How To: Wattpad Writing

Characters

Characters— creating and portraying.

Creating characters can be one of the most difficult parts of the process; the perfect name, hair and eye color, relationships, age, clique in high school, everything.

The biggest struggle while making a realistic and animated character is to create depth with them. Give them a background that you've thought through, don't just make up details that seem to work in the moment you're writing. Thoroughly think this character through: what do you imagine them to look like? What would their voice sound like? Are their eyes soft, like fresh snow in February, or are they hard, like stained glass set in a concrete wall?

A great way to start your character is to start writing all of their qualities down on a page separate from your story itself (I usually create a new part that I never publish in the story, but continually update as I create my characters). It's very helpful as you will always have it to refer back to if you forget anything from the color of their eyes to if it was this character's parents who were murdered a decade ago. Trust me, it's a miracle in disguise.

>>To start your character and her/his depth, give them a few common (or not so common) characteristics. Examples of these include:

•irritable/short tempered
•happy
•melancholy/sad
•narcissistic/vain/arrogant/egotistical
•loyal
•unfaithful
•can keep a secret
•mischievous
•secretive
•open book
•blabber-mouth (spills secrets)
•talks too much
•quiet
•pacifist/anti-violence
•feminist
•racist (good one to add for a reaction from the readers)
•sneaky/stealthy
•cunning
•unsettling/creepy
•indecisive
•selfish
•selfless
•optimistic
•pessimistic
•manipulative
•opinionated/has strong opinions
•animal lover
•baby lover
•hates children
•hates animals
•collector of xxx
•alcoholic
•aggressive demeanor/likes to pick fights
•gets along well with everyone
•antisocial
•social
there are so many adjectives, i could go on forever! but to save you the sore eye, i'll (temporarily) end the list here and continue on to other matters of creating a character with the depth of the seas.

Give your character flaws!!
This one is so often overlooked, and because of the lack of imperfections in our very human characters, they feel artificial, disconnected from our reader. Every single person has at least one flaw, and while it seems feeble to incorporate, it is crucial to the connection your readers share to your character that (s)he possesses at least one fatal flaw. Examples of these include:

•Impatient/short fused
•Irritable/easily irritated
•Terrified of storms
•Very serious fear of death/the dead
•Likes to argue/fight (could be physical)
•Always has to have the last word
•Slob/very messy
•Doesn't shower often/reeks of B.O.
•Lazy/(serious) lack of motivation
•Has no willpower/weak
•Physically weak (this would relate more to specific stories where strength is needed, perhaps superhero stories)
•Strict/doesn't know how to loosen up/"stick in the mud"
•Has an addiction (drugs, alcohol, pills, etc.)
•Is TOO nice (don't be a pushover, guys; you deserve better)
•Is very rude/harsh to others for no apparent reason
•Antisocial/hates people
As I think of more, I'll be sure to add them!
Comment here if you want me to add flaws specially suited for fantasy, supernatural/paranormal, superhero, or any other fiction stories not listed above.

When binding relationships to this character, think about how long they've held this relationship; has MC1 been best friends with MC2 for one year, or five years? Did MC1 meet MC2 at their first soccer practice in fourth grade, or did they meet at the grand opening of a local coffee shop when they were twenty-three? Make sure that your relationships to your character are solidified and have relatively low to no flaws. Ensure that CJ is not mixed up with being Anna's ex-boyfriend when he's actually Michael's. Examples of relationships include:

•Step parent
•Step sibling
•Best friend
•Significant other (S.O.)/boyfriend/girlfriend
•Shop cashier/occasional conversationalist
•Acquaintance
•Biological parent
•Aunt/uncle
•Grandparent
•Ex-S.O.
•Elementary school best friend who've since grown apart from
•Teacher
•Parent's friend
•Coach
etc.

As the story progresses, continue to add depth to their personality and background by revealing new traits of theirs, or reveal new information about their background or present affairs that were not released earlier in the story. Not only will this aid in your character's development, but it will add intrigue to your story, captivating even further the minds of your readers.

When creating a strong character, it's all about how much effort you put into them and the story itself: a good starting template is to base your character loosely around yourself. Good luck, and comment if you need any help with a character, including my personal review and constructive criticism on one you've created!

Description words for:

EYES:
soft/warm
hard/cold
saddened
vast
oceanic/ocean like
entrancing
entrapping
ethereal
sparkling emerald
(dark/milk) chocolate
inviting
open windows to xxx's soul
shattered remnants of xxx's soul
daggers
hateful
loving
grateful
endearing
wide
slitted
dark/light
unsettling orbs of darkness
warm(est) orbs of sunlight

VOICE:
velvet
soft
soothing
rough/hoarse
high/high pitched
low/deep
rumbling
grumbled
a blanket of snow (describing an endeared one's voice)
warm
inviting
symphonic
instrumental
bass/deep
headache inducing
nasally/sick sounding
annoying
teeth gritting/very annoying
squeaky
roar
feeble/small

BODY LANGUAGE/MOVEMENTS:
fluid
graceful
well practiced
coordinated/balanced
clumsy
ditzy/spacey/doesn't pay attention
uncoordinated
imbalanced
has trouble walking without tripping over own feet/"two left feet"
disgraceful
quick
"a body with its own agenda"
nervous/fretful
fidgety

As I think up new ideas to place here, I'll be sure to add them! I hope this chapter helped, and as always, please contact me either through PM, comments, or my message board if you have any questions or concerns of anything regarded in this chapter!