Writing Shy Characters
We received a great question recently about writing shy characters:
Do you have any tips or tricks for making a shy, introverted protagonist pop on the page? I know it’s easier to give a protagonist a loud, larger-than-life, take-action personality, but that’s not the character I have in mind. (Besides, we need all sorts of personalities represented in books.) How can I make my protagonist dynamic for the reader while still staying true to her “quieter” personality?
I love this question, since (a) I am a hardcore introvert myself; and (b) I tend to put shy, introverted girls at the center of my stories. I have a bunch of thoughts, so let’s dive right in!
Shy characters are interesting even if they’re not loud.
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Why is Your Protagonist an Introvert?
First of all, think about why you’ve centered your story around a shy character. I’ll respond for myself, because—wow!—the answer’s obvious. I wrote my protagonist as an introvert because I’m an introvert. I suspect the same is true for many writers—we’re shy, bookish people who’d rather stay home with the cat than go out and socialize with other humans. And since we tend to write what we know, shy characters make their way into our stories.
However, I’d like to challenge you. Think about your story as a whole: is it best served with an introvert at its heart? Take Harry Potter, for example. (Setting aside his problematic creator for a moment.) If he’d been a Hufflepuff instead of a Gryffindor, the story would’ve been radically different. He needed those Gryffindor traits—bravery and daring—to stand up to Voldemort. That’s not to say that Hufflepuffs can’t be heroes, or that they’re not brave; they just need a different type of story to shine their brightest.
If you discover that you’ve put a Hufflepuff in a Gryffindor’s story, never fear. The great thing about fiction writers is that—to extend the Harry Potter reference—we’re basically wizards. If you can conjure a whole story world out of thin air, then I know you can write an extrovert. Not feeling up to the task? Simply look around you—there’s inspiration literally everywhere. At least in American culture, we tend to uplift and celebrate the extroverts, so it’s not hard to find examples to draw from.
SHY CHARACTERS: GIVE THEIR INTROVERSION A BACKSTORY
If your story does, in fact, call for an introverted protagonist, think about giving their introversion some backstory. Why have they drawn into themselves? Sure, many people are simply wired that way, but that’s not super-compelling when you’re writing fiction. Did your protagonist experience some kind of upheaval that caused them to seek isolation? Maybe they moved around a lot as a kid, and found it easier to keep to themselves rather than endure constant goodbyes. Maybe they experienced some kind of trauma, and introversion is a mode of self-protection. Whatever the reason, clearly defining the why will give your main character more direction and purpose than the hazy, indistinct “wired that way.”
Shy Characters Don’t Have To Be Boring
Shy characters may not lead outwardly splashy, colorful lives, but that doesn’t mean they’re boring! As humans, we’re made of a bunch of different traits. A person can be shy but also have a killer sense of humor. They could have a super-unique hobby or a passionate commitment to a cause. They might have dark desires or a past they’re not proud of. In other words, shy people often have rich inner worlds that are teeming with life; they’re just selective about who they let inside. Here are a few ways to help you show your shy character’s true nature.
writing SHY CHARACTERS: USE INTERIORITY
Interiority is the number one way to show readers who your protagonist really is, even if they’re not forthcoming with other people. From kidlit.com:
I define “interiority” as a character’s thoughts, feelings, reactions, and inner struggles, and how we access them, whether it’s in first person or third, a picture book or a YA novel. It is any moment when you dive into your character’s head to add context, meaning, humor, or emotion to a situation.
Check out the full interiority article on kidlit.com for details on how to craft a compelling internal world for your protagonist.
writing SHY CHARACTERS: GIVE YOUR CHARACTER A CONFIDANT
We’re most ourselves around people who “get” us, so give your character a trusted buddy who can draw them out of their shell. Along with interiority, this will create another access point to your shy character’s inner world.
Be wary, though, of not letting this secondary character steamroll your protagonist. I’ve seen a couple examples in fiction where a more assertive supporting character almost acts as a translator for the main character, “saying all the things they can’t say.” This might be okay in the beginning of a novel, when your protagonist is still trying to maintain the status quo amidst the mounting conflict. But by the end of the novel, you want your shy character to find their own voice and use it in the interest of overcoming their conflict.
THROW THEM OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT
Throw your shy character into a situation that’s completely outside their comfort zone. That’s what you should be doing anyway, as a matter of good storytelling—we always want to make things difficult for our characters, otherwise there’s no story. In the case of a shy character, throw them into a situation that would be a nightmare for introverts: Getting interviewed for TV. Going to a karaoke club. Getting interviewed for TV at a karaoke club. It can be anything at all—just make your shy character squirm and then see how they react.
Avoid Stereotypes WHEN WRITING SHY CHARACTERS
I think YouTube and other social media platforms have popularized a certain introverted persona, especially among young women. She’ll often comment on how “awkward” she is and make other self-deprecating comments, even when they don’t seem to be warranted. It’s a personality that people slip into in order to seem “quirky” or “relatable.”
Since it’s so ubiquitous, you might be inclined to write this kind of character. Or you might be inclined to give your shy protagonist classic introvert traits: Loves to read. Has social anxiety. Likes their cat more than people.
But it would be more interesting, character-wise, if you gave your readers something unexpected. What if your introverted character has big dreams to do something that’s decidedly not introverted? Like play in a raucous punk band? Or dance a solo in the upcoming recital? You might find that a lot of content comes out of your character navigating the tension between these two opposites.
Final Thoughts on Shy Characters
I’ll leave you with these thoughts, as a person who’s been professionally introverted and awkward since about 1994: Shy characters are interesting even if they’re not loud. In fact, I’d argue that there’s a certain intrigue and mystery to shy people. There’s a hidden gem in there somewhere; you just have to dig to find it.
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