This week: Oh, What a Character! Edited by: Lilith of House Martell  
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| While you may not be actively working on a NaNo project, we are all writers here, so I thought e could talk a bit about character development. This is something I have been working on for my project. Regardless if you are writing a short story or a novel, characters are just as important as plot. So let's get started! |
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Here's a little brain-storming exercise!
1. Think about your genre. This will give you a general idea of your story ending and the kinds of characters work best for the type of story you’re writing.
2. Allow 30-60 minutes to do this exercise for each of your main characters. So that you don't get hung up, set a time and allow 15 minutes for each of the following topics:
 Goal, motivation and conflict, for both the inner life and outer life
 What motivates your character and what are their overall goals?
Are there relationship, social, political, religious, philosophical, fears or job circumstances that would make it hard or impossible for your character to obtain what they really want?
Important relationships
Who is important to this character?
If some of those important people are not in the story, what impressions did they leave that molded this character?
Who does this character form a close bond with in the story? Is there someone that 'rubs them the wrong way'?
Appearance
Create an image of this person in your readers mind. How tall is the character, hair and eye color, build, prominent features, etc?
How does this character dress?
What do others notice about their appearance?
Education
How much education has this character had?
Are they 'street savvy'?
Their education and upbringing will influence how they speak and relate to others.
Home, living circumstances
Where does your character live? In a posh apartment, in their vehicle, maybe a hotel room?
Does this character have a roommate?
Preferred travel method
Do they have a car? What make and model? Is it an old clunker or fairly new?
Maybe they prefer to ride the bus, a bicycle, or scooter?
Is the story set in a city where they might take the subway, bus, or taxi?
Backstory as it relates to story problem
No one gets to where they are now without things having happened to them in the past.
Think about the problems they will face in this story and then base a backstory on how and why they react the way they do.
The things in his/her pockets, or backpack, or car, or purse, etc.
Is this character a gum chewer and always has a pack of gum handy?
Does the character carry around a keepsake of some sort?
Think about the things you carry and why - this will help you do the same for your character.
Habits, mannerisms, ticks
Is this character a hummer, whistler?
Does she mindlessly twirl her hair around her finger?
Does this character have a habit of tapping the foot or fingers?
Are they friendly, personable, polite, or the opposite?
Other elements and factors that occur to you as interesting or important — jot them down!! |
| |  | Night Owl (E)
Sept Journey through Genres Sometimes the friend you need the most is the most unexpected
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Drama: November 03, 2021 Issue [#11019]
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