Creating characters for your novels isn’t necessarily an easy task, but it’s important and it can be fun.
We talked a lot about characters this month. There’s a whole lot more to explore when it comes to characters, but I think we covered a decent amount. I’m sure there will be another month when I discuss characters again. (That means, yes. Yes, there will be another character-orientated month.)
So, I’m asking a simple question today. What’s your favorite part about creating characters?
A lot goes into bringing character to life and making them unique from other characters in your novel and other characters from other novels written by other people.
First, there’s the physical description. How long do you spend trying to decide whether or not your protagonist has brown, blonde, or purple hair? Did they get their green eyes from their mother or father? Or maybe from her great-great-aunt?
What kind of clothes do they wear? Do they always try to look presentable or do they just not care? Make-up? Jewelry?
How tall or short are they? Are they a twig or husky? Do they have a huge nose or teeny-tiny ears?
Then, there’s the personality. Are they self-conscious about that huge nose? Or do they not care what others think about them?
Are they nice to everyone or just their close friends? Are they pleasant to be around? Do they have any normal/weird habits or hobbies? What’s their favorite anything? Food, clothes, color, etc.
Third, you have their background story. What’s their family and home life like? Do they have any friends? A large group or just one best friend?
How did they get to where they are today? What kinds of decisions do they make?
Now here’s the important question: do you like to plan your characters out, like I just did above, or do you like free writing and see where they take you?
I think writing characters is so much fun because you can place them in certain worlds and situations that you can’t normally be part of. Your characters are a little piece of you and you live vicariously through them.
So, what’s your favorite part about creating your characters? Let me know in the comments below!
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