How to write a great character
Whether small or big, every character must have a purpose in your story. Characters in a book who are just “there” do not add anything to the heart of the story. So, keep it simple: “Give them a purpose or let them go.” There is always a truth behind the story that is more important than the events in the novel itself- and sometimes you don’t even realize it. Ex. Friendship, courage, right vs wrong, humility, etc. The things in your story are just doing the job of getting the reader to see the real purpose behind the plot. So, if your character is just taking up room on the page and is no genuine contribution to the end goal, then let them go.
Ways to define your character
As Ariana Grande says, “Love your flaws, own your quirks.” Your job, as the writer, is to help distinguish your characters in the reader’s mind. Painting a picture. One way to do that is to establish all the little things about your character. Know who they are. This helps you create memorable characters. Whether it’s what their job is or a physical characteristic. I mean nobody mistakes the ginger-haired Weasley!
What creates the core of the story is your character’s goal. Determine what they need or want. How they are willing to get there. Once you have to goal, the rest of the story plot will follow.
There is nothing more powerful than love. It’s the writer’s job to give the character that thing that means everything to them. Maybe it connects to their goal. Revealing what they love will help define your character even more.
Failure is okay. Nobody’s perfect and when you allow them to encounter troubles and make mistakes, your character will only grow more. As they say, pain only makes you stronger. Great character development often comes from learning from their wrongs and pushing forward.
If your story has a steady flow your readers are circling in, then something unexpected will throw them off. Don’t follow your reader’s expectations, as the best characters will often surprise you and leave you wanting more.
Creating a relatable character will allow your readers to connect with the story. So, what is your character’s world? The world you live in often helps shape a person and define their true identity. Whatever you choose, it’s important for you to know their world intimately. How does it affect the character?
Does your character have a Ghost? A Ghost- something in your character’s past, an event, person, or object that keeps coming back to them. Does it haunt them? Revealing their past helps you truly feel your character and know them.
Bye, for now!