How to Create Authentic Characters in Storytelling

Whether in advertising, books, or films, authentic and believable characters are essential for compelling storytelling. Characters help build an emotional connection with the audience, keeping them engaged, curious and invested. Here are some tips to create characters that resonate.

Empathy First

Imagine a story promoting a new app from Telekom featuring a character named Johanna:

Johanna is always stressed and works in field sales. The new app helps her stay organized, and now she’s thrilled.

Sounds flat, right? It’s almost like a checklist. To make it engaging, we need to ask: Who is Johanna, and why does she struggle with organization?

Instead of stating her stress, show her life—her challenges and personality. Maybe she’s juggling work, tennis practice, and taking care of her Pomeranian, Gandalf, while trying to keep up with new products. Now, the audience can relate to her everyday struggles.

Imperfections Make Us Human

Relatable characters are never perfect. Think of Bilbo Baggins’ timidness, Tyrion Lannister’s sharp tongue, or Winnie the Pooh’s obsession with honey. Their flaws make them lovable. A perfect character—a „Mary Sue„—feels unrealistic and, frankly, boring. To develop a character’s personality, start with a description:

Johanna, 45, loves pink, plays tennis, and has a dog named Gandalf.

Now, we have a vivid image. We know she’s sporty, loves bold colors, adores animals, and might enjoy fantasy. These traits make her relatable and multi-dimensional.

Heroes with Everyday Struggles

When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced Spider-Man, it was groundbreaking because he wasn’t just a superhero—he had real-life problems. Unlike the flawless Superman or the wealthy Batman, Peter Parker struggled with school, family, and finances. That relatability made him iconic and beloved.

Similarly, don’t aim for perfection when creating a character to represent your brand. Instead, reflect their humanity. Show their flaws and everyday challenges. In today’s world, authenticity is vital for building trust and connection.

People Are Complex

Let’s take Johanna as an example and bring her to life. First, we need to explain who she is and what kind of problems she faces in her life:

Johanna has been a field sales representative for Telekom for 12 years. This year, a wave of new products hit the market, and she’s struggling to remember all the details.

That’s a good start! We even gave a reason why she struggles. We now know what works she does, but that is not enough to relate to her as a person. Next, we show how her work struggle might relate to her personal life:

She’s had to cancel tennis practice three times for training sessions, even though a tournament is coming up soon. To top it off, her dog Gandalf wasn’t feeling well, and she had to rush him to the vet yesterday (he’s fine now!).

Those are the struggles we can relate to, caring for a pet or loved one is always a strong emotional connection we can establish (just be careful not to overdo it). In the end, we present a solution to her problems:

With so much going on, Johanna felt overwhelmed until she heard about a new app that explains all the products. Finally, she can stay on top of things, be ready for her tournament, and spend more time with Gandalf.

Of course, that is an oversimplified version, but, a script like that could work already for a short video. Now, Johanna’s story isn’t just about an app; it’s about her struggles, passions, and relief. The audience can see themselves in her shoes and feel connected to the solution being offered.

Key Takeaways

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