Why Emotional Traits Matter in Character Creation

Why do emotional traits matter in character creation? Why should you even think about them?

Readers connect emotionally before visually with characters. A visually great looking character may catch your eye, but it's the emotional traits that keep us coming back to that character again and again. Emotional traits drive decisions, conflict, and character arcs. This line of thinking applies specifically to comic creators and visual storytelling to give your heroes and villains the kind of depth that fans love and want to see in characters that they read about!

Emotional Traits can be defined as behaviors, internal responses, and emotional tendencies. Now there is a difference between emotional traits and personality traits.

Personality traits are who a character is. Whether the character is sarcastic, serious, confident, or optimistic. Emotional Traits are how the character feels or reacts inside themselves. Examples of these traits can be anxious, compassionate, or hopeful.

We can quickly compare the two below:

Personality Traits = What people see

Emotional Traits = What people don't see

There are four core emotional traits that every character needs:

1). Dominant Emotional State

• Fearful, confident, anxious, hopeful, etc.

• This drives how they react under pressure

2). Internal Want

• Freedom, love, validation, control, purpose

• Emotional desire shapes plot decisions

3). Biggest Emotional Weakness

• Insecurity, jealousy, self-doubt, anger

• Flaws create conflict

4). Growth Potential

• What they could become if they overcome their flaw

• Helps guide their arc

So how do you choose the right emotional trait for your character(s)?

You need to identify what emotional traits tie into your story's theme. You can then match these traits into your character's role in the story. Be sure to ensure that these traits create internal conflict, this is where the meat of the story is!

As mentioned in my video that you can check out here, body language as well as facial expression can show emotional traits, and since comics are a visual medium, as well as written, this is a great tool to utilize! Speaking of writing, how you write your characters' speech patterns in their dialogue can also inform their emotional traits, think nervous rambling.

Reinforcing emotional traits makes your characters memorable and is a key to gaining a connection with fans that will have them coming back again and again!

Explore the Creator's Corner for more tips and guidance on creating characters and more!