|
|
 The characters make or break the novel. Strong character development will keep readers engaged even if the plot has holes or the writing has mistakes. On the other hand, lousy character development is a big part of why someone might put down a book. Many books are a massive part of today’s culture because the characters are so popular. For a few years, all anyone wanted to be for Halloween was Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games series. Katniss’s journey from a quiet girl from District 12 to a contestant in the Hunger Games is an example of excellent character development and a big reason why those books and movies are so successful. Point #1: Good Characters Have Interesting Quirks Characters with quirks or interesting personalities help differentiate them from other people in books. But there’s another reason this is such a helpful character-building technique. Everyone is different. We all have unique personalities, looks, interests, habits, and experiences. Creating a character with a flaw or a compelling quirk reminds readers that characters in books can be similar to people in real life. For example, let’s think of Yoda. The biggest thing about this little green alien is how he talks. He's become so popular today that it’s not only normal to see Yoda costumes everywhere, but the way he talks is constantly referenced in movies and TV. Kimi is an example of a character with a distinct personality in The Jewels of Fate. It’s obvious she’s angry at the world and ready to fight whoever looks at her wrong. But what makes her unique is how her aggression becomes part of her personality. She’s always saying something hotheaded, to the point where the other characters reference it, and I even use it as part of the book’s promotion. Whenever I talk about Kimi, that is what I reference because that is what readers can expect from her when reading the book. Point #2: The Characters Have Interesting Backstory Another important aspect of character development is the character’s backstory. Where did the characters come from? Who were their parents? What was their childhood like? We all make choices based on our past - whether to replicate or change it. It’s important to not introduce a character by bringing up their whole backstory. Teaching their history piece by piece is recommended to not overwhelm the reader. Sometimes, their past has something to do with the present plot. Sometimes, you leave almost all of it out because not knowing their history becomes a part of the plot. With my characters, they all come from different backgrounds. Chuck and Ryan were raised in the same neighborhood, but one is an only child with two parents, and the other has divorced parents and a sibling. That dramatically affects how they act and how they see themselves. Caylene and Daqua live with their mom, but one is heir to the throne of Acanesia, and the other is the oldest of four siblings. Another example of characters from different backgrounds is Ron and Harry from the Harry Potter series. Harry is an orphan, whereas Ron is one of seven siblings. A lot of the decisions these characters make are influenced by their upbringing. Point #3: The Characters Do Something Against Their Personality Readers relate to characters because of their personalities or exciting facts and because they make mistakes like us. If every book character we read about was perfect, it would be boring. We love it when the heroic character does something cowardly or the cowardly character does something heroic. We enjoy reading about quiet characters who learn to find their voice or when the shy character does something brave. This is an underdog story - a character misunderstood or undervalued by society who achieves something initially thought impossible. Recently, I read a book that was an excellent example of an underdog story. In The Rose Code, a character named Beth starts out as essentially a servant in her family’s home. She has no relationships, no friends, and is constantly belittled by her family. As the book progresses, she gets a job working for a secret branch of the government. She discovers that her purpose in life is to crack codes for the military. She gains confidence, builds a career, and eventually leaves her toxic family home. This is a powerful, enunciated character arc where the character starts in one place but ends in a completely different place. Memorable characters are a huge part of a good book. They stay in your mind long after the last page. It’s hard to remember every plot detail, but forgetting a good, well-rounded character is tricky. Regardless of whether it’s an 800-page fantasy epic or a 50-page short story, well-rounded characters are interesting to read and vital in a good story. Liked this blog post?? You might also enjoy... |
Tyler Snure
Archives
October 2024
|
RSS Feed