Dickens created characters so vivid, we remember them like real people — even the absurd ones. Their names, voices, flaws, and triumphs carried the weight of entire novels. This contest challenges you to do the same: invent a character who is both exaggerated and heartbreakingly real.

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We’re looking for someone unforgettable. Someone messy, emotional, resilient, selfish, noble, ridiculous — maybe all at once. Give us a rich portrait of one person struggling within a social system that doesn’t quite see them. It could be Victorian London or your local train station. Dickens wrote for the underdog — now it's your turn.

Let the character’s voice lead. Let the heart come second. Let the truth sneak in through humor.

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• Start with a name that says something. Dickens used names like Mr. Gradgrind or Uriah Heep. You don’t have to go that far — but a memorable name can suggest personality or class.

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• Make flaws loveable. Dickensian characters are often foolish, greedy, or insecure — but we still care. Let your character’s worst trait double as their charm.

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• Let the setting shape the soul. Where your character lives, works, or wanders should reflect their internal state. The coal fire, the broken doorknob, the unpaid rent — it’s all part of the portrait.

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• Write the voice into the sentences. If your character is nervous, the prose should stammer. If they’re self-important, the narration should puff itself up.

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• Use humor and pain side by side. A good Dickensian sketch can make us laugh and tear up in the same paragraph. Don’t separate the silly from the serious — let them overlap.

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• Let their object mean something. That handkerchief isn’t just fabric — it belonged to someone. That hat isn’t just for show — it’s what makes them feel brave. The item you include should reflect a piece of the character’s soul.

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• End with an open door. Your sketch should feel like the beginning of a novel we’d want to keep reading. Leave us wondering what will happen to them next.