Character built on one defining contradiction

The most memorable characters hold two things that should not sit together. This takes one defining contradiction and builds a character around it: name, the impression they give, the truth underneath, one mannerism, one thing they want, one thing they fear. For writers who want depth without a thousand-word backstory.

Build a character for a [genre] story. Their defining contradiction: [...]. Give name, surface impression, the truth beneath, one mannerism, one thing they want, one thing they fear.