crafting-unforgettable-characters

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described as “personal magnetism.” But wealso want characters that smack of realism.We want to read about people who are real,people who make us understand somethingabout life that we may have missed and affirmthings we already appreciate.So how do we go about creating thesememorable personalities? In the followingpages, you’ll discover the basics of characterbuilding, as well as some tips fortroubleshooting. You’ll also discover writingprompts, creativity exercises, and inspiringquotes from successful authors.The discussion of character is far too vast asubject to be covered in a 50-page e-book, butusing the information herein, you’ll have thetools you need to start making your latestbatch of characters unforgettable.4
Interviewing YourCharactersHow well do you know your characters? Likethe back of my hand, you say? Do you knowthe color of your hero’s eyes? Do you knowwhere the bad guy went to college? Do youknow your heroine’s most embarrassingmoment? Can you rattle off a list of yourmain character’s idiosyncrasies? Typicalexpressions? Romantic history?If any one of these questions has youfumbling for an answer, you’re missing aprime opportunity to deepen your charactersand expand your story. Over the years, one ofthe most useful tools I’ve run across is the“character interview.” My own list started outas twenty or so basic questions regardingphysical appearance and personality issues.Now it contains over 100 precise andpenetrating questions, designed to get mybrain juices flowing and my characters talking.The character interview has become a vitalpart of my outlining process. I’ll often fill uphalf a notebook with narrative answers to themost probing questions about my characters’relationships, beliefs, and secrets. I refer tothese lists constantly throughout the actualwriting process, not only for on-the-spotinspiration, but for fact checking (How oldwas he when his mother died? Did he breakhis left or his right leg in that car accident?)Write a log line for each of yourcharacters. A log line is the onesentencesummary used todescribe a plot and hook anagent or editor into readingmore. Describe your characterin a similar fashion: In onesentence, tell yourself who thischaracter is and why readersare going to be interestedin him.Writing Prompt5
Page 2 and 3: Table of ContentsIntroduction: Char
Page 6 and 7: “You can never knowenough about y
Page 8 and 9: Enemies:Dating, marriage:Children:R
Page 10 and 11: Vehicles:What large possessions doe
Page 12 and 13: “First, place aninstance of selft
Page 14 and 15: Writing PromptIntroduce your charac
Page 16 and 17: the opening scene to exemplify a pa
Page 18 and 19: what your characters are planning t
Page 20 and 21: Naming CharactersCreativity Exercis
Page 22 and 23: size and shape—readers can easily
Page 24 and 25: But it’s always worth the headach
Page 26 and 27: DescribingCharactersFiction once be
Page 28 and 29: character’s hair color, eye color
Page 30 and 31: “Your goal isn’tfor the readert
Page 32 and 33: Writing PromptForce your character
Page 34 and 35: high society; the mismatched and co
Page 36 and 37: over the reader’s affections than
Page 38 and 39: The All-ImportantLink Between Theme
Page 40 and 41: theme? It’s been my observation t
Page 42 and 43: Story without theme is like ice cre
Page 44 and 45: dime a dozen. In fact, characters w
Page 46 and 47: “I have alwaysbeen moreinterested
Page 48 and 49: 5. Alan Breck Stewart in Kidnapped
Page 50 and 51: About the AuthorK.M. Weiland, autho
Page 52: The sins of a bishop.The vengeance

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