Character Deep Dive
When you craft your characters, consider everything with intention. Everything!
For a quick review of the blog post Crafting Character, the five main components of a character include:
- Appearance
- Dialogue
- Actions
- Inner thoughts
- Response of other characters.
As authors, we need to create our characters with these in mind and do so to enhance our story and our character. In other words, craft with intention.
Example: Consider Harry Potter’s appearance.
The 3 main physical traits each had specific meaning and importance:
His mother’s green eyes, his father’s messy hair and his lightning bolt scar.
These physical traits were not accidental, instead they served to connect him to his past–not just for himself, but as a trigger for other characters to respond to him.
The example of Harry Potter’s physical appearances demonstrates not only is JK Rowlings the boss, but that creating a character’s physical appearance should have multiple purposes ~ nothing “willy nilly”. Think it through.
I suggest creating your characters from the inside out.
Writing Tips:
Think about your character “from the inside out.”
Consider the character’s role in the story. Villain? Hero? Cheater? Heartthrob? The shy girl? The mean girl? The jealous boyfriend? The cranky teacher? The hot professor?
–all of these character types will have common traits for their character “type”, but you want to flush them out by making them original and vulnerable.
They can’t have courage if they are not afraid. They can’t know the passion of love without knowing what a shattered heart feels like.
If your character is horribly mean, hint to a reason why. Your readers want to connect to all your characters–it will make the story that much richer for them.
Consider
The journey the character will (or will not take) Does your character need to undergo a change?
What are the character’s hopes and fears? Dreams and baggage? Habits and quirks?
What foods/smells/hobbies does your character like? Dislike? Do they like what they see when they look in a mirror? What would they change? Do people laugh with them? or at them? Are they smart? Why?
What would they change about their world–if they could.
Have your character write a letter to you. Let them tell you all about who they are (I know that sounds a little crazy, but you’ll be amazed at how deep your character will take you).
Using that sketch pad, make sketches, clusters, lists, charts about your character’s personality first! I usually start off with a cluster, and then I make lists and charts as I refine who my character is going to be.
After you get a feel for who the character is, then you begin to create him or her.
DYNAMIC “Changing” CHARACTERS
Not all stories have characters who change. Many specific Genre stories (slap-stick/silly “Space Ball” comedy, slasher horror, mystery) often do not.
If, in your story, your character will change (all “hero’s journey”; most romances, many satirical comedies, “Bad Santa”) you’ll want to consider that in your character creation as well.
Again, using Stand By Me and as example, there are two Dynamic Characters: Chris and Gordie.
Quick Plot synopsis: The 4 boys, Chris, Gordie, Vern and Teddy set out on an adventure to find “a dead body” to be “famous.” This adventure takes them away from the adult world of their small town of Castlerock.
Through this adventure, they overcome external conflicts (nature, a train, a junk yard dog) and Chris and Gordie also face internal conflicts. Through dialogue and some flash backs, Chris and Gordie give each other courage to face and overcome their fears. Again, it’s just a great movie.
So, at the end of the movie, the 4 boys have found the body of Ray Brower. And so have the older boys. This is the climax–something has to ‘give.’ Either Gordie’s group takes the body or they let ACE and the bigger boys steal instead.
It’s worth noting, that at the beginning of the movie, Gordie had the gun and ACE took his hat. It was a special hat because Gordie’s brother had given it to him and his brother died soon after in a car accident. However, at the beginning of the movie, Gordie did not have the courage to use it.
Warning: This clip contains graphic language
Wow! Now that is a change!!
Gordie’s hat meant the world to him and yet he didn’t use the gun he had to get it back. Here, he is using the same gun to protect the body of a dead kid he barely knew.
This action showing Gordie’s courage came after the journey he took to find the body.
Your challenge as a writer is to “book end” your character’s journey.
One more example to get your wheels turning!
A Romantic Story Ending that shows BOTH characters have faced and overcame their demons. This scene comes from fabulous Silver Linings Playbook.
In this scene, they not only show they have changed, but risk being so hurt in order to find true love. Usually, the end of Romance is only possible because characters have changed
Be intentional! Be creative! And make your characters memorable!
If you thought there were a lot of books on how to write a plot, there’s that many and more about how to write a character! I’ve linke a few of my favorites below for you.
First, let me highlight my very favorites
Former private investigator and New York Times notable author David Corbett offers a unique and indispensable toolkit for creating characters that come vividly to life on the page and linger in memory.
Corbett provides an inventive, inspiring, and vastly entertaining blueprint to all the elements of characterization-from initial inspiration to realization-with special insights into the power of secrets and contradictions, the embodiment of roles, managing the “tyranny of motive,” and mastering crucial techniques required for memorable dialogue and unforgettable scenes.
This is a how-to guide for both aspiring and accomplished writers that renders all other books of its kind obsolete
Have you written a story with an exciting concept and interesting characters—but it just isn’t grabbing the attention of readers or agents?
It’s time to look deeper into the story beats that create realistic and compelling character arcs. Internationally published, award-winning novelist K.M. Weiland shares her acclaimed method for achieving memorable and moving character arcs in every book you write.
By applying the foundation of the Three-Act Story Structure and then delving even deeper into the psychology of realistic and dynamic human change, Weiland offers a beat-by-beat checklist of character arc guidelines that flexes to fit any type of story.
This comprehensive book will teach you:
- How to determine which arc—positive, negative, or flat—is right for your character.
- Why you should NEVER pit plot against character. Instead, learn how to blend story structure and character development.
- How to recognize and avoid the worst pitfalls of writing novels without character arcs.
- How to hack the secret to using overarching character arcs to create amazing trilogies and series.
- And much more!
Gaining an understanding of how to write character arcs is a game-changing moment in any author’s pursuit of the craft.
Bring your characters to unforgettable and realistic life—and take your stories from good to great!
Recommended Reading
