The Ninth Step – Create the Characters


General

  • Plot and characters should be planned together

  • Write an outline of the main characters

  • Create a Character Profile for all the main characters

  • Note that much of the story could be describing situations that the characters are in – the fights, comedy, drama and chases - discussions between the characters during these situations could be snappy, create tension, crack jokes, be serious

  • Let your characters speak to you and each other before you start writing

  • You must see, feel, hear, smell the physical environment they are in

  • You must also share the character's feelings

  • Do not start with a biography of a character – drip feed that information into the story as it becomes necessary

 

Why do we need Characters?

  • The portraying of interesting characters in considerable depth is usually the most important aspect of any novel
  • We might be able to do without an exciting story, detailed descriptions of the age or of scenery, but we cannot do without characters - they must come alive for us and in whose action, reactions, emotions and ambitions we become deeply involved
  • It is characters that make the story evolve – they are usually the driving force that makes things happen
  • The reader has to be able to see them inside and out, either by their self-revelation (by their interior dialogue or self-awareness) or through the revelation of their speech and actions (how they reveal or betray themselves). They need all your creative power: you have to pour into them all your understanding of human nature, all your eye for detail - they must come alive, or your story is dead
  • The main character may have a secret that he (or she) does not want to divulge – his past catching up with him – but it does – and there is a revelation at the end
  • Do not have too many characters, they can confuse readers – but how many is too many? Many successful books and films have dozens of characters

 

What type of Characters do you want?

  • The main character may not be the driving force – he / she may only be reacting to events as they unfold
  • The driving force may be the villain
  • Characters are better if they are archetype (original) – not stereotype
  • Historical personages – a lot of the work has already been done – so research them
  • Only have as many major and minor characters as is required for the story
  • Some may be real, others imaginary
  • Have some good guys and gals, and some bad guys and gals – some heroes and a sidekick and some villains
  • Have one or more funny characters
  • Have someone who is almost a psychopath, or indeed a full-blown psychopath
  • Use strong female characters
  • Should the main character be a teenage girl?
  • Some characters will be settled, cautious, conservative, plain dull and have no plans
  • Other characters will be brave, daring even dangerous or rebellious, tenacious, full of life and have lots of plans
  • Some characters will be moaners, have no interests, everything is a pain
  • Other characters will be full of joy, have plenty of interests, everything new is challenging and exciting
  • Honest, full of integrity, or dishonest and scheming
  • Characters will be affected by the period in time and background setting
  • Some characters will be a mix of the above
  • Some characters may swear
  • Characters need to be made sufficiently different from each other so they stand out

 

How do we create them?

  • Writers create their characters in different ways, by telling or not telling us what they look like, by defining them by what they think or by what they do, or by defining a character through dialogue. But the writer may also have his characters change through time
  • Are you going to define your characters by narrator description, by their inner thoughts, by their actions, or through dialogue?
  • In choosing which characters to include in a novel, select characters that have sets of skills that help move the plot along and also permit information to be introduced. These characters should help decipher clues and teach the reader
  • Use the concept of a simple hero pulled out of his or her familiar world and thrown into a world that he or she does not understand
  • Imaginary Characters

They must be realistic
Where do they come from?
Partly from observation – people we know and others we observe from a distance – a little from various people to build up an amalgam
Most come from within the author – me as I am, me as I would like to be, me in my many facets – sometimes dredge up aspects that are normally hidden

  • Have a romance between a man and woman of complementary expertise
  • Are there any special relationships?
  • Have a strong bond between two men who help each other in adverse circumstances
  • Don’t forget thoughts - let the reader know what the characters are thinking
  • If you want to create characters that are dynamic and real, keep your distance from them. Be objective about your most loveable character, be cynical about the best person's motivation
  • Once you have accepted that they have flaws and failings, you can create living characters that will create a natural, satisfying plot for you. Such characters linger in the minds of readers
  • What do the characters think of each other?
  • Describe the characters believable characteristics:

Strong and plausible motivation
Appropriate psychological profile
Change and development

When and how do we introduce Characters?

  • Do not start with a biography of a character – drip feed that information into the story if it is necessary
  • Introduce the main characters at the beginning of the story and ensure that they are well established before others are introduced
  • Describe them physically as soon as they are introduced
  • If a character has just one line of speech then a physical description of the character is required
  • Introduce other characters gradually and establish each one properly before introducing others
  • Only provide a small amount of information for minor characters


Character Behaviour

  • Do not let them behave out of character – apply the test: would they really do or say that?
  • Give them unique mannerisms


Understanding Characters

  • Understand the characters and know how they would react


Creating the Main Character

  • The main character may have a secret that he does not want to divulge – his past catching up with him – but it does – and there is a revelation at the end
  • Make sure that the main character is likable
  • What is his / her motivation for achieving the goal?
  • Aim to get readers to identify with him / her
  • Ensure that their role is big enough
  • Should be courageous, amiable and have a sense of humour
  • Will face adversity with grit and determination
  • Do not let him / her become an impossible paragon
  • He / she will also have failings
  • They may have an “Achilles Heel”
  • Consider putting some nastiness in them
  • Give them tough decisions to make
  • May be under incredible stress
  • Could be the victim of an injustice – this will raise feelings with readers
  • A villain thwarts the main character – erects barriers in front of him/ her
  • How does he / she develop during the story? – Older, wiser, fulfilled, humbled etc. – It could be a gradual process
  • If the main character is also the Hero, then his / her character should NOT change in the story – e.g. Indiana Jones and Tara Croft


Creating the Villain Character

  • Make sure that the villain character is not likable, but may have some likeable characteristics
  • A story’s success can be judged by the strength of the villain
  • Villains should be very strong characters and have lots of dynamism, drive and even charisma – this counteracts the hero’s characteristics
  • What is his / her motivation for stopping the main character from achieving the goal?
  • How far does the villain go to achieve his / her objectives?


Creating the Female Central Character

  • If she is the main character make her a rebel – who wants a career rather than domesticity

  • Possibly an ambitious woman who aspires to power and wealth - temper this with the context in which she lives

  • It is probably wise not to let the heroine get married until the end of the story
  • Prior to the late twentieth century women were regarded as inferior, apart from a few notable exceptions

 

Creating Other Characters

  • For less important characters give their physical description at least, so that the reader can at least visualise them
  • Additional characteristics should be portrayed for “middle” importance characters

 

Character Names

  • Names are powerful tools. Use them correctly, and they'll invisibly support your story, enhancing and underlining your narrative
  • Use names that are common and famous for some characters – but NOT in a similar context – due to possible legal issues
  • Use names that suit the character – use soft names like Luke for soft people. Use hard names for hard people.
  • Names themselves have intrinsic meanings - they come with psychological baggage – choose them carefully
  • Use names that are correct for the context, culture and period
  • Do not use names that will confuse the reader by their similarity – do three lists – one for female first names, one for male first names and one for surnames – choose names with different initial letter and different syllables
  • It is not necessary to name ever minor character
  • Unfamiliar names should only be used when there's something different about the character and / or his / her background
  • Once you are alive to the rich complexity and subtlety of names, you can use them to add layers of meaning
  • Use names that are common and famous for some characters – but NOT in a similar context – due to possible legal issues