Common Problems with Characters in Fantasy Novels and How to Solve Them

It's common for newer fantasy writers to focus heavily on worldbuilding while neglecting character development. After all, worldbuilding is a major draw in fantasy and speculative fiction. However, characters are equally important across all genres.

Older fantasy novels often featured flat, undeveloped characters. Thankfully, the current Anglo-American market has evolved. The rise of Romantasy highlights the need for strong emotional storytelling in fantasy fiction. When done well, readers connect deeply with characters, sometimes even identifying with them.

Can you recall characters you connected with as a child or teenager?

Due to the allure of worldbuilding, characterization, character arcs, and character development often take a back seat. Don't fall into this trap! Your world will be more engaging when experienced through the unique perspective of an interesting character.

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With this in mind, here’s a summary of common problems I've noticed when editing fantasy fiction novels:

Too Many Characters

Fantasy fiction often features a grand external plot with high stakes. For instance, a farmgirl from the shires might save humanity from the evil Shadow King. However, when crafting a new world, writers often feel the urge to showcase many different aspects of it. This can lead to an overwhelming number of characters, both minor and major.

The good news is that with a little awareness, you can avoid creating too many characters in your story draft. Once you recognize the issue, it's a fairly easy fix.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Only introduce new characters when they first appear in the story, not in character reflections.

• For each secondary character, consider their purpose. What would the story lose without them? If you're stuck, try killing off a character and see how that changes the narrative!

• Evaluate whether multiple characters serve similar functions. If they do, consider merging them.

  
  

Too Many Viewpoint Characters

If your fantasy world is busy and varied, it can be tempting to convey it through a wide array of character viewpoints. Some writers take cues from television and film, where switching focus is easier than in a novel.

However, having too many viewpoint characters can overwhelm readers. They may struggle to keep up, leading to disengagement or confusion. We naturally develop empathy for viewpoint characters, and too many can dilute that connection.

Here are my recommendations:

• If you have multiple viewpoint characters, note why each one is included. I recommend avoiding viewpoint switches within a chapter unless absolutely necessary; see my post on avoiding headhopping. Be ruthless—could your story maintain its integrity if some viewpoints were removed? Multi-POV novels are notoriously difficult to execute well.

• Address this issue during the planning stage if possible. Rewriting a chapter from a different character's viewpoint is not a simple fix.

  
  

Flat (Undeveloped) Characters

As mentioned earlier, it's a stereotype that fantasy novels often feature flatter characters. This usually occurs because authors focus too much on worldbuilding. Protagonists may have simplistic goals, often serving as a foil for exploring the world. The world becomes an obstacle course for the protagonist to navigate.

To give readers a satisfying experience, it's crucial to provide your characters with distinct personalities and relatable story elements. This could involve simple acts of kindness, like saving a cat from drowning, or placing them in relatable situations, such as a fish-out-of-water scenario.

Consider your protagonist's character arc. How do they interact with the story world, and how do their experiences change them? What lessons do they learn?

Antagonists often require extra attention as well. Too frequently, they are portrayed as one-dimensional villains who are evil for the sake of it. A significant shift in fantasy fiction over the past fifty years has been the inclusion of more nuanced antagonists. This reflects our complex global system today. Even if you opt for a more binary protagonist-antagonist setup, it's essential to include depth in your antagonists.

Passive Protagonists

Another common issue is the presence of passive protagonists. These characters allow the story to "happen" to them. Instead of making choices, they serve as conduits for the author’s experiences in the fantasy world. This often stems from a lack of character development, affecting both new and experienced writers.

Passive protagonists resemble blobs or cameras that follow the action, while other characters and settings influence them.

Are Passive Protagonists Common in Fantasy Fiction?

Yes! Passive protagonists are particularly prevalent in fantasy and speculative fiction. Authors sometimes focus excessively on worldbuilding, spending countless hours crafting intricate worlds with unique magic systems. However, if the characters are not well-developed, readers struggle to connect with them.

To avoid inadvertently creating a passive protagonist, work on your story outline early on. Make notes on each main character's goals and motivations. For example, in a high fantasy novel, a knight's goal might be to save their kingdom. Their deeper motivation could be to bring honour to their house. Digging deeper into character motivations and conflicts can elevate your story.

This is a key element that can transform a rough draft into something more polished and publishable. Many literary agents look out for fantasy novels featuring passive protagonists.

Fantasy Tropes That Generate a Passive Protagonist

The ‘chosen one’ trope is prevalent in fantasy fiction and can promote passivity. In this scenario, the character does not choose their destiny; instead, it finds them, leading to a fatalistic quest.

Why New Fantasy Fiction Authors Often Struggle with Passive Protagonists

New authors often struggle with passive protagonists for two main reasons. First, they may focus too much on worldbuilding and plot. Second, they may not have fully developed characters with clear motivations and goals.

A great solution is to create a table listing each main character’s goals, motivations, and conflicts. These can evolve throughout the story. Here’s an example:

• An evil wizard casts a spell that perpetually brings winter.

• Queen Ariel's granaries are depleted, and she needs a solution.

• A stable boy, Aaron, is starving and believes the queen is hoarding grain.

  
  

At the story's start, Aaron's goal might be to start a riot against the food shortage. Once he learns about the evil wizard's spell, his goal and feelings toward Queen Ariel may shift. He could form an alliance between the peasants and the queen's court to banish the wizard and undo his spell. While feudal political involvement may be a stretch, it illustrates the complexity of character motivations.

When a Passive Protagonist is Okay

Sometimes, a passive protagonist can work. For instance, in a fantasy romance, the protagonist's arc might involve shifting from passivity in relationships to taking a more active role. In this case, the goals, motivations, and conflicts are well-defined, even if the character initially chooses a passive approach.

This example focuses on character interactions rather than how they engage with the setting. If you flesh out your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts, a passive viewpoint character can still provide depth.

Are Active Protagonists Specific to Western Culture?

Commercial fiction in Anglo-American publishing tends to favour active protagonists. An active protagonist drives the story forward, increasing narrative tension. However, this perspective can be limiting. Feminist critiques highlight that the emphasis on active protagonists can reflect masculine ideals.

Many SFF novels feature protagonists encountering unfamiliar cultural settings. In these contexts, being an active goalseeker might be inappropriate, as it may not involve listening to and learning from the surrounding culture.

In short, writing a passive protagonist can be acceptable—provided it’s intentional. Focusing on your characters’ goals, motivations, and core conflicts will help you achieve that!

Problems with Characters in Fantasy Novels: Conclusions

Bringing characters to life can seem mysterious and confusing for new authors. Real people are incredibly complex, so how do you capture that complexity on the page?

The answer—unless you’re writing a highly character-driven or literary novel—is that you don’t. The good news is that character development often comes more naturally in subsequent novels. Writers hone this skill by creating characters in their imagination. It’s akin to woodcarving: the first attempt may be basic, but after creating several, it becomes easier.

Is this your experience? Have you struggled with character development? Let me know in the comments below!

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