Creating Character

The creation of character is difficult at best. One of the hardest things a writer does. This is only my rendition of how I create character. A little insight into my mind. I have to give credit where credit is due. My mentor and friend has taught me how to do this. The hard way. You see it has only been until recently that her words have sunk in, absorbed into my brain. She is always right, you must slow down, become thoughtful and quiet to create character.

It is a bit like an actor or an actress when they prepare for a role. They study the character, what they know about them. However, to do this you must first get out of your own head, leave your own voice behind. Like I said it is not easy.

You must close your eyes and picture your setting, what is a normal day for this character like? What is their routine, what makes them tick? What are their issues? (We all have issues...Even people who are not neurotic writers) Everyone has hang ups that they have to overcome. It starts from when they were a child, where they were born, what kind of family life they had. All of this makes up a person and molds them into the person they are today. You cannot forget this.

When you write character you must know them inside and out. Most of the information you have will not go into your book. If it did you would have a work that no one would like to read. However, as a writer "I" must know this. I must know how they are going to react in situations of stress, happiness, sadness, and joy.

Only until you know this, can you plan how they grow.

The second most important thing about your hero or heroine character is that they must be honorable. Oh, they can be dark, tortured, but they can never do something that would make them irredeemable. Once they cross that line, you cannot bring them back. Your reader will not believe you, that this person can change so much. The audience must believe the lie you are telling them, they must believe that this character would truly act in this fashion. So that is the caution. Make them tortured, but still heroic.

That is the true key.
Hugs,
Michelle