***** Introduction *****
Creating a character is one of the most fun parts of writing a novel. You get to design what they look like, their gender, their personality and much more. Creating the protagonist, or the main character, can be quite challenging as you want the audience or reader to love them and feel as if they are real. On the other hand, making background characters that are not so important to the plot is much easier.
These techniques below will help you to understand the importance of making a character and most of all, to enjoy it!
~Gingerbread Men (or women)~
<You will need: A Pencil or Pen, a piece of paper, and imagination!>
Use if you are alone.
1. On a blank piece of paper, sketch the outlines of a gingerbread man. It doesn't have to be perfect, and don't draw any extras like eyes, mouths, bowties, e.t.c. You can draw it as big or small as you want.
2. Be imaginative. You will need to fill in the Gingerbread person with words, as many as you can. Don't choose a name yet, that comes last. Write about their personality, their hobbies, favourite things (e.g. Colours, animals).
Consider these things:
•Their age and height. Are they strong, muscular or skinny?
•Their complextion. Are they tanned or pale? Do they have freckles, birthmarks?
•Their features. What colour hair do they have, how about their eyes? Are they attractive?
•Their specialties. Do they have special powers? What makes them different then everyone else?
•Friends and family. How are they related? What type of friends do they have, why? Do they have any enemies?
•Habits and hobbies.
Do they bite their nails, or eat their hair? Do they play a sport?
•History. Every person has a history, and that means characters do as well. Was this person raped or hurt, were they rich but are now poor?
•Last of all, name the character. First name, middle name, last name and/or nickname?
All names have meanings, so maybe you could chose a name that has a meaning to do with their personality. Or you can just choose a name that you like, if you prefer.
~The Group~
<You will need: 1 of 2 friends, a piece of paper, a Pencil or Pen and imagination.>
Use if you are with friends.
1. Have your Paper and Pen/Pencil at the ready on a hard surface. Grab 1 or 2 friends and sit down with them.
2. Go around in a circle. Each person is allowed to say 1 thing about the character. For example:
Friend 1: They are a girl.
Me: Green with gold flecks for their eyes.
Friend 2: They have long blonde hair.
3. Continue this until your character is complete. Don't forget to write it all down before you forget! Consider the things in "Gingerbread Men" above. Don't forget a name for the person!
~~~~~And those are some ideas of how to create a character!~~~~~
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