Creating a Character

How do you create a good character with excellent quality? A lot of times we have the perfect form of the character in our mind, but don't know how to put that creation into words, proper description and a good shell without holes. Even though we know what we want, it can sometimes be hard to keep in mind when you're actually doing the writing. Forming a analyzed character chart is a good was to help, but even without that there are some things that can help you keep focus with that particular character.

 

1. Get The Basic Traits Down.As beginners and even as long-term writers we often find ourselves trapped in the idea of what our character will look like. While yes, this will play a role in the tale you weave, do not get caught up on the particulars before creating an entire picture. In the end, hair color, eye color, features and clothing can all be added to the mixture you create. For now you have to focus on the actual personality of your character. This can actually be quite easy.

 

Think on the character you want to put together. Are they funny, rough, kind, enthusiastic, sarcastic, bitter or cynical? All these words will be your first step to keep a good hold on exactly who your character is and it will give you the ability to shape and change your character as you delve deeper into your story. How? Well first get down those words and then we'll put them to good use.

 

2. Who They Are.

 

 

Now that you have the basic words of description for your character, you can move on to form who they are and how the act or react to the people around them. Sounds a bit tough, but it's actually quite simple. A lot of authors actually tell us to use this way to make good characters easily, so just hold on and don't get overwhelmed. This is easy.

Right, so you've got the basic words down for your character, now you need to take one and describe you character using that one word. As example: bitter. I'm going to show you how to make a bitter personality without straining for every single detail. Instead, I'm just going to get down the basics for that character.

This character...

• Does not smile often.
• Is difficult for other characters to be around.
• Hold grudges.
• Focuses mostly on his/her own interests.
• Only relaxes about those he knows.
• Is determined.

All these things are parts of your character's mindset and you can base it around any past experiences or trauma you want.  No, it doesn't look like much does it? But you'll be surprised how helpful this can be on hand. Remember, your characters will all have different mindsets, thoughts, opinions and behaviors and you don't want to accidently pull them out of their own qualities.

You can do this list with as many points as needed and it's your choice if you want to do every word you listed and break them apart to make your character's personality even more complex for the reader, but easy for you to understand.

How They Interact.

Now that you've got the basic personality down, you need to remember that your characters will best have a good effect on the reader if they are each unique in their own ways. So, without complex descriptions or worried scenarios, I'm going to show you the modeling shell that has helped many authors who have trouble completely forming their characters. This will be how your other characters see them and how they will be known to your readers as.

 

So this bitter character....

• Only speaks to a few characters and only says what he believes is necessary.
• For those few friends he has, he can give the deepest advice with the blunt of approaches.
• Can enhance annoyance, irritation, uneasiness, fear and insecurity in others.
• Is dutiful to those he respects. (King, Lord, Master, ect)
• Shows tolerance to the common folk and other acquaintances.
• Enhances self-confidence and self satisfaction.

So basically you build off of what you already have. Remember, a person is built off of more then one trait though, so the way they act will depend on the situation and the people involved. Like this bitter character may not like those he does not know and it completely cold to them, but will open up with the more steady relationships. If a character had only one quality, then it would be difficult bending them into the story. No person created it *completely* happy or sad, each one of us is a mixture of emotions based off of our life. However, each person does have dominant qualities that will mold all others in their personality and therefore make them unique.

 

Be Your Character For A Day!

 

Now this step is mostly for fun if you ask me and isn't 100% needed. Although a writer does have to get into their character's heads, actually trying to become that character is what brings acting and writing together. Tactile learners will probably best profit from 'being' their character, since hands on work is the best way to get their mind rolling. Still, anyone can do it, but it can be challenging.

 

All you have to do is take the basic personality you've formed for that character and insert it into your own head, hereby making you your own creation. While you'll probably gets some confused stares from your family and friends when you reply to them the way your character would, try to actually see through your characters eyes. How does the world look? What opinions would they form on this or that? Just remember that you are not your character.

 

And that's the basics to creating a good (or bad) character! Mind you, not everyone needs this when they're writing and not everyone uses this method, but it's good to keep in mind.

 

Happy Writing!

 

 



Fanfiction Writing

Has anyone ever told you that writing Fanfiction was a waste of time because there's no profit? Well, I'm going to tell you that they're wrong and they will always be wrong. While writing fanfiction does not get you money, it does help you develop your writing skills a lot. Thanks to the vast audience who read fanfictions and the many authors who write it, you are given a wide variety of views for your work as well as constructive criticism. These are the things that every author needs to become good. Why? Well, did you ever want to have some one read your story and tell you honestly how to fix it or make it better? Dad and Mom don't always pose a great seat in this category since they don't want to hurt your feelings. But say that there's a vast amount of people who don't know you and share your interests and you'll never be forced to meet face to face? Well, while they may say some things that can be hurtful, that's the best kind of audience for honest reviews.

Advice that's raw and critical will help you develop an understanding to what different people write and how to develop your characters in so many ways you never thought of. You'll soon discover the vast tunnels of excitement that comes with being an author. Much like actors, authors have to get inside their characters to be able to project them in the perfect way. Sounds hard, but with plenty of reading you'll find yourself becoming surprisingly good. In my own advice, I say that reading fanfictions is the best way to help you understand what's good and bad writing and the differences to watch for in your own works. In a published and edited book you don't get to see the ways the author brushed up because you never saw the rough draft. But in reading fanfictions, you'll come across badly developed stories as well as ones that should hit the shelf with their greatness.

The main point of an author is to get their own works published, read and to get some sort of income for the work, right? Right! But always remember that practice makes perfect and when you're writing in an already formed universe, but creating a cool story, you're already getting closer to that ultimate goal. You see, a fanfiction takes place in a world already read to be exploited and you can use that to your advantage. Like I said, you'll be making an awesome story for that fandom, but you'll also be practicing your skills! Isn't that great?!? YES!

But remember, while reading fanfictions can be fun, people sill post obscene tales and work that is simply offensive. Use the filters provided and always make sure that your own fanfiction works are correctly put under the right categories. You don't want to have to excuse yourself from the computer to regurgitate because of what some one posted.

Be careful and have fun.

Read My Fanfictions Here!

Chracter Development and Finishing School

The idea for the Soul Blade Trilogy has been attacking my mind like nothing I've ever had before. It just hopped into my mind one sunny day two years ago, completely developed and just begging to be put onto paper. However, despite my biggest wishes, I could never start the story because of constant interruptions and the like. School stood as a bid roadblock, never letting me have time to just sit down and type my dreams away. But as of January 22nd 2014, no longer shall I be pinned down and forced to do anything else but writing. School won't be there to tell me that assignments need to be gotten done or that this test needs to be studied for. I'll be free from the system to create my own world and give it to others.

But during the period I've been waiting for the end, I haven't been wasting time. Nope, instead I've been studying the character development of some of our well known and loved (or hated) characters. You'll be surprised at some of the examples I'll give.

 

Loki has provided an amazing mind to study from both the movies and the mythology. I loved studying the feel and emotions that may lie under his harsh and cruel mask, the complex maze of love and hate all twisted and confused within his brain. The desire to just want compassion and yet the pride of not wanting to receive it. I am left amazed by his character and for the movies, I have to praise Tom Hiddleston for making the character even more hard to pick apart.

Halt, who not everyone may be familiar with, stands as a perfect example of a character to be proud of creating. He is gruff, a little scary and has legend behind him, yet he loves and cares for those around him in a grunting and annoyed kind of way. He is the perfect mentor, with little tolerance for idiotic nonsense and a wonderful sense of when to give a push. Halt provides great example and his own little ways of being amusing while maintaining a serious façade. I'll even say he contains a bit of harsh-charm about him that every author wants to create.

Next up, yes I admit it's kind of funny, but Jack Frost provides his own little bit of unique character traits. Really, when dissecting a character like this you can have an emotional angst fest with your imagination. I mean if you think about him deeper then the movie takes you, you can find a whirlwind of complex emotions to sort through with glee. Creating the misery he must have felt at being alone, the fun he must have to have as an eternal boy and the ultimate wish to please out of the boy who dances across the screen, you can be left amazed. Even Pitch Black makes a great image for an exciting mind to pick apart with the eagerness that only a writer can understand.

Aliens anyone? Yes. Despite being a little freaked out at times while watching the X-Files, I have to admit that Fox Mulder stands as an awesome candidate for great character development. He's funny and serious, open and closed and just makes the audience want to get up and join him on his adventures. He's a truth-seeker, a man not content with what he sees before him and he believes that there is something more out in the world for him to find. He is dedicated to what he believes and hell and high water can't stop him. Who wouldn't want to create such an exciting character? ME!

So all in all, character development is one of my favorite things to do when writing. But this is only a few examples, I might even make an entire page for this topic! Especially since school won't be holding me back much longer!