Careers Career Paths Character Types in Fiction Writing Print Career Paths Fiction Writing Careers Technology Careers Sports Careers Sales Project Management Professional Writer Music Careers Media Legal Careers US Military Careers Government Careers Finance Careers Entertainment Careers Criminology Careers Book Publishing Aviation Animal Careers Advertising Learn More By Ginny Wiehardt Ginny Wiehardt Writer, Instructor With a BA in English and an MFA in poetry and fiction, Ginny Wiehardt has served as an editor, instructor and award-winning poetry and fiction writer for over 15 years. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 11/20/19 As a writer or reader of fiction, you'll encounter many types of characters. From round characters and flat characters to stock characters and protagonists, all characters have their place. As a writer, you may want to avoid or handle some of these character types delicately. If you receive critiques telling you that your character is flat, take it as a challenge and see how emotionally complex and detailed you can make your characters. Flat Characters JGI / Jamie Grill / Getty Images In fiction, flat characters are minor characters who do not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story. Often, these characters serve no purpose other than to move the story along, so who they are as people is of no significance to the plot. In some instances, they may be more parts of the setting than characters. For example, if two main characters are eating in a restaurant, their server—if portrayed at all—likely would be a flat character. Static Characters Yamini Chao / Getty Images A static character doesn't change. Such characters usually are a type of flat character, whose key difference often is that they might appear in more than one scene. Perhaps your main character lives in a building with a doorman, and to develop your character, you show the kind of small talk she engages in with the doorman each time she enters or leaves. The doorman would be described as a static character because he never changes; he is there only to help show a small part of the main character's personality. Round Characters Lorado / Getty Images Round characters are the opposite of flat characters. For readers, these are the characters you will put the most effort into following and understanding. For writers, they are the most challenging to develop. Round characters are multidimensional, complex, nuanced, and often contradictory. Round characters don't have to be the main characters in a story, but they serve an important enough role in the plot or a subplot that giving their personalities multiple layers is a necessity. Dynamic Characters UpperCut Images / Getty Images Just as round characters are the opposite of flat characters, dynamic characters are the opposite of static characters. Dynamic characters also are round characters who will undergo some kind of change in the course of the story. Consider how the doorman used as an example of a static character could instead be a dynamic character if fleshed out a bit more. As the doorman gets to know the main character a little better, perhaps he discovers something unsavory about her character and must decide whether to act on that information. Regardless of what he chooses, his encounters with the main character are likely to change as his perception of her changes. Stock Characters Klubovy / Getty Images Stock characters are similar to static characters, but they often represent a particular stereotype. They are difficult to pull off in fiction unless you are writing satire, and even then, there must be much thought behind including a stock character in your narrative. The purpose of a stock character is to move the story along by allowing the audience to engage with the type of character they're already familiar with. For example, the main character might be on the run from the mob and encounters a mob enforcer. While it's unoriginal to present the character as a stereotypical goon, it does move the story along quicker because the audience already is familiar with what that stock character represents. Protagonists Stephen Zeigler / Getty Images Protagonists are the main characters in fiction. They are round characters with whom readers sympathize. However, they are not always completely moral or likable. It's important for protagonists to be relatable even if they are not likable. Readers need to believe protagonists and understand their choices. Captain Ahab in Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" is a good example of a protagonist who is relatable yet unlikable. Ahab's stubbornness and obsession with the whale that bit off his leg negatively impact the rest of the characters in the story, yet readers can relate to the emotion of becoming obsessed to the point of detriment to themselves and those around them. Antagonists Jamie Grill / Getty Images Antagonists often are known as the bad guy in fiction. They attempt to prevent protagonists from getting what they want or need. An antagonist also should be a round character. Making an antagonist evil is not as interesting as making the character conflicted. Pure evil is very hard to believe in fiction since people are multifaceted and inspired by their situations and personal histories. One of the most iconic antagonists in film history is Darth Vader from "Star Wars." At first, he seems to be little more than the embodiment of pure evil for reasons that aren't clear. As the story develops, his character is also developed, and viewers learn how and why he became such a violent and intimidating figure. Confidantes Adam Hester / Getty Images Just like people in real life, characters in fiction need someone in whom they can confide. Confidantes work best when they are round characters dealing with their own conflicts and issues, but they serve the story as someone who can help the protagonist in his own conflict. In Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina," Anna often turns to her sister-in-law, Dolly, to discuss the problems that have arisen because of her relationship with Vronsky. Dolly is an interesting choice because she herself has been victimized by her own husband's infidelities, and as the novel begins, it is Anna who is serving as Dolly's confidante. Foils Adam Hester / Getty Images A foil is someone who possesses the opposite traits of the main character, often the protagonist. The purpose of the foil is to serve as a contrast, which can help bring out the main character's best traits. For example, if you create a character who is known for being honest, that can be highlighted by creating a foil for the main character who is consistently dishonest and perhaps challenges the main character's own commitment to honesty.