Characters create connections between readers and the story. If your reader can empathise with your characters, if they can get behind them and cheer them on, they will want to read your story until the very last word, so that they can find out if the character saves the prince or princess and lives happily ever after, or whether the character will triumphant over adversity.
Know your audience. Who do they want to see in your book? Who do you want to see in it?
Exercise: Who is in your story? Who is the main character? Are there any minor characters, or is your MC on his/her/their own? Who is the villain? IS there a villain? Who will be there at the start of the story? Who will still be there at the end?
Now you've got the beginning of a list of characters, start to fill in their backgrounds by answering some or all of the following questions:
> How old are they and what do they look like?
> What personality qualities do they have?
> Is there anything about them that is unique, strange, makes them stand out?
> What do you know of their history?
> What is their role in your story? Can you outline a basic character arc for them (if the character warrants one)?
YOU ARE READING
Preparing to Write
Non-Fiction...A Workbook of Prompts and Exercises to help you prepare for writing your story... So you are about to embark on writing your book. Perhaps it's your first book. Perhaps it's your twentieth. Whichever it is, it's always a good idea to create for y...
