As writers, we spend a lot of time getting to know our characters and developing them. We learn how they’d react in different situations. We know people who remind us of our characters. We want to get to the point where we know instinctively how the character would respond to conflict.
But how much of this information do we actually need to share with our readers?
At the start of every school year, the parents at my children’s schools are requested to send a letter to their child’s teacher, telling about their child in a way that would help the teacher get some insights into working with him.
My middle school son’s letter is in a Word file. I sent almost exactly the same letter to his 8th grade teachers that I sent to his first grade teacher. I tweak it a little bit each year and send it off. He’s industrious, cheerful, smart, funny, popular. He tells me everything that’s on his mind (I don’t know how much longer that could last, since he’s now a teen.) Basically, he’s an open book.
I also have a letter for my daughter’s teacher in Word. Every year I open it up and squint at it—looking for ideas from the previous year. I spend a lot of time on my daughter’s letter each year, but most of the time I end up with, “She’s a mass of contradictions. She’s artistic and complex. I love her, but don’t understand what makes her tick. If you get any insights, please let me know!”
I think we need open book characters, such as my son. But then I think that enigmatic characters—inscrutable characters that the reader can’t quite figure out—can be entertaining, too. As a reader, I’ve enjoyed tons of characters who weren’t easily figured-out. Many times, they kept their thoughts to themselves.
I think that there still would need to be some consistency there, so the character wouldn’t be too frustrating for the reader. When I read inconsistent characters, I just wonder if the author even had a handle on the character.
Clues along the way are important. Clues to what motivates them, what makes particular conflicts difficult for them. I think the readers need to feel like they’re making progress in learning what makes them tick. It’s nice if there are small insights (rewards) for the reader to discover all along the way.
I think the majority of enigmatic characters that I’ve read have been secondary, or supporting characters. Writing an enigmatic protagonist would be a special challenge.
In your writing, do you have any characters who are difficult to figure out or understand? As a reader, do you enjoy reading enigmatic characters?
Elizabeth – I think enigmatic characters can add a lot of interest to a story, actually. I’ve read about several in novels through the years. For them to work, I agree that they’re best off if there is enough information about them and enough consistency so that readers have something to hold onto. I also like it if there’s a reason for their being hard to figure out (maybe they’ve got a secret past or something else that’s a logical reason to hold back). Interesting thing to think about…
From a reader’s POV, enigmatic characters do add a bit of color and flare to a story. I like them as secondary characters. However, they give a little insight to the main character especially if they are good friends.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Enigmatic characters help create complexities in plotting, if they have an active role. I love not being able to figure out what a complex character will do…up to a point. By the end of a book, I do like to know more about the enigmatic ones, at least, what their motivations may be for the actions they take. Great topic, Elizabeth!
An enigmatic suspect is probably a good idea, but in cosy mystery I am not sure I would recommend an enigmatic sleuth.
In my current, Danish mystery, my main character might be called enigmatic, but I am trying to strike a balance of making her interesting but not too weird or mysterious to empathize with.
I too raised an ‘open book’ kid, two of them, and one ‘enigmatic’ one. I had to chuckle at your note re: your daughter, cuz I often felt the same way, lol.
But yes, enigmatic protagonists AND antoagonists are very entertaining to read and try and figure out. It does take skill as a writer to pull it off, though … as you said, if there is not at least SOME consistency, then you have to wonder if the writer knows the character at all, hmm?
If I have a villain, s/he’s usually enigmatic. (Sort of mirrors real life where we hear something horrific that was done and we wonder how someone could do that.) But my protagonist, while a complex character, is not so enigmatic since I’m wanting my readers to identify with him or her.
Well… to a degree, that character IS my main character. It’s been twenty years since the first book ended, so he’s changed some. Most of the puzzling comes from the other main character, who’s trying to figure him out. I think readers will have a handle on Byron to a degree, but it will be through the other character that they attempt to discover more.
I hope I can pull it off!
I never really attempted a character like this until the final book of my series. It’s challenging.
I do enjoy reading those kinds of characters, however, writing them as the main dude would be a true challenge as you said. We are taught in writing that the reader needs to understand the motives behind the main characters both good and bad. That makes it difficult to write one that is enigmatic. But I can relate to what you said about your children. My youngest daughter never told me what was truly bothering her. For years I’ve wondered what I did wrong. Recently she said, she never wanted to disappoint me. So clearly I failed in the reassurance dept.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Margot–Secrets! That’s one of my favorite ingredients in a book (as a reader) and they’re so important for mystery writers.
The Old Silly–Sounds like you and I are in the same boat with the kids! Ha!
Mason–I like the enigmatic sidekick for a character…sounds like it could be fun. :)
Stacy–I feel the same way…I like to have a reward at the end of the story for sticking with the character throughout the book!
Helen–Villains are great for keeping enigmatic. Trickier for a protagonist, I think.
Alex–I like the way you’re handling it! I think that it was like that with the Sherlock Holmes stories–we learn about the unusual Sherlock through Watson.
Dorte–I think that’s the tough part of the balance…to make a reader intrigued but to keep them feeling empathetic.
Diane–I bet! I haven’t given it a go yet.
Nancy–Interesting! My daughter frequently looks for reassurance, too. I try to deliver, but that’s the thing about reassurance…you’re never sure how good of a job you’re doing.
I love enigmatic characters, since they have so much potential. I love creating them in my writing, too; they can do things that an “open-book” type person could not.
I feel like my supporting characters are always more clear to me than my protagonist. I wish I knew why that was. I almost always know what my supporting characters will do but when it comes to my main character, it feels like a crapshoot every time. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
Golden Eagle–That’s a good point. The motivation issue is not a big problem because they could do almost ANYTHING in a given situation! :)
Mallory–Maybe the supporting characters are similar to people you know–or you? And you’re more reticent to give a lead character those traits? I know my protagonists are rarely anything like me…and it does take a while to get to know them. :)
I had one character that was the opposite of the enigmatic character. He was one of those very organized people that had to do everything according to the book but then I discovered that he had to act uncharacteristically and for quite a while I wrestled with: “Why would he do that?” The answer came from an early plot point that I had already planned earlier in the book. It’s exciting when the character himself shows you why he would do something out of character.
Cygnet–I love those brainstorms when we find solutions to plot and motivation problems!
I think you’re right. I like characters that I think I know and understand right away and then I like being surprised again. Great post.CD
Hi Elizabeth .. good to read about – so I can get a feel of how novels come about .. kids – are a great source aren’t they! Thanks .. Hilary
I think you’re right on with that. Thank you! I’m about to start revisions on my first novel so I’ll keep that in mind when I’m working on my main character. :D
What lovely descriptions of your kids. Both mine are ‘open book’ to me- even their unpredictability is predictable in that I expect it, but if I were to try describing either to someone else, they would become absolutely enigmatic.
And one of the things I love about all the books that I love are enigmatic characters.