Contrast Adds Depth to Characters by Darlene Beck Jacobson

 Night and Day. Old and Young. Happy and Sad. Noisy and Quiet.

While comparisons like these can be opposites, they also help us think about both sides of something.

 And also it helps us recognize that there are many places in between.

 Think about it like this: These stones show shadow and light. The shadows between the stones is where the mystery lies. The unknown.

We've heard the saying "Things aren't always black and white. Sometimes there are shades of grey." This metaphor isn't only about color, but rather conflict. That unknown something we turn pages to find out. 

 So many of the interesting things in life lie in these grey areas. This is where our characters struggle. Where they head down a wrong path. 

The contrast between what a character chooses to do, say, or think are often in conflict with each other. These differences raise the stakes of the story and make it much more interesting. Contrast in a character's behavior, action, or dialogue makes that character stand out in the best way.

 

Darlene Beck Jacobson enjoys finding things that contrast or stand out in nature as well as in her characters.