It’s surprisingly hard to make characters consistent and have them behave naturally. I’ve never enjoyed reading about two characters suddenly having a misunderstanding that causes a deep rift simply because the plot requires drama when there’s no good reason for them to struggle with communication issues. It’s different if your character has previous trauma, but if your character is well-adjusted, intelligent, and neurotypical, the conflict you’ve written may not make a lot of sense, even if it does add drama.

So how do you keep from falling into that kind of error? I personally create character profiles prior to writing a full novel. These help me keep various details consistent, like ages, last names, backstories, and physical attributes, which can be surprisingly difficult to remember after about the first hundred thousand words or so. Here are some tips for creating great character profiles and preventing your characters from being one-dimensional.

MBTI: Four-dimensional characters

There are tools available that can help writers to create more complex and interesting characters. Many writers use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a personality assessment that divides people into 16 personality types based on what the assessment calls “the four dichotomies.” These dichotomies are opposing personality factors like extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving.

Here’s a more detailed rundown:

1. Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I):
   • Extraversion: Energized by interacting with others, enjoys group activities, outgoing.
   • Introversion: Energized by spending time alone, enjoys solitary activities, reserved.
2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N):
   • Sensing: Focuses on the present, prefers concrete facts and details, practical.
   • Intuition: Focuses on future possibilities, prefers abstract concepts and ideas, imaginative.
3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F):
   • Thinking: Makes decisions based on logic and objective criteria, analytical.
   • Feeling: Makes decisions based on values and subjective criteria, empathetic.
4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P):
   • Judging: Prefers structure, organization, and planning, decisive.
   • Perceiving: Prefers flexibility, spontaneity, and adaptability, open-ended.

Each personality type is represented by a combination of one preference from each of the four dichotomies. Let’s break them down!

1. INTJ (Architect): Strategic, logical, and independent. Enjoys planning and theorizing.
2. INTP (Logician): Innovative, curious, and intellectual. Loves exploring ideas and solving puzzles.
3. ENTJ (Commander): Bold, imaginative, and strong-willed. Natural leaders who enjoy challenges.
4. ENTP (Debater): Quick-witted, original, and loves debating. Enjoys pushing boundaries and exploring new concepts.
5. INFJ (Advocate): Insightful, altruistic, and principled. Driven by a deep sense of purpose.
6. INFP (Mediator): Idealistic, empathetic, and imaginative. Values harmony and personal growth.
7. ENFJ (Protagonist): Charismatic, inspiring, and empathetic. Natural leaders who value connection.
8. ENFP (Campaigner): Enthusiastic, creative, and sociable. Loves exploring possibilities and connecting with others.
9. ISTJ (Logistician): Responsible, detail-oriented, and dependable. Values tradition and practicality.
10. ISFJ (Defender): Protective, nurturing, and reliable. Values harmony and helping others.
11. ESTJ (Executive): Organized, direct, and efficient. Natural leaders who value order.
12. ESFJ (Consul): Warm, cooperative, and sociable. Enjoys supporting and caring for others.
13. ISTP (Virtuoso): Bold, practical, and adventurous. Enjoys hands-on activities and problem-solving.
14. ISFP (Adventurer): Artistic, sensitive, and spontaneous. Values personal expression and experiences.
15. ESTP (Entrepreneur): Energetic, perceptive, and direct. Thrives on excitement and new experiences.
16. ESFP (Entertainer): Fun-loving, spontaneous, and enthusiastic. Enjoys entertaining and engaging with others.

Each type has its unique strengths and ways of interacting with the world.

Character development with the MBTI

Many writers have this list in front of them when they’re developing characters and simply pick a type when starting to write out a new character profile. My preferred method is a little different. I write out a summary of a character’s backstory and personality and ask ChatGPT to pick the MBTI that fits best.

The purpose of this is, again, to ensure that my character acts consistently, or that if my character acts inconsistently, there is a stated reason for their odd behavior. For example, let’s say my fantasy novel character, who we’ll call Rob, is an INFP; a mediator. INFPs are usually calm, empathetic, and avoid conflict, so if Rob suddenly begins to argue violently with another character, it may seem out of character.

But let’s say one day, a traveling merchant arrives with news of a dragon terrorizing nearby villages. The villagers gather in the town square, fear and anger bubbling up as they discuss what to do. Suddenly, Rob, who typically speaks with a soft and measured tone, begins to argue violently with another villager named John. John, a blacksmith, insists they must hire a particular group of mercenaries to slay the dragon, while Rob shouts, his voice trembling with uncharacteristic fury, that they should let the village burn before hiring those mercenaries.

This outburst seems strange for Rob, who usually avoids conflict. However, it is revealed that Rob’s parents were killed in a raid by that very group of mercenaries when he was a child, a traumatic event that scarred him deeply. The thought resurrects those old wounds, causing him to react in a way that seems out of character.

With a well-thought-out character profile based on the MBTI, you can have your characters behave strangely without contradicting their backstories or the personalities you’ve developed for them thus far.

Questions to ask

The MBTI isn’t for everyone. What are some other ways you can flesh out characters and make them more interesting for the reader? One thing you can always do is simply ask ChatGPT. Enter whatever you have about your character so far and then ask for suggestions to make them more interesting or to give them more personality. Another option is to simply say, “Ask me questions until you have all the information you need to get an in-depth character profile.” Those questions may help you get to the bottom of what makes your character interesting. For more information on using ChatGPT and other AI tools in your writing, see my recent blog post.

Alternatively, here are some questions you can ask yourself when you’re creating a character.

1. What are my characters’ goals? Are their goals ones that the reader will be able to relate to?
2. What has happened in my characters’ past to motivate those goals? Is there a direct relationship between those past events and my characters’ current personalities and actions?
3. What are the challenges, both internal and external, that my characters need to face to meet those goals?
4. What are my characters’ weaknesses or biggest faults?
5. What does my character fear?
6. What are the most important beliefs my characters have that drive them?
7. What are the most important misbeliefs my characters have about the world that drive them?

There are plenty of other questions you can ask, but these will give you a good start well beyond simply choosing a look and backstory for your character.

Final thoughts

Over the next nine days, I will continue to share other tips for fantasy writing. Tomorrow, you can expect a post sharing my favorite YouTubers who have talked about the MBTI and other tools, frameworks, and strategies fantasy writers can use to improve their writing and character development.

In the meantime, please leave a like, subscribe to the blog, and catch up on the first ten chapters of Loyalty Fallen.

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