Creating characters is much like building a skyscraper. There must be a solid foundation upon which to build. Otherwise, the skyscraper won’t stand for long.
Likewise, characters need solid foundations or their persona crumbles to the ground.
The Overall Picture
Characters should make a lasting impression in order to be memorable. It isn’t necessary to reveal everything about a character when s/he is first introduced. You want to describe your character in increments to keep the reader reading. Give your characters a sense of dimension, as though they are someone you actually know.
These are four basic elements to creating a solid foundation for your characters to stand upon.
Physical Description
Is physical description really necessary? As far as I’m concerned it is. I’ve read many a book lately where character description is trumped over as though it didn’t matter. Or no description at all was provided.
As an avid reader, this leaves my mind a blank. It isn’t that I lack imagination, but what type of person should I be visualizing? Tall, redhead, blue-eyed? Short, chubby, brunette?
It makes me wonder if the writer was simply too lazy to include description. If that isn’t the case, the writer certainly didn’t have the reader in mind when leaving out the description.
Even just the bare basics will do:
· Hair color
· Eye color
· Height
· Weight
· Ethnicity
It’s really quite off-putting to realize halfway through a book that I should have been visualizing George Clooney instead of Denzel Washington. Or vice-versa.
Describing a character’s physical description gives your reader the proper perspective.
Personality
Characters with personality will live vividly in the minds of your readers. Show the personality of characters through action and dialogue.
For example, in Dean Koontz’s The Face, Corky is a vivid and memorable character. An anarchist on a mission, he is introduced wearing a yellow rain slicker, putting racially-infested propaganda in mailboxes.
Consider these personality traits for your characters
· Good guy or bad guy?
· Greedy?
· Compassionate?
· Unusual name?
· Interesting habits?
· Shortcomings?
· Do they dress in a unique way?
In the Koontz’s description of Corky, we already know he has an unusual name, dresses uniquely and is obviously not a good guy. Throughout the book, we learn of some very interesting habits and just how deeply ingrained is his penchant for evil.
Which is another thing: when introducing characters for the first time, physical description comes first. This does not preclude introducing an odd habit or two but don’t show the reader everything at once. Pace the revelation of your character’s personality traits and idiosyncrasies so your reader’s interest is piqued and maintained.
Mannerisms and Blemishes
I’m sure everyone knows someone who is picture-perfect with blindingly white teeth, unblemished skin and the ideal body type.
In reality, most people have something about themselves they feel is not so attractive: slightly pudgy, blemished skin, stained teeth, unruly hair; the list goes on.
In order to make a character more realistic, you might want to give her/him unique mannerisms or blemishes. Not necessarily physical blemishes, but things that might set them a little apart.
· Stuttering problem
· A limp
· An eye tic
· Nail biting
· An ice chewer
· OCD
· Eats M&Ms or Skittles by color
These are just a few personality traits you can assign to your characters. It isn’t necessary to give all characters distinct personality traits. Giving one or two of them some oddball characteristics not only sets them apart it also makes them memorable.
For instance, in Nero’s Fiddle, Colt is a little on the gruff side. He rarely smiles and has a constant eye tic as a result of PTSD.
Mannerisms, or habits, help define characters even more.
· Flipping hair from the face
· Eye winking
· Foot or finger tapping
· Scratching behind the ear
· Dressing well
· Dressing flamboyantly
· Acting pompously
Mannerisms and blemishes can significantly enhance a character. Or they can elevate your main character above the level of hero. Equally, a blemish can heighten the vileness of an evil character.
Challenge your characters
Without challenges, your character is hardly nothing more than words on a page. It is through challenges the character of your characters is truly shown.
Your character or characters must be faced with odds which seem insurmountable. But you mustn’t leave your characters hanging. You must devise a way for your character to overcome each obstacle s/he faces.
This is how the reader will remember and relate to your characters, by how s/he deals with those challenges.
· How does Sally win the man she loves?
· How will Adam find the treasure?
· How does Megan land her dream job?
· Will Richard find a kidney donor for his brother?
How your characters deal with their particular challenges says a lot about their character. It makes an impression on the reader, for better or worse. It may also give the reader a fresh perspective on how to handle her/his own challenges.
Building characters from the ground up requires diligence. In order to attract the reader’s attention you must pay attention to those details which will make your characters worth remembering.
Pen has self-published twenty titles, both in print and e-book format. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen.
Likewise, characters need solid foundations or their persona crumbles to the ground.
The Overall Picture
Characters should make a lasting impression in order to be memorable. It isn’t necessary to reveal everything about a character when s/he is first introduced. You want to describe your character in increments to keep the reader reading. Give your characters a sense of dimension, as though they are someone you actually know.
These are four basic elements to creating a solid foundation for your characters to stand upon.
Physical Description
Is physical description really necessary? As far as I’m concerned it is. I’ve read many a book lately where character description is trumped over as though it didn’t matter. Or no description at all was provided.
As an avid reader, this leaves my mind a blank. It isn’t that I lack imagination, but what type of person should I be visualizing? Tall, redhead, blue-eyed? Short, chubby, brunette?
It makes me wonder if the writer was simply too lazy to include description. If that isn’t the case, the writer certainly didn’t have the reader in mind when leaving out the description.
Even just the bare basics will do:
· Hair color
· Eye color
· Height
· Weight
· Ethnicity
It’s really quite off-putting to realize halfway through a book that I should have been visualizing George Clooney instead of Denzel Washington. Or vice-versa.
Describing a character’s physical description gives your reader the proper perspective.
Personality
Characters with personality will live vividly in the minds of your readers. Show the personality of characters through action and dialogue.
For example, in Dean Koontz’s The Face, Corky is a vivid and memorable character. An anarchist on a mission, he is introduced wearing a yellow rain slicker, putting racially-infested propaganda in mailboxes.
Consider these personality traits for your characters
· Good guy or bad guy?
· Greedy?
· Compassionate?
· Unusual name?
· Interesting habits?
· Shortcomings?
· Do they dress in a unique way?
In the Koontz’s description of Corky, we already know he has an unusual name, dresses uniquely and is obviously not a good guy. Throughout the book, we learn of some very interesting habits and just how deeply ingrained is his penchant for evil.
Which is another thing: when introducing characters for the first time, physical description comes first. This does not preclude introducing an odd habit or two but don’t show the reader everything at once. Pace the revelation of your character’s personality traits and idiosyncrasies so your reader’s interest is piqued and maintained.
Mannerisms and Blemishes
I’m sure everyone knows someone who is picture-perfect with blindingly white teeth, unblemished skin and the ideal body type.
In reality, most people have something about themselves they feel is not so attractive: slightly pudgy, blemished skin, stained teeth, unruly hair; the list goes on.
In order to make a character more realistic, you might want to give her/him unique mannerisms or blemishes. Not necessarily physical blemishes, but things that might set them a little apart.
· Stuttering problem
· A limp
· An eye tic
· Nail biting
· An ice chewer
· OCD
· Eats M&Ms or Skittles by color
These are just a few personality traits you can assign to your characters. It isn’t necessary to give all characters distinct personality traits. Giving one or two of them some oddball characteristics not only sets them apart it also makes them memorable.
For instance, in Nero’s Fiddle, Colt is a little on the gruff side. He rarely smiles and has a constant eye tic as a result of PTSD.
Mannerisms, or habits, help define characters even more.
· Flipping hair from the face
· Eye winking
· Foot or finger tapping
· Scratching behind the ear
· Dressing well
· Dressing flamboyantly
· Acting pompously
Mannerisms and blemishes can significantly enhance a character. Or they can elevate your main character above the level of hero. Equally, a blemish can heighten the vileness of an evil character.
Challenge your characters
Without challenges, your character is hardly nothing more than words on a page. It is through challenges the character of your characters is truly shown.
Your character or characters must be faced with odds which seem insurmountable. But you mustn’t leave your characters hanging. You must devise a way for your character to overcome each obstacle s/he faces.
This is how the reader will remember and relate to your characters, by how s/he deals with those challenges.
· How does Sally win the man she loves?
· How will Adam find the treasure?
· How does Megan land her dream job?
· Will Richard find a kidney donor for his brother?
How your characters deal with their particular challenges says a lot about their character. It makes an impression on the reader, for better or worse. It may also give the reader a fresh perspective on how to handle her/his own challenges.
Building characters from the ground up requires diligence. In order to attract the reader’s attention you must pay attention to those details which will make your characters worth remembering.
Pen has self-published twenty titles, both in print and e-book format. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen.