Character Development Part Two: Which Attributes Matter?

In Character Development Part One, (click here), we explored different techniques some authors use when creating their characters and which attributes on a character sketch don’t necessarily matter and which ones do.  In Part Two, we’ll be exploring these attributes and why they matter.

WHY DO NAMES MATTER?

What’s in a name?  True, when it comes to Romeo & Juliet, Romeo's last name was unimportant to Juliet in her quest for true love; however, when it comes to creating your characters, names play a very important role.  Why?  Because long before a reader has a mental image of a character or even has a chance to make a judgment about their personality they have already formed an impression of them based on their name. Let’s explore: 

Let’s imagine you’re reading a suspense novel and a character named Hacksaw is introduced.  Right away, without getting to know the character I bet you’ve envisioned a dark shady figure out to do evil and perhaps even has a hacksaw for a hand.  You are certain Hacksaw is the villain.  Another character named Violet is introduced and right away you have a mental image of a beautiful soft spoken woman with perhaps lavender eyes and without a doubt in your mind, Violet is the protagonist.  Then much to your surprise, Violet ends up being the villain and Hacksaw the hero!

In reality, the names an author chooses for their characters may not be as definitive such as these.  I chose them to point out how important it is for a name to fit the character, otherwise, you stand a very good chance of disappointing your readers.  However, I do feel it important to point out there are exceptions to everything and perhaps a writer would have a good reason to choose a name that didn’t fit a character.  How about you, do you carefully choose names to fit the character?

WHY DOES CHARACTER FLAW MATTER?

Character flaw is the single most important attribute when it comes to defining your main characters.  After all, isn’t it your main character’s struggle that drives the story?  How about your antagonist’s flaw, doesn’t it drive them to do what they do?  Let’s explore:

Often times without having a complete understanding of a character’s inner struggle many writers spend too much time moving characters around like marionettes on a stage.  But, by taking time to grasp what drives your characters their flaw will move them in the direction demanded by the story you need to tell. 

One technique I use in helping me show my protagonist’s profound change after their epiphany is in their character sketch I define what they were like when they didn’t understand their flaw and then what they are like after recognizing and overcoming their flaw.  Having this understanding allows me to freely write as if they themselves were pounding away on the keyboard!  How about you, do have a technique you use to help connect with your character’s inner struggle?

WHY DO GOALS MATTER?

Your main characters should have a goal; otherwise, their actions have no motivation.  The goal can be a direct result of their flaw or it could be driven by the plot.  Let’s explore:

If your protagonist lacks self-confidence they most likely will spend most of their time struggling to avoid doing what they really should be doing.  Your readers will see this and thus when your protagonist finally sees the light and wins in the end they will thank you!

By putting your protagonist, who’s afraid of commitment, into situations where they will be motivated to overcome their flaw makes for a great love story!

So then, by knowing and understanding your character’s flaw you’re better able to shape their motivation letting these two attributes work together to energize your story.

WHY HISTORY MATTERS?

Real people’s personality is shaped by events that happened to them in the past, thus, by you creating events in your character’s past which explain their flaw you too can make them become “real” to your readers.  How about you, do you establish a history for your characters?

Keep in mind, I’m not saying that every event you create for your characters should be written about in the story, but when you as the author has the inside knowledge of why they behave the way they do you’re better able to write convincing characters that act and react to situations according to their personality.  So go ahead, be creative and daring, it’s only fiction after all!

Until next time,

Keep on thriving, keep on striving and keep on writing!

T.K. Millin

The Unknown Author        

Character Development Part One: To Sketch or Not To Sketch?

If you were to ask any author where they get their ideas for characters from they’ll most likely tell you, “they just come to them when they write.”  However, if you were to ask them how they make their characters seem so real; they’ll most likely say, “because I write who I know.” 

 There are many techniques authors use to get to know their characters.  Some authors I know talk about how their characters have been “floating” around inside their head for some time (even years!) so they feel like old friends, some create characters by meshing together appearance and personality traits from actual people they know while others build their characters using character sketches.  I’ve even met an author (who has over 90 published books!) who told me they actually “interview” their main characters to “get inside their head.”  Is any one of these techniques the right way when it comes to developing characters?  In my opinion, I’d have to say no.  I believe whatever format an author uses to bring a character to life is the right way for that author.

 

Which technique does The Unknown Author use?  Actually, I have used a little of each of the techniques mentioned above, with the exception of an interview; however, I am open minded to the possibility!  In my writing experiences, I’ve found certain stories dictate how my characters are born.  Most the short stories I’ve written the characters have been inside my head knocking to come out and come alive, while the two novels I’ve written (both between 50K and 120K words) I used character sketches to develop my characters.  Why the difference?  For me, it’s because generally I write my short stories off the cuff and my novels I follow an outline (one reason being is editing and re-writing a 100,000 word manuscript can be a nightmare without one, but, we’ll discuss this in a future posting for this is a topic within itself!).  How about you, do you have a special technique when it comes to creating characters?

First, I think it’s important to point out that character development should be proportionate to the importance of each character.  In other words, you don’t want to write page after page of character description for an extra that shows up in Act Three and is never seen again and only have one paragraph for the Protagonist.  The same applies to your supporting cast versus characters that only have a bit part.  Otherwise, you run the risk of your main characters not acting consistently or realistically.   

What kind of attributes should you put in a main character’s character sketch?  A physical discription, their sex or perhaps educational and financial background?  Sure these types of attributes help to establish the character, but when it comes to bringing them to life they’re unimportant.  Let’s explore: 

Why is the color of eyes or hair unimportant?  Basically, when it comes to your protagonist it helps to eliminate physical appearance altogether, unless it is vitally important to establishing why they are the way they are.  Why?  Because did you know most readers like to actively put themselves in your protagonist’s shoes and picture them as the hero/heroine?  Think about the last book you read in which you had a vivid description of the protagonist?  Go back and reread the book and I bet you will find only a brief, if any, description of their physical appearance.  However, when it comes to secondary characters giving physical descriptions can help the reader keep track of who is who. 

How about sex?  (Okay all you Austin Power fans out there that’s not what I meant!) Unless you are using a name that could be cross gendered your reader will most likely get the picture.

 

What about their educational and financial background?  Again, unless it is important in establishing their backstory it’s probably not that important to your reader. 

So then, what kinds of attributes are important to add to a main character’s character sketch?  In my experience, the most important attributes I’ve found which help me as an author “write who I know” is their name, their flaw, the goal that motivates their actions and their history.  How about you, what attributes help you to get to know your main characters?

Next week, we’ll explore each of these attributes and why I have found them to be important in bringing my main characters to life!

Until then,

Keep on thriving, keep on striving and keep on writing!

T.K. Millin

The Unknown Author