How to Create an Unsound Character in Fiction: A Writer’s Guide

George Beckingridge adjusts himself to life back at the manor.

For me, one of the greatest parts of being a writer is indulging in ways of thinking that are far from your own. Exploring the extreme thoughts of the unsound is one of them.

My boy, Gorgeous George, above, who first featured in Maestro back in 2016 as a little boy, is an example of the extreme. He was showing psychopatic tendencies as a young boy. What does that mean in terms of characterisation and involving him in scenes?

1 – If your characters are inflicted by illness (mental illness or otherwise), make sure you are fully aware of this illness. Research it. Familiarise yourself with the symptoms. Know the difference between psychopath and sociopath.

2 – Remember you’re viewing things through a completely different lens. You need to forget your own logic to ground the character in some kind of reality.

3 – Explore the reasons for your characters behaviour. Is this purely a medical issue? Is there something else going on? What made them this way?

Using George as an example, he comes from a family with a history of mental illness. His condition is worsened by emotional neglect.

4 – Avoid shock for the sake of shock.

Okay, so I may be a huge culprit for this with George.

You want to demonstrate a pyschopatic character so they will be completely lacking empathy. They will be more prone to risk taking and impulsivity, making them unpredictable.

In George’s case, he will say extreme things to garner a reaction from people. This is due to the emotional neglect so he has grown to believe this is the only way he gets attention.

5 – Let your other characters tell you all you need to know about your mentally unsound one. Perhaps when they enter a room there is an atmosphere around them. Perhaps there is shifting at the table away from them or a lack of eye contact.

Whilst this is written with the intention of creating fictional characters, I do acknowledge that mental health is an extremely important and real concern in our modern world. By all means have fun with building your character. Please do keep in mind those who do struggle in real life.