Creating a complex character that keeps the reader engaged takes a lot of time. Although minute details of the character need not be disclosed to the reader, in order to keep such a character central to your story, you will have to know your character completely, so that he or she merits a place within the pages of your literary creation.
1. Where does your character live and where is your character from?
Some believe that setting is the most important element of any story. And central to any story are the characters that live within its borders.
Ask yourself the following questions when creating your character:
Ask yourself the following questions when creating your character:
Though this might seem like an obvious question, it's important to make a clear decision about this before you begin writing - otherwise, your character will not be credible.
For instance:
Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? If your main characters are Ferengi-like creatures, you've got yourself a sci-fi novel, and if your hero is Douglas Winthrop III, your character is a pretentious snob with a trust fund.
4. What does your character look like?
Although you may not have a crystal clear picture of your character in your mind, a description of the physical details of a character will deliver a credibility to your character and will help your readers identify with that character.
Consider some of the following:
As with real people, many things about your character's personality will be determined by his background.
6. What does your character do for a living?
As with all of these questions, how much information you need depends in some part on the plot, but you'll need some idea of how your character makes money. How your character feels about a host of issues, from money to family, will be in some part dependent on their choice of careers.
Is your character a:
7. Who else is in your character's life and how does your character deal with conflict and change?
Relationships and how people interact with each other - reveal the true nature of your character. They're also opportunities for dialogue within your story, which break up exposition, providing the reader with critical information about the character.
Think about:
Think about:
In longer stories or novels, you will have to ask this question repeatedly. Many of your character's actions will result from the intersection of what s(he)'s trying to achieve and his/her personality, which is composed of everything you've invented in answering the above questions. When in doubt about how your character should behave, ask yourself what your character wants from the situation, and think about the answers you've given to all of the above.
1. Where does your character live and where is your character from?
Some believe that setting is the most important element of any story. And central to any story are the characters that live within its borders.
Ask yourself the following questions when creating your character:
- What nationality is your character?
- What country/state/region does your character come from?
- Where does s(he) live?
- Does s(he) live alone or with a family?
Ask yourself the following questions when creating your character:
- Where did your character's life begin?
- Did your character grow up in a small country town or a raging metropolis?
- How was your character educated? In an over-crowded high school or an elite private school.
Though this might seem like an obvious question, it's important to make a clear decision about this before you begin writing - otherwise, your character will not be credible.
For instance:
- Is your character a teenager or an adolescent? Although close in age, their traits and personalities differ greatly.
- Is your character a young man or woman starting out in life?
- Is your character an elderly person reminiscing on days gone by?
- Does your character drink cheap beer and sleep on sofas or does s(he) drink martinis and sleep in exclusive hotels?
Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? If your main characters are Ferengi-like creatures, you've got yourself a sci-fi novel, and if your hero is Douglas Winthrop III, your character is a pretentious snob with a trust fund.
- By choosing the right name for your character, s(he) will come to life almost immediately.
4. What does your character look like?
Although you may not have a crystal clear picture of your character in your mind, a description of the physical details of a character will deliver a credibility to your character and will help your readers identify with that character.
Consider some of the following:
- Height
- Weight
- Ethnicity
- Face shape
- Hair colour
- Eye colour
- Musculature
- Facial structure
- Distinguishable Marks
As with real people, many things about your character's personality will be determined by his background.
- Did his parents have a good marriage?
- How your character interacts with other people?
- Is your character defensive or confident?
- Stable or rootless?
6. What does your character do for a living?
As with all of these questions, how much information you need depends in some part on the plot, but you'll need some idea of how your character makes money. How your character feels about a host of issues, from money to family, will be in some part dependent on their choice of careers.
Is your character a:
- Politician
- Lawyer
- Entertainer
- Chef
- Entrepreneur
- Scientist
- Priest/Nun
- Assassin
- Police Officer
- Criminal
7. Who else is in your character's life and how does your character deal with conflict and change?
Relationships and how people interact with each other - reveal the true nature of your character. They're also opportunities for dialogue within your story, which break up exposition, providing the reader with critical information about the character.
Think about:
- Who will best help you convey this information?
- What kinds of people would realistically be in your character's world in the first place.
Think about:
- If your character passive or active?
- How does your character react to confrontation and/or intimidation?
In longer stories or novels, you will have to ask this question repeatedly. Many of your character's actions will result from the intersection of what s(he)'s trying to achieve and his/her personality, which is composed of everything you've invented in answering the above questions. When in doubt about how your character should behave, ask yourself what your character wants from the situation, and think about the answers you've given to all of the above.
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