Are flat characters bad?Īgain, having two-dimensional characters never spells automatic death for your book. To learn more about the flip side of the equation, we wrote extensively about what makes a dynamic character here. That means that, generally speaking, all two-dimensional characters are static, but not all static characters are two-dimensional. “Flat” is a referendum on the character's complexity. “Static” (or its inverse, “dynamic”) strictly describes the amount of change that a character undergoes throughout the story. Experience mental and emotional changesįlat characters are also sometimes referred to as “one-dimensional” or “two-dimensional." Both of these monikers point to the same thing: a character who has very minimal complexity, and often renders the story less believable as a result.Ĭlick to tweet! Not all static characters are flatĭon't make the mistake of conflating a flat character with a static character.Undergo significant character development.Whereas a three-dimensional or round character will typically:
In other words, they're the opposite of a " round character," who has a fully fleshed out profile and changes throughout the story. They also don't undergo any kind of change to make them more well-rounded. What is a flat character?Ī flat character is a character with little to no complex emotions, motivations, or personality. First off, let's talk about what this term means. Which is why we want to illustrate exactly what is a flat character: with a clear definition, examples, and instructions on how to fix any flat characters you may come across in your writing. especially if you're not exactly sure what constitutes one. Sometimes the hardest part is simply identifying when you do have a flat character on your hands. But having a flat character or two isn't the end of the world - or even the end of your story! And if you can learn how to turn a two-dimensional character into a three-dimensional one, you'll have a real leg up on all future character creation. An accusation that your characters read like a cardboard cut-outs is like a knife in the heart of any fledgling writer. “Riddled with flat characters” is perhaps the most damning thing you can hear from an editor or reviewer.
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