Don’t you just love great characters? When I read a story
with brilliantly written characters, it’s like I’m part of their world, swept
away for a few moments from my own. Their problems become fascinating, their
pain grips me, and their happiness lightens my heart. I remember them long
after I’ve finished reading. Long enough in fact, to buy the next book that
very same author writes.
As an author, wouldn’t you like to be able to write
characters that are able to capture readers with seemingly little or no effort?
Me too. So much so in fact, I find myself constantly reading books on the subject.
And here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.
1. Know Your Characters
This is number one because to me, it’s the most important. This
sounds simple doesn’t it? Everyone gets to know their characters in different
ways. Whether you use a character bio, astrological charts, or a check list,
you as the author, need to know your characters past. While this may not
transfer in so many words to the reader, it will show in the way your character
responds to other characters, events, stressful circumstances, and sexual
situations. If you think about the lives of real people, everyone has faced challenges that shape who they are, and who they become. It’s no different for your imaginary people.
2. Know Their Place in the Story
What I mean by this is that each character has a role to
play. Whether its hero, heroine, villain, secondary, or just a walk on, you
must understand how they will interact with other characters. This will serve
as a guide to how well you must know them, and enable you bring forth certain
aspects of their personality that will not only move the story forward, but
will also resonate with readers.
3. Understand Their Motivation
What do your characters want? Again, this is for you the
author. You must have a clear idea what your characters goal is, in order to
get it across to your reader in an entertaining manner. This is where you can
really get into the deep point-of-view of your character, and pull the reader
into the story. This is where reader empathy for characters begins. If the goal
is not clear, your character could end up wandering around lost in the desert,
and your reader will be lost. So lost in fact, that they try another author the
next time.
4. Conflict, Conflict, Conflict
If you know your characters personalities well enough, and
their motivation is clear enough, you’ll see immediately if your conflict is
believable. If it’s not, don’t try to fake it. Readers won’t buy it. And to
coin a phrase used a lot these days, let’s be clear: A Misunderstanding Is Not
Conflict. Can a misunderstanding add depth to an already established conflict?
Sure, if handled carefully. It can also add humor, and entertainment value. But
by itself, it is boring. Totally.
One of the biggest mistakes an author can make, IMO, is to
not know their characters. As your story progresses, if you find you are having
trouble with your story being slow to start, sagging in the middle, or perhaps
not having the emotional black moment that you’d hoped for, take a good long
look at your characters. Review who they are, their place in the story, their
goals, and the conflict. If you are willing to be honest with yourself, there’s
a good chance you’ll be able to pinpoint the issue.
Happy Writing! 