| Characters are the most important element in | | | | life? Was it the death of someone close? A |
| writing a fiction story. No matter how good your | | | | success or failure? A right or wrong decision? |
| story is, if you do not have believable characters | | | | What are they afraid of? Sometime our fears |
| that your readers can relate to, no one will enjoy | | | | determine who and what we are more so than |
| reading it. They probably won't even finish it. | | | | any other thing in life. |
| The first thing to do when developing a character | | | | These are only a few examples, any little quirks |
| for a story is to write a thorough description. You | | | | you can come up with will make your characters |
| need to be able to see the character in your mind | | | | more realistic and believable. You want things that |
| if you want to make your readers see them. Go | | | | your readers will relate to. Most people enjoy the |
| beyond the basic looks, each character needs | | | | books or stories more if they can see |
| distinguishing marks, a stance, or a accent in their | | | | themselves as one of your characters. |
| dialogue, something that will stick in the reader's | | | | The next thing that needs to be done is to write |
| mind every time that character comes up. Never | | | | a biography for each character, a history. I find it |
| over-describe a character, there's no fine line here | | | | more useful to write it as an autobiography, from |
| but you want to let the reader supply some of | | | | the character's point of view. This is extremely |
| the details on their own, this is especially true for | | | | important if you are to make them believable in |
| your lead character. Many if not most readers like | | | | print. Whenever possible, I use someone I know |
| to picture themselves as your leading character, | | | | as a base for the character. I've found that doing |
| by leaving out some of the details you'll make this | | | | this will make them seem more realistic, it tends |
| possible for more people. | | | | to give them an authentic flavor as it were. |
| The second thing to do when creating a character | | | | Another method that some writers use when |
| is to write a character sketch. This is where you | | | | developing a character is to do an interview with |
| develop their personality. Write down everything | | | | each character. A good session of questions and |
| that comes to mind about the character, you | | | | answers will often give you more depth into the |
| never know when the smallest idiosyncrasy or | | | | personality of the characters, one that you |
| habit from the character sketch may show up in | | | | wouldn't get any other way. The best way that I |
| the story line. | | | | have found to conduct the interviews is what I |
| Here are a few things to consider when | | | | refer to as the "Rapidfire" method. This is done |
| developing a character | | | | by writing without stopping to think or edit. I |
| What kind of relationship did they have with their | | | | always use a pen and paper just as if I were |
| parents and siblings or other family members? | | | | interviewing a real world person, you can type it |
| What about their obsessions, what some people | | | | and worry about spelling later. Don't prepare the |
| refer to as pet-peeves? Most people have at | | | | questions in advance either, let the answer you |
| least one and knowing what it is can be a big | | | | get to one question determine what your next |
| insight into their personality. | | | | question will be. Let the character answer each |
| What are their vices? Unfortunately everyone has | | | | question with the first thought that comes to |
| them even if they are well hidden. | | | | mind without censoring. Have fun with it, this in |
| Do they have a hobby? | | | | and of itself is not a great work of literature, |
| Do they collect anything? | | | | you're just getting to know your characters. |
| What are they proud of or embarrassed about? | | | | I have always found that drawing up a character |
| What are their talents or strengths? | | | | tree showing how all the characters relate to and |
| What are their flaws or weaknesses? | | | | interact with each other helps to keep me from |
| Do they have a favorite color? | | | | making drastic mistakes and overlaps. If you have |
| What kind of music do they like? | | | | only three or four characters this is probably |
| Which is their favorite season or holiday? | | | | superfluous, but if you have a lot of characters as |
| Are they open and sociable or shy and | | | | I do in most of my stories it is an indispensable |
| withdrawn? | | | | tool. |
| What drives or motivates your character? | | | | In conclusion; always remember, the more real a |
| What are their hopes and dreams for the future? | | | | character is to you, the more real they will be to |
| What sort of turning points did they have in their | | | | your readers. |