While discussing their manuscript, a client* recently confessed, “But, I’m not really sure what she would do in this situation. How do I know?” (*You know who you are, thanks for letting me share this story!) This led us to a deep discussion on crafting character.
Scroll to the bottom for the Free Writing Exercise
Some writers will tell you that they don’t spend time developing a character—that their characters’ personalities just come out on the page as they write. Maybe so. Every writer is different and has a different process. (But also, Reallllly? Are you telling me you didn’t spend time thinking about your characters as you went about the business of your day? Realllly? But, that’s a battle for another time.) The important bit is this: especially if you’re a new writer, switching genres, or you simply need to reignite a spark,
Spending time getting to know your characters helps you craft a better story.
Now, when I say “getting to know your characters,” I mean really digging in. When you spend time crafting a character, get to know everything about them.
“But, I’m writing a picture book!” you protest. “There isn’t room to include any of that information!”
And you are correct.
However, if you really know your characters, even if your story doesn’t include specific text detailing the juicy details of their past, your characters will do what you expect them to do when confronted with the various challenges and obstacles you throw at them (making your writing job a little easier). They will feel alive and approachable, and your reader will be invested in the story and what happens to the character (which is how you get your reader to keep reading, #Goals).
So, how do you get to know somebody who is a figment of your imagination? You start by answering a slew of questions about them. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time. You can always come back to your list and revise it as your character grows and has more experiences.
So go! Get to know your characters. And remember, this isn’t set in stone. It’s easy to revise.
Who Are You, Character?
What is your character’s name?
What does your character look like? Think about:
stature
hair color and texture
eye color
number of arms/legs/hands/feet/fingers/toes/eyes/heads
ethnicity
gender
Is your character human?
Is your character something other than human?
animal? What kind? Big? Small? Feathered? Scaled?
alien?
robot?
dinosaur?
imaginary?
inanimate?—Be careful here, it’s been done, but it’s hard to do well!
How old is your character?—If you’re writing for children, keep in mind that your reader’s age will likely be similar to your main character’s age.
Where does your character live?
Does your character have family?
Are they close to their family members?
Do they have particular conflicts with their family members?
If they have siblings, what is their position in the family (eldest, middle, youngest, etc.)?
Does your character have a pet or pets? Maybe this goes under the family listing!
Does your character have any friends? If so,
How much time do they spend with friends?
Do they have a favorite friend?
Does your character have an enemy or nemesis?
What is your character’s greatest fear?
What is your character’s greatest joy?
Is your character smart?
Is your character sassy?
Is your character a rule-follower? Or a rule-breaker?
What is your character’s favorite color?
Does your character have a favorite song? Book? Movie? Toy? TV show?
Does your character have any hobbies?
What kind of clothes does your character wear?
What is your character’s favorite thing to do?
What is your character’s least favorite thing to do?
Who or what does your character love?
What does your character dream about?
What is your character’s personality like?
Is your character an extrovert? An introvert?
What is one thing that nobody else knows about your character?
What kind of secrets does your character keep?
Does your character have any pet peeves?
What flaws does your character have?
What’s the quirkiest thing your character does?
Does your character have a catch phrase?
What is your character’s most endearing trait?
What is your character’s most annoying trait?
Does your character have a job?
If they are a child, what is their dream job?
What do they like about their job?
What do they hate about their job?
What is your character’s favorite thing to do with others?
What is your character’s favorite thing to do when alone?
What does your character want more than anything else in the world?
And what’s stopping them from getting it?—Hint! This will get your story rolling!