

He suggests that voice is a crucial element in bringing characters to life and making their experiences feel authentic to readers.

The Importance of Descriptive Writing

Powers shares his admiration for vivid, descriptive writing:

“I walk into a bookstore one day I pick it up and I start reading the sentences and the paragraphs and I was in awe of the descriptiveness The Wonder of his writing”

He emphasizes the power of well-crafted prose in engaging readers and bringing stories to life.

Advice for Writers – How to Write a Good Character

Throughout the conversation, Powers offers several pieces of advice for aspiring writers:

1. Challenge your characters
2. Develop multiple dimensions of drama
3. Pay attention to voice
4. Practice descriptive writing
5. Draw from personal experiences
6. Stay open to surprises
7. Embrace the complexity of human nature
   

The Resurgence of Environmental Themes

Powers notes the increasing importance of environmental themes in contemporary literature:

“Now that drama comes flooding back into the literary novel it never left the novel of Science Fiction it never left fantasy I mean fantasy is man against nature right”

He suggests that this resurgence is driven by growing awareness of environmental challenges and a recognition that humanity’s relationship with nature remains a crucial aspect of our existence.

Final Thoughts

Richard Powers’ insights offer a valuable perspective on the craft of writing and the complex interplay between character, voice, and drama.

By incorporating all three levels of drama – interior, interpersonal, and environmental – writers can create stories that not only entertain but also provoke thought and inspire action.

Ultimately, Powers’ approach to writing encourages us to embrace the complexity of human experience, to challenge our characters and ourselves, and to remain open to the surprises that emerge through the creative process.
Whether you’re a seasoned author or an aspiring writer, these insights offer valuable guidance for crafting stories that captivate, inspire, and endure.

(Source: “How I Write” podcast with David Perell featuring Richard Powers)