I would like to welcome guest writer, DW Harvey. Enjoy!
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Characters are a book’s lifeblood. To capture a reader’s interest, a protagonist or antagonist should feel real, genuine, and authentic, like they could step out from between the pages and come to life. A great character is someone a reader wants to get to know better and maybe take out for a cup of coffee.
A flat, one-note character can make a reader lose interest. Have you ever put down a book because you just couldn’t identify with the heroine? Did the villain seem one-dimensional?
On the other hand, a vibrant and well-rounded character, with a solid backstory and clear motivations, can help drive your narrative forward and completely hook the reader. Whether they fall in love (or hate) with them, a reader will want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.
So, where do you start? The physical aspects are probably the easiest.
· Is your character tall or short?
· Are they lanky or barrel-chested?
· Are they athletic or clumsy?
· Do they have blonde hair or red?
· Do they have blue eyes or hazel?
· Do they have any tattoos, scars, birthmarks?
Additionally, characters need to be relatable and believable, like someone you could pass by in the grocery store or the dog park. To create a rich and full-of-life character, you need to go deeper and add layers to their persona. A great way to really get to know your character is to interview them. Find out what makes them tick, what drives them.
Although a lot of this information will not end up in the pages of your book, it will help you understand your characters better and enrich your writing. There are a multitude of questions for your to ask your characters. Below are a few categories and sample questions to get you started on developing an in-depth character.
Quirks & Mannerisms
· Does your character talk fast? Do they have an accent?
· Do they play with their hair or bite their fingernails?
· Do they always (or never) say ‘thank you’ and ‘please’?
· Are they a wallflower or a social butterfly?
Family & Friends
· Does your character have a big or small family?
· Are they close to their family?
· Do they have a significant other?
· Do they have lots of friends?
· How do their family and friends shape their lives?
· Do they have a pet?
Fears
· Does your character have a specific fear like heights, spiders, or public speaking?
· What keeps them up at night?
· Are they running toward their fears or away from them?
· Are they a daredevil?
· What is something they’d never do?
Spirituality
· Is your character religious/spiritual?
· Do they believe in a higher power?
· Are they superstitious?
· Do they believe in an afterlife or reincarnation?
Emotions
· What is your character passionate about?
· Do they face their emotions or compartmentalize them?
· Do they wear their heart on their sleeve, or are they more reserved?
· Do they use jokes to deflect their feelings?
· Do they have a temper?
Education
· Is your character book smart or street smart?
· Did they finish high school or go to college?
· Were they in the military?
· Do they have a vocation?
· Are they doing what they love to do?
Likes & Dislikes
· What is their favorite music?
· Favorite book?
· Favorite sports team?
· Favorite food?
· What are their least favorite of the above?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DW Harvey writes tales of Urban Fantasy inspired by the myth, legend, and folklore of the hidden world beneath the veil of what's visible.
Website: http://dwharvey.com/