Character Development: Overview
Have you ever noticed it is easier to write about people you know then the ones you have made up? If not, try to answer these questions about the latest fictional character in your writing as well as a friend you know very well.
1. What would the person do if someone wanted to pick a fight with him/her
2. What would the person do if someone was flirting with him/her
3. What would the person do if offered money to rob a bank
A writer needs to know his characters as well as he knows his closest friends to write compelling, realistic, and strong characters. Many authors write pages and pages of character background information for each and every character, no matter how insignificant they may be. Most of this information will never appear in their final work, but with it the author doesn’t have to think twice about what choice her characters will make when they face decisions. The choices a character make are a product of the life they have lived and the beliefs they have, without knowing this you can’t know what choices they will make.
Ask yourself the following questions about your current main character.
1. What drives your character to be good/bad/apathetic? What is their driving force?
2. What was your character’s favorite childhood memory? What was the worst?
3. Who was your character’s favorite childhood friend?
If you don’t know the answer to these simple questions, you don’t yet know your character. Once you know your characters your story will practically write itself with you standing on the side watching your characters react how you knew they would.
Steve
Stumble it!
Tags: Character development