Character development is one of the most important aspects of screenwriting. A script with poor character development will generally lead to a bad movie or TV show.

The main keys to character development are fairly straightforward. One of the big ones is determining some of the character’s major strengths and weaknesses. Of course, it’s important to remember not to make any single strength or weakness so overpowering that the character becomes one-dimensional. We’ve all seen character actors going over the top in portraying some really cartoonish caricatures.

Another important key to character development is jotting down the character’s likes and dislikes. This may seem slightly less important than the last key, but you can use it here and there to enhance a scene that needs a little help.

Finally, take a look at what a character does for a living versus what they’d like to be doing. This is the sort of thing that can be a major motivator, and can explain quite a lot of a character’s behavior.

Of course, there are more keys to character development, but the main thing is to make your characters as well-rounded as possible. Endow them with as many attributes as you can.