The characters are essential to the story.Your characters can either be static and unchanging, or dynamic and changing, and can be major characters that dominate the narrative.There are no limits to the types of characters you can create in fiction, but you will need to focus on creating strong, interesting characters to ensure your story is worthwhile reading.
Step 1: Determine the look of your character.
One of the most direct ways to build up your characters is to develop physical markers, such as how they look.The reader can get a better sense of how your characters look by seeing specific and distinct images of them.In the Harry Potter book series, the character is described as having buck teeth and bushy hair.This indicates to the reader that she is not a well put together person or could be a nerd.Minerva McGonagall, a character in the series, is described as having square shaped glasses and always wears her hair in a tight bun.There is more put together and severe than Hermione.
Step 2: A distinguishing physical mark or trait is what your character should have.
One way to distinguish your characters is to give the main character a unique physical marker.This can help the reader remember the character better and also tell them more about the story.The more specific the physical mark is, the more memorable it will be to the reader.You can give your character a physical mark like a scar, tattoo, item of clothing that they never take off, or even uniquely colored eyes.You could give your character a physical trait like a limp, missing limb, a missing sense, or a positive physical attribute like beautiful hair or clear skin.In the Harry Potter book series, the main character is given a lightning shaped scar that later has significance in the plot of the story.The main character in the novel, Harry Potter, is unique to the reader as the boy with the lightning scar.
Step 3: Do you want your character to wear clothing or not?
Imagine your character opening their closet and going to school or work in the morning.They wear jeans or slacks.Is it sneakers or heels?Is there more feminine clothing or more masculine clothing?It's possible that your character has an item of clothing they wear everyday that they don't wear, such as a school uniform or a work uniform.To create an interesting character for readers, focus on concrete details of their clothing, from their pants to their bag.In the world of your story, clothing can signify certain qualities in a character.If your novel is set in the world of wizards, you can create a system where wizards of a higher stature wear a certain robe, hat, or carry a different colored wand.
Step 4: Pick out unique names for your characters.
Your characters' names are one of the most distinguishing characteristics.You can use name generators online to come up with an interesting name for your character.Pick names that fit your character's personality and background.Start with different letters and character names that are different from each other.If you want to name one character Robert and another character Rita, maybe you should name them together.It's good to avoid characters with similar names because readers tend to mix them up.You should try to match the ethnic background of the character.You can choose an Irish name if your character is Irish.For example, if your character is a second generation Mexican, you may choose an American name, as the character's parents may have chosen anAmerican name to integrate into American culture.
Step 5: Base the appearance of your characters on real people.
One way to build characters for your story is to think of people you know in real life and use their physical characteristics to help you create a character.If you are writing a story about a grandmother, you can use your real life grandmother or a friend's grandmother as the inspiration for the character.You can combine physical characteristics from people you know and people on the street to create a character.Think of a physical trait that you have always been interested in and try to explore it through your characters.
Step 6: Your character should be given an accent.
If you want to distinguish your characters, give them accents that indicate where they came from.A character who is from South Boston will speak in a different way than a character from Paris.Think about how you can represent your character's dialogue on the page.This may mean that your character pronounces certain words differently than others, for example, dawg instead of dog.Older characters may use different terms or phrases than younger characters.An older character may not be as aware of the internet as a younger character who is on her phone all the time.
Step 7: You can make a vocal tic for your character.
A vocal tic is different from an accent in that it is a quality of speaking that the character has created for herself or that has developed due to a physical or mental trauma.It is possible for your character to have an issue with certain terms or phrases due to a mental trauma.Your character may not be able to use certain words due to a speech impediment.Your character may be blind or have difficulty describing colors.She will use different terms for colors in her description or dialogue.Certain words or terms may be replaced by your character.Many teenage characters replace adult terms with their own.This is specific to the world of the story and the character.Humans are referred to as "muggles" by different characters in the Harry Potter books.
Step 8: If your character speaks differently in a setting or situation, note it.
It's a good idea to consider if your character might speak differently in certain situations.A person adopts different ways of speaking to best express themselves to their audience.You can use your character's code switch as a character trait.If your character is a young black man trying to get into Harvard, he may code switch and use formal English when he speaks to the Harvard application committee.When he is hanging out with friends at school or at home, he may speak in street language.
Step 9: Determine what motivates your character in a story.
Your readers will want to follow your character and get to know it.Strong character motivation can help you set high stakes for the story and allow you to get a better sense of your character.Your character will take a journey as she tries to achieve her motivation.As simple as passing a math test, your character's motivation could be as complex as saving the world from mass destruction.You can build the rest of the story if you identify your character's motivation.The main character's motivation may be challenged by other characters in the story, leading to drama and action.
Step 10: The character has an emotional Trigger.
An emotional Trigger is a life event that changes the character.Your character may have an emotional Trigger in the story.This can act as a motivator for your character or a major event that will change it.The moments of greatest fear, courage, sadness, joy, and deepest shame are some of the emotional Triggers for Characters.Placing your characters in situations where they must confront their emotional triggers will make your story feel dramatic.Readers connect to characters in a story if the characters have strong opinions and strong emotions.
Step 11: Write characters who challenge the reader.
Don't fall into cliche character development and surprise your reader completely.It's a good idea to play against type and give your characters surprising quirks that will throw the reader off balance.Maybe you are writing about a mob boss.He should be given a surprising trait, like a love for kittens.Maybe you're writing about a single mother who takes care of her children and is also a bare-knuckle boxer.If you work against stereotypes, your characters will feel more interesting and three-dimensional.
Step 12: Let your characters make bad decisions.
Characters who make poor decisions or take the wrong actions are more engaging than characters who always do the right thing.Don't be afraid to let your characters do what they please.Lowering your character's inhibitions can lead to conflict and tension in the story.One character who has always been faithful to her partner may have an affair or another character may speak without thinking in a meeting and offend her boss.When your characters make mistakes or act on a false assumption, lean into that to create stronger characters and a stronger story.
Step 13: Interview your friends.
You can check your knowledge of the characters in your story by doing pretend interviews with them.A set of basic questions, such as "What is your name?" and "Where are you from?" can be used to fill out your characters.The answers to the interview questions should reflect your hard work as a writer if you have created well rounded and engaging characters.