HOW TO CREATE MORALLY GREY CHARACTERS IN NOVELS (BASIC)

1. Allow mistakes

To create a truly morally grey character, you must build them heavily on mistakes. Their reasons may not always be justified, which is why it's important to allow emotionally, physically, etc. faults in scenes.

EXAMPLE ✖;

Derek is the protagonist in novel one. He has never made any mistakes, brought the plot to victory through good means, and was overall a standup guy.

While this is perfectly alright to do for other characters, he doesn't exactly seem to be in any type of "grey" area. At least none that stand out.

EXAMPLE ✔;

Jane is the protagonist in novel two. She drives the plot along as well, but during her journey she sacrificed things / people for her own gain. She still brought justice for the good of a cause, but also committed bad acts to get to that point.

Scenarios like this allow a more in-depth, but also grey character. It highlights the importance of their beliefs while also driving along the plot and delivering moral divisions between their mind and the readers.

2. Avoid cliche's

Part of the fun about writing these types of characters is exploring their inner turmoil. While a classic "misunderstood villain" is always fun, giving your character deeper goals and ambitions that they'll go to large lengths to succeed.

The desperation of a character will show the importance of their goals to the reader. It also makes for a complicated character vs. self between their morals and ambitions.

3. Read about OTHER morally grey characters for inspiration. If you don't read it yourself, how can you expect to do better?

Some books to try... (highlighted the ones I'd recommend the most.)

• Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

• And I Darken by Kiersten White

• All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody

• Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

• Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

• Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

• Renegades by Marissa Meyer

• Vicious by V. E. Schwab

• Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

FYI

Some of these I haven't read myself, please do your own research to see if they interest you.