I’m having doubts about my script

[Lineia]

I’m probably overthinking again but after stepping away from my first script and working on another one, I started thinking that the characters in my first script don’t really change at all. I feel like while they do things, they don’t really change as people and the only thing that changes is their relationship status, but, at the same time.. I’m not sure how to fix this without making them drastically different than what I had in mind..

I know you guys said the script was fine when I posted it but.. I dunno.. I have still doubts about it.

[Iris-Grimoire]

If you want to develop a character, you need to have a bit of an idea of where to go. They'll do a lot of the work, but you need at least point A and B, and C might show up on its own. For example, a fearful character learning to cope with their phobias, or a haughty character opening up to others after realizing their attitude problems. I'm not saying what events lead to that, but from one behavior to the other there was a change, and that can be put in the story arc or even just the small conversations.

[joannekwan]

Yeah, it's good to have an idea of where the character begins and where you want them to end up. It doesn't need to be a drastic change either. Like a prankster, blasé character could still be a jokester at the end of their trials and tribulations, but they learn they need to take responsibility for their actions or for other people over the course of the story.

[sakebento]

I think the core of who a character is should be the same, so it's probably okay if they don't change drastically. Is there anything your characters dislike or want to improve about themselves? That can be a really nice journey of change to go through without having to change their actual character.

[Lineia]

I never thought about what they’d dislike about themselves or want to change but at the same time.. I can’t really think of anything they’d dislike or want to change either. That’s not good huh?

[sakebento]

That's fine. Not all characters (or people) need to have qualities they don't like in themselves. Instead of dislike, then maybe it would work to think about things they do like that can be improved. For example, they enjoy playing piano, and want to get better or learn a certain difficult piece. Or they care about their friends and want to help them out even more. It doesn't have to be something they dislike or a flaw. It's also totally feasible to have something they DO like, and still want to work on it.

[joannekwan]

Most of the time people don't actively set out to change things about themselves, unless it's like a simple new year's resolution to lose weight, learn how to ride a bike etc. Life happens to people and they change or grow from that.

[Lineia]

Man... I can’t think of anything that they like but want to get better at either! They’re pretty good at what they do already.. Maybe I should just scrap the whole thing and start over?

[sakebento]

Honestly? If it's already done, I'd say just release it. There's a danger to trying to remake things over and over. If any type of change doesn't come naturally to the story you've already built, that's okay. If you think it's important that your characters have discernible change, you can plan that into the next one you write.

[borzoiteeth]

There are plenty of works where character's goals/skills don't change at all and the audience enjoys them just the same. From Garfield, Doom Guy, to James T Kirk, a work won't fail just because characters are still the same from beginning to end.

[Lineia]

No, it’s not done yet.. But you’re right, I feel like I have a habit of remaking stuff and never doing anything at all...

I never even realize that but that’s true! @borzoiteeth