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Characters!
Wow, what can I say. This is one of the biggies I see in contests. Underdeveloped characters. So, let's get started chatting about characters. The character is what shapes your story. But how do you go about setting up the character and following through with it? You can do characterization sheets (ugh--shudder) but are you organized enough to find them again when a question comes up? I'm not! You need to first read my page on conflict before you start your characters. Always have an idea of what your heroine and hero's goal is, internal and external. What are their conflicts (internal) and what are their motivations. You MUST KNOW what is motivating them and if it is sound. If it is, then you can go on to the next step. You know their goal, motivation and their secret fear that keeps them from loving so you can decide what type of character would act with such motivations. Then to you fine tune your character and this is where this lesson comes in. A character has certain traits that you aren't going to forget. I always use two words. Comically lazy, nervously informative, quietly sure....Just two words. That describes your character perfectly. Then, when you are writing, you always remember those words: Stubbornly resolute. In everything. This is her entire character. Now that you have an idea about her character, you add in outward signs. Does the hero or heroine wear glasses? What tiny habits do they have? Nail biting would be good for a nervous person. What about someone who is lazy? Maybe slipping hands into their pockets all the time. Find little things that match that character. FINALLY, lastly, describe what that person looks like. Nervous...might push at their hair, so is it short or long--this could be used in some stories for a plotting point. Eyes. What type of clothes do they wear? Look at their job, if they're nervous, lazy, punctual etc and think how a person like that would dress. Rich or poor? What does that mean to their clothes? What is their attitude toward the opposite. All of these little things added to your Goals, Motivations, Conflicts and your Two Words will round out your character.
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