Hi Reader,

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the kinds of characters that really stay with us.

You know the ones. The characters who feel bigger than the story they’re in. The ones who surprise us, but never in a way that feels fake. They reveal new layers, and each new layer makes them more interesting instead of less.

And usually, when you really stop and look at those characters, one thing stands out - they’re full of contradiction.

They may be brave in one area of life and totally lost in another. Or they push people away while secretly needing connection. Or they act strong, funny, cold, wise, rebellious, or controlled on the surface… while carrying something different underneath.

That’s what makes them feel human.

And that’s also why so many scripts fall short in this area.

A lot of writers do a good job creating the outer shell of a character - the role they play in the story, the way they talk, the job they have, the archetype they fit. But the deeper internal push and pull often isn’t there. The character makes sense on paper, but they don’t quite come alive. They feel like they’re there to do a job, rather than to live and breathe as a believable person.

Contradiction adds tension inside the character. And when that tension is honest, everything gets stronger - scenes, dialogue, choices, relationships, and the arc.

Why contradiction works

Just take a look around you - real people are full of contradictions.

We want one thing and need another. We say one thing and feel another. We present ourselves one way to the world while showing a different side in private.

So when a character is written as only one thing - only tough, only kind, only wise, only evil - they quickly start to feel flat. But when you give them internal opposing forces that still make emotional sense, they become more interesting right away.

They stop feeling like a type, and instead, start feeling like a person.

Where contradiction comes from

In my latest YouTube video, I show how contradiction comes from a few different sources:

• want vs need
• personal growth
• diminishment
• circumstance
• or a mix of all of them

And that last part matters, because the strongest characters usually aren’t built around just one contradiction.

For example, they want independence, but need love. But they're also shaped by painful circumstances. And then the story forces them to grow… or collapse.

Now we're talking layers!

It works across every archetype

One of the things I love about this idea is that it works with any classic archetype: The Rebel. The Mentor. The Hero. The Villain. The Caregiver. The Ruler. The Everyman.

You don’t have to tear down the archetype to make it richer. You just have to add tension through internal opposing forces. That can be the difference between a character we understand and a character we remember.

Why this matters in your writing

When you write a character through contradiction, you give yourself more to work with:

• stronger dialogue
• better scene conflict
• more emotional texture
• clearer arcs
• and more believable choices

Because now the character is being pulled in more than one direction. And that creates drama naturally.

If you want the full breakdown, with movie examples and practical ways to use contradiction in your own scripts, I cover all of it in my latest video:

🎥 Watch it here: Write Better Characters Through Contradiction​

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And if you want help building stronger characters, clearer arcs, or a deeper emotional core in your screenplay, I can help with that too:

👉 My one-hour coaching calls are great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!​

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👉 My coverage packages are a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!​

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Remember, the more human the contradiction, the more powerful the character.

Stay creative!

Neil

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P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!

Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel​

Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking:​ www.neilchasefilm.com.

Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.

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