If a reader is engaged by a story, nothing will break the spell more quickly than a character acting in an unbelievable way.
Readers want to forget that they are reading a work of fiction. They want to enter a world which, even if it is a fantasy world, abides by its own rules of logic and truth: a world where characters face real struggles and dilemmas, have love affairs, get involved in adventures or solve mysteries. They want to laugh and cry with the characters. And in order for that to be possible, they have to believe in the characters and their lives.
What Makes a Character?
People make great characters. And real people provide great inspiration. Read a newspaper or magazine from cover to cover, and characters will jump out from almost every page. Profiles of celebrities, opinion columns; but characters are also lurking in less obvious places. Read the letters to the editor, and the character of each letter-writer soon reveals itself.
Newspaper or Magazine Cuttings
Cut out anything that is interesting, or strikes a chord with you and store it in a box. Tear articles out of magazines, even if you're in the dentist's waiting room, and put them in your “Ideas” box.
Even small clues...
- descriptions about the way a person looks or behaves
- an opinion someone expresses in a letter
- just one line, perhaps, a quote which defines that person
... can prompt you to fill out the rest of the person’s life and personality.
Characters from Your Past
Another great source of inspiration is to think back through your life. Write down the names of:
- old friends
- the school bully
- favourite teachers
- teachers you disliked
- your first love
- family members no longer around
- your heroes
- your first boss
- people you have worked with
- public figures you admire
- public figures you dislike
- anyone who made an impression on you
Each of these people has characteristics which you can use. Just thinking of a person's name sparks memories of different personality traits which can be drawn upon for inspiration.
Mix and Match
Stirring up the ingredients will help your characters to become individuals. Mix and match physical types with personalities and characteristics, e.g. take a woman who looks like Julia Roberts, but has the personality of your first school teacher.
This is a quick way to help you start to imagine your characters. The next step is to begin to develop them fully and watch them become unique.
Getting to Know Characters is Like Getting to Know People
On first meeting someone, people tend to think in terms of stereotypes, pigeonholing a person, making judgments and using shorthand terms of reference. Like artists, they use broad brush strokes to define the person at first.
As time goes on, when more information is gathered, more details are added, and the information becomes more subtle and ambiguous. It’s the same when a writer begins to develop a character.
It’s possible to begin with a list of characteristics which a character might have have, e.g. generous, mean, loving, naive. These characteristics are at the core of the character, but as the character grows, a writer should always be open to adding other, perhaps conflicting, characteristics.
People are complex. So characters should be complex, too. The key to characters which engage the reader is to ensure that “complex” doesn’t become “inconsistent”. Never make characters behave in unbelievable or illogical ways simply to suit the plot.
Your Characters Will Show their Appreciation
Soon you will find that your characters begin to take on a life of their own and help you to develop the story. A well-developed character will suggest twists and turns you would never have imagined without them!
Find out more about writing fiction.
Janice Hally - Janice Hally has written more than 300 broadcast hours of prime-time TV drama in the UK, as well as fiction and non-fiction books.
