As promised, here's a full chapter on the biggest winner of a story --the characters.
Woohoo! Time for the real fun! This is a whole chapter on how to use your imagination to create something so amazing everyone else will bow down to your incredible mind and worship the pure original genius of your amazing story.
There's many ways to go about this special part, so I'm going to give you every way I know!Since no two writers are the same --just as no two wands are quite the same-- it is important you cater to what you are comfortable with.
Option One:
Use a template to understand your character deeply. There are many of these online, and depending on what genre you write, certain questions will be more relevant to answer than others.
At the bottom of this chapter, I will include a long list of questions to help you with character development. Most answers should come easily. If you find yourself spending too much time thinking, resort to option two.
Option Two:
My personal favorite. Pretend your character(s) is/are sitting across the floor (table/room/etc) from you. Imagine them as vividly as you can. Once you can see them clearly, you can either ask them questions as option one suggests, or keep them around while you write your story, so they can provide input. To go further, imagine the setting of your story or current chapter, and use that as the background of your interview, or as the setting to watch your character(s) interact. This option requires a vivid imagination.
Sometimes, practicing this skill might be better right before sleeping, when the mind is about to escape to dreaming, and it is already prepared to unlatch from reality for a while.
Option Three:
Spend a LOT of time getting into your character's mindset, just like actors do to prepare for their roles on the silver screen! Adopt their persona, and even their habits, until you know them.
Your emotional state, mood, and the choices you make while you prepare all affect that first moment when the director yells, "Action." ~Denise Simon
Of course, writers aren't usually actors, so this may be an entirely new concept to you. Nonetheless, 'getting into character' can absolutely help writers achieve believable stories! If this befuddles you, consider role playing games, or live action role playing, in which fans of a certain comic, anime, tv series, movie, book series, game, or time period will dress up and act as their favorite characters.
Curious? Willing to dig deep into your character? Let me know!
Here's a few links for L.A.R.P. (Live Action Role Play) videos to humor you 😂
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17914502
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t3G_5sZv38o
List of Questions to Ask Your Character:
1. How old are they? (And how old mentally? Are they a 40-year-old in the body of a sixteen year-old, or vice versa?)
2. Did they have a happy childhood? Why/why not?
3. Past/ present relationships? How did their partners affect them?
4. What do they care about?
5. What are they obsessed with?
6. Biggest fear?
7. What is the best thing that ever happened to them? The worst?
8. Most embarrassing thing that ever happened to them?
9. Biggest secret?
10. Which words or phrases do they most overuse?
11. What or who is the greatest love of their life?
12. When and where were they happiest?
13. Which talent would they most like to have?
14. If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?
15. What do they consider their greatest achievement?
16. If they were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
17. Where would they most like to live?
18. What is their most treasured possession?
19. What do they regard as the lowest depth of misery?
20. What is their favorite occupation? Favorite hobby? Favorite sport? Food?
21. What is their greatest regret?
22. What's their motto?
23. How would they like to die?
24. Which historical figure do they most
identify with?
25. What is their idea of perfect happiness?
These are incredibly fun, so comment your answers and tell me which of your characters is answering!
What questions do you ask to get to know your characters better? Have I missed any?
Don't forget to vote!
YOU ARE READING
Critic and Editor for Hire | OPEN FOR A LIMITED TIME
RastgeleThe grandiose collection of tips and tricks to make your book come to life in the very first sentence. A must-read for all aspiring authors, screenwriters and poets to make your work stand out amongst the rest. With published works, experience in fi...
