How to Bring Characters to Life in Your Revision
A guest post by author Laura Resau
For a limited time, I’m once again open for paid critiques!
I’m excited to bring you a guest post from Laura Resau, whose novel Virch publishes today from Owl Hollow! I critiqued an early draft of the novel; Laura shares in this post the changes she made to prepare Virch for publication. I hope her insights into the revision process will help you with your own characters. Here’s Laura…
Even after ten novels, I still learn new things while writing each one. My new YA, Virch, took a long time to revise since it’s in a new genre for me—sci-fi—which I’ve loved as a reader and wanted to explore as a writer. (Parker kindly helped me with the impossible task of writing a succinct synopsis: A teen infiltrates a virtual reality empire to save her sister, but when she discovers a plot to destroy humanity, she must team up with the founder’s enigmatic son, even as she questions the very nature of reality.) What really made the story come together was Parker’s feedback on how to bring the characters to life in ways that supported pacing, plot, and themes. Here are three of her suggestions that brought Virch to the next level.
1. Let your characters be complex (even secondary ones)
Parker pointed out ways that I could help readers relate to characters by adding layers, vulnerability, clear motivations, secrets, and surprises. For example, the main character, Liv, initially came across as aloof, superior, and critical, which made her unrelatable—readers just didn’t want to root for her.
Liv’s feelings were understandable but didn’t serve the story. Coming from her impoverished bayside community to a tech empire on a tropical island, Liv finds herself surrounded by people who’ve lived most of their lives in luxurious virtual reality settings. It’s not surprising that Liv feels offended by their ignorant privilege, but it didn’t help her character development to focus on her bitterness toward them.
Following Parker’s advice, I revised Liv’s character to emphasize her feelings that she’s not fitting in, her worries that she’ll betray her true identity, and her sense of shock, wonder, and curiosity about her companions’ vastly different existences. After that revision, beta readers felt much more invested in Liv and her mission—she became someone they wanted to spend time with.
Parker also guided me through adding complexity to secondary characters, like Liv’s scientist mentor, Kiri, who initially came across as shallow and cartoonish. In revisions, I added deeper layers to show that she was a former child prodigy who’s now a young woman craving the fun and romance that she missed out on during her teen years. Her bad decisions stem from her naivete, social insecurities, and longings. In the revision, she becomes a more believable and three-dimensional character who elicits empathy from readers.
2. Let well-paced backstory support character development
In my early draft, Parker observed that the opening of the story focused heavily on Liv’s backstory and dumped world-building elements onto readers. She suggested letting Liv’s backstory emerge slowly, building a sense of mystery. In my revision, I reveal backstory and world-building elements on a need-to-know basis, leaving readers room to wonder as they feel swept away by the narrative.
For example, now the book begins with Liv arriving to the island and feeling out of place. I strategically have her parcel out necessary details about her sister’s illness, her mission to get a cure, her impoverished life by the bay, and the circumstances that led her here. Readers are now able to quickly immerse themselves into action on the island, while feeling curious about the hints dropped regarding Liv’s mission and background.
Parker also suggested I integrate the second main character’s, Wolf’s, backstory more organically and clearly. He’s the love interest—a wealthy, famous teen that she perceives as an enemy early on, yet must work closely with when they’re tasked with an unexpected high-stakes mission. Wolf already had complexity in early drafts—he was at once earnest and secretive, while showing a mix of strength and vulnerability. Although he attempted a Zen-like attitude, anger and hurt simmered beneath the surface. His motivations and goals were confusing, however, and needed clarification through strategically placed reveals.
In my revision, I wove in bits of backstory to help readers understand more about Wolf’s past conflicts with his manipulative father and disturbed brother, which inform his current emotions and actions. Readers also get parceled-out hints of his heartfelt purpose for coming to the island, and eventually a clear vision of his mission, which ends up dove-tailing with Liv’s.
3. Let your characters have agency that integrates with the plot
Parker wisely noted in an early draft that Liv was somewhat passive for much of the story, simply spying on the antagonists. She suggested I let Liv act in clever and resourceful ways that supported her arc, the plot, and the themes.
I took a multi-pronged approach to address this suggestion—here’s an example of one change I made.
Since simulated realities are important elements of the story, I decided to let Liv attempt to tap into her antagonist’s compassion through a virtual scenario with his childhood puppies. Even though her effort here failed, it built momentum and drove the plot forward, allowing readers to root for her and wonder what her next approach might be. Thematically, this addition fit with Liv’s character transformation—early on, she’s driven by a narrowly focused goal of saving her sister, but when stakes grow unthinkably high, she needs to widen her circle of compassion and let her heart lead the way.
Your turn:
Here are questions to help you bring your characters to life in a revision:
How can you add complexity and relatability to your main and secondary characters? You might think about layers, vulnerabilities, motivations, secrets, and surprises.
How can you strategically integrate backstory to support character development? You might think about keeping the pace swift and tension high, piquing readers’ curiosity, hinting at mysteries and secrets, and incorporating backstory on a need-to-know basis.
How can you give more agency to your characters? You might think about how to incorporate clever plans, support character arcs, reinforce themes, and move the plot forward.
Good luck with your writing journey! You can connect with me through Instagram @LauraResau https://www.instagram.com/lauraresau/, where I offer creative tips and inspiration. If you read Virch, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to email me at LauraResau@gmail.com.
Laura Resau is the award-winning author of ten acclaimed novels for kids and teens. Her new YA novel, Virch, is “a masterful blend of fast-paced adventure, epic world-building, complex relationships, and ideas that might just blow your mind – or at least your perceptions of reality!” (Joanne Rendell, co-author of The System Divine Trilogy.) Laura’s books have garnered many starred reviews and honors, including the IRA Young Adult Fiction Award, the Américas Award, five Colorado Book Awards, and spots on “best-of” book lists from Oprah, School Library Journal, the American Library Association, Bank Street, and more. You might find Laura writing in her vintage trailer in Fort Collins, wandering the mountains with her husband, head-banging (very carefully) at her teenage son’s rock shows, cuddling with her wild husky, or watering her hundred house plants. Learn more at www.LauraResau.com.