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What Is Indirect Characterization? (And Why It’s So Powerful)
Michael Adams
Why do so many writers turn to indirect characterization? Because how you reveal a character can be just as crucial as who they are. If you’re a fiction writer, then you should know that the way you reveal a character is essential. At times it can even be just as important as who the character is. Don’t just state that the person is shy or confident. Instead, try using indirect characterization so the user can infer these traits through their actions and subtle behavioral characteristics.
Indirect characterization reveals who a character is through their behavior, not blunt description. This definition usually involves using literary devices to be subtle.
Instead of saying “Annie is a brave person”, write a scene where Annie steps between a gun and her friend with no hesitation. This will let you build trust between you and your readers, allowing your audience to do the interpretive work. This is why it’s so effective. There are many examples of indirect characterization that can improve a story.
Right now, we’re going to do three things in this post. First, we’ll break down the definition of indirect characterization across genres. Once we do that, we’ll then compare it to its opposite: direct characterization. Lastly, we’ll also learn how we can use two types of characterization together, so that we may make believable and emotionally rich characters. Ones that live beyond the page. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first novel or if you’re polishing your prose with custom book writing help; if you can master this skill, then you can make your storytelling a lot stronger. Let’s see what makes it a powerful tool and how it can be used in your work.
Key Takeaways:
- Indirect characterization can reveal what a character thinks through their traits, their actions and other things such as their dialogues or their thoughts, instead of just stating it outright.
- With indirect characterization, you can create a deeper reader engagement and allow the audience to draw their own conclusions about the characters.
- The S.T.E.A.L. method (Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, Looks) is a useful framework for crafting believable character moments.
- Combining direct and indirect characterization provides a well-rounded approach to building complex, emotionally rich characters.
- Practicing subtle cues and using feedback from beta readers can help strengthen your use of indirect characterization.
- Great examples from literature and film (e.g., Harry Potter, The Great Gatsby, John Wick) show how indirect traits can leave lasting impressions.
- Writers can elevate their storytelling by mastering this technique and using it thoughtfully in their work.
How Indirect Characterization Reveals Your Characters Naturally
When using direct characterization, the author tells the reader exactly what a character is like. Meanwhile, indirect characterization lets those traits shine through their behavior and dialogue. This technique allows the audience to draw conclusions about the character. Due to this, they might even make a deeper emotional connection with the character.
Take another example. Instead of saying “James is impatient,” you can use cues like James tapping his foot, checking his watch, or interrupting people mid-sentence. Using cues like these to show indirect characterization lets you paint a good picture without flat-out saying he’s impatient. The readers will be more involved because they can fill it in themselves. With these examples of indirect characterization, we can paint a better picture than just flat out saying it. That’s because we can have proof to back up the claim about the character’s personality.
It feels like a more realistic method, and it mirrors how we learn about people’s traits in real life. We know by hearing and observing people. No omnipresent narrator is telling us that the new person we met is a calm, collected person or that the old man down the street has a grumpy personality. In real life, you observe people. You find out the old man is grumpy because you saw him yelling at some kids on their bikes.
If you want to show a character’s strongest qualities, you should use proper indirect characterization techniques.
The S.T.E.A.L Method
The best examples of indirect characterization can be given through the S.T.E.A.L method.
Most writers prefer to use the S.T.E.A.L method, which stands for Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks.
With these five elements, you can reveal a character’s personality without outright stating it.
Some of the best book writing help services advise you to use this method instead of just outright stating how your character is.
Speech
A character’s speech can reflect their voice, tone, and emotional state. If you have them act nervous or insecure during tense moments, you can imply that this character breaks easily. Likewise, having a character who is calm in moments of danger can show a person with a brave characteristic.
Thoughts
Their thoughts, meanwhile, can be expressed through things like an internal monologue. When you have it revealed in such a way, their thoughts offer a private, emotional lens into their personality.
Just because a character can smile on the outside and show themselves to be a kind person doesn’t mean they are. Through internal dialogue, you can reveal that they are not the best people. You can have them say something vile or cynical in their internal dialogue.
Indirect characterization like this really gives the image that the character has a lot to hide.
Effect
Their effect on others can be just as significant as a takeaway as well. It can be a piece of indirect characterization that can give away how the character is through others’ eyes, and how other characters see the character in question can tell a lot about them. Take John Wick, for example, and how, throughout the movie, people described him as “Baba Yaga” and “the one you send to kill the boogeyman.”
Characters genuinely seemed afraid of him, which showed that a ruthless and efficient killer, feared by all who crossed him. John Wick’s effect on others was a good indication of his character in the movie.
Actions
The characters’ actions, meanwhile, matter, too. After all, we’ve all heard the phrase “actions speak louder than words.” If a character shows good deeds, it implies that they’re a good person. If you have a character who speaks rudely but does good deeds, you can indirectly show that the character has some good underneath.
Take, for example, a character in your novel speaking loudly and rudely to a friend, but then the next scene shows your character giving money to a homeless person. This indirect characterization shows that while the character is rough on the outside, they still have some kindness underneath.
Looks
Finally, the character’s looks. While you’re not really supposed to judge somebody by their looks but sometimes looks can tell you more about someone. With looks, you can get some indirect characterization of how the characters present themselves.
A proper, well-groomed character wearing what looks like an expensive suit might suggest wealth or status, depending on the context. How people carry themselves can also give away a lot about their character.
A noblewoman in a fantasy setting would probably carry herself differently from a peasant. Indirect characterization like this could imply either grace or arrogance based on how you further define the noblewoman carrying herself.
There are a lot of different ways indirect characterization can benefit from the S.T.E.A.L method.
Comparing The Two Types of Characterization
Writers often ask whether they should use direct or indirect characterization. The truth is that the best stories frequently use both. Direct characterization often quickly establishes who a character is and what their deal usually is.
Like ” Harold, a retired detective, had a permanent scowl and a short fuse,” this is concrete enough for the user to get a good idea of the character and who they are without having to fully get into what Harold was doing that night or what specific dialogue he said.
For indirect characterization, we can use Harold clutching a notebook or avoiding eye contact when he discusses his past. These are subtle hints to either show that he was a good detective or that something in his past still haunts him.
If you balance the two types of characterization, you can inform and engage your reader while giving them just enough guidance, while still inviting interpretation.
Suppose you’re a writer looking for custom professional book writing services. In that case, you might often receive the same advice: Use direct characterization sparingly for the sake of your book’s structure and let deeper emotional work come through character action and reaction.
You need a proper balance between the two so that you can separate forgettable characters from those readers like to remember long after the last page.
Some Real Examples of Indirect Characterization in Action
If you want to understand how strong this technique is, you simply need to look at how it’s used in many different pieces of pop culture.
One example could be Harry Potter and Hermione’s indirect characterization. Her nervousness and her academic nature are revealed pretty early, though not through narration but through her actions. She had her nonstop hand raising, and she always recited textbook passages, or she anxiously policed her friends’ behavior (case in point, the Wingardium Leviosa scene). No narration told us Hermione was smart or anxious—we simply saw it in every textbook quote and flailing hand. We knew she was smart and anxious because she acted smart and anxious.
Meanwhile, in The Great Gatsby, we see Jay Gatsby’s mysterious persona unfold through lavish parties, whispered rumors, and how other characters react to him long before we learn his backstory. This layered, indirect approach keeps readers curious and connected.
If you’re struggling to keep up indirect characterization, you should consider working with a Custom professional book writing service or anyone who can give you custom book writing help.
If you observe how seasoned authors use indirect characterization, you can integrate it naturally into your work. This can let you bring your characters to life in your readers’ minds.
Tips that can help you strengthen your indirect characterization
To improve your indirect characterization skills then you need to practice writing scenes that focus on character behavior. According to the S.T.E.A.L method, you also need to practice and think about the impact that the character had on others and about their reactions.
You could do it by starting small. You could write a short paragraph that shows that somebody is easily nervous without using the word “nervous.” You could make it so that their fingers tremble, they fidget with a sleeve, or they avoid eye contact. These cues are ones that readers pick up and interpret with ease.
You could also use a beta reader or critique partner to see if your cues are coming through to them clearly. If the person reading your work instantly grasps what your character feels, then you got it right. If they’re confused, though, that means that your indirect characterization might need some work.
Over time, you’ll start weaving these techniques into your storytelling. This will let you create dynamic characters who express themselves without any explanation. A well-crafted scene reveals more than a single line of narration could.
If you give your characters proper indirect characterization then you can essentially let them make a better impact than if they were directly narrated. If you see it through their actions then you as a reader can quote exact specific times that they use those actions.
You can’t just say “he’s a good person”, you need to show that character doing those good things and show that character committing acts of good. Those acts of good have to add up to justify that characterization.
Conclusion
Indirect characterization isn’t just a stylistic flourish—it’s essential for emotional storytelling. It’s a very essential part of storytelling. With it, you can let readers know a character’s traits through speech, through their thoughts, and how their actions have affected others. You can create a deeper emotional connection with much more memorable characters that way. It lets readers be active participants and lets them draw conclusions about your characters rather than just having them passively absorb facts.
Whether you’re a first-time writer or you’re just refining your craft, you need to understand how to balance direct and indirect characterization with your work. Techniques like the S.T.E.A.L method don’t just add realism, but they also lend subtlety and sophistication to your work.
All it takes is enough practice and the guidance of beta readers or professional feedback. With that, you’ll learn how to craft proper characters that don’t just exist on the page but live in your readers’ imagination.
If you master this technique, you strengthen your characters and sharpen your storytelling as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between direct and indirect characterization?
Direct characterization tells the reader exactly what a character is like using explicit description. Indirect characterization shows the character’s personality through actions, dialogue, thoughts, and other indirect clues.
Why is indirect characterization important?
Indirect characterization helps readers form deeper connections with characters by allowing them to interpret traits for themselves, making characters feel more lifelike and emotionally compelling.
How can I improve my use of indirect characterization?
Practice using the S.T.E.A.L. method—Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks. Observe how characters are developed in books and films, and seek feedback from beta readers to ensure your cues are clear.
Can I use both direct and indirect characterization in the same story?
Yes. In fact, a balance of both can be very effective. Use direct characterization to quickly establish key traits, and indirect characterization to develop emotional depth and complexity.
What are some common mistakes with indirect characterization?
Relying too much on vague or confusing cues, using repetitive actions, or neglecting to connect a character’s behavior with meaningful context can all weaken your use of this technique.
About Author
Hi My name is Micheal Adams, When I am not watching horror movies and helping my kids with homework or reading my favorite fantasy/supernatural novels – I’m writing to guide aspiring authors. I focus on exploring and simplifying both the technical aspects and the often-overlooked details of book writing and publishing so I can empower new writers to climb the Amazon bestseller list and connect with more readers.
