This week we have to write about how we achieve quality character development.
Being a ‘pantster’ I’ve never really thought about this. I don’t sit down with a notebook and flesh out each character before I write about them. However, I’ve now come up with a little list for the blog hop regarding how I would develop a new character if I was a ‘plotter’, and have added it below:
- First of all you need to mention the character’s name and physical traits – hair and eye colour etc.
- What about their personality? Laid back? Quick to anger? Compassionate?
- What are their likes and dislikes?
- Favourite food?
- What are their hobbies?
- How does this person talk? Do they have an accent?
- Are they educated?
- How do they earn a living?
- Are they married? Do they have children?
- Is this person a loner or an extrovert?
- How do they treat their friends and family?
The trick is to filter in a little personality trait every now and then throughout the first half of the book, rather than dump all the information on the first page. In this way the reader can slowly get an idea of what the character is like, as too much information all at once does not stick. I also base some of my characters on people I know or have known, and they always end up speaking just like the person does in real life!
How do other blog-hoppers develop a character? Please click on the link below to find out, or add your own list:
Pingback: Getting to Know Your Characters « Frank Parker's author site
Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for linking up!
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dgkaye said:
Great list Stevie. I’m much of a pantser myself, but still have to flesh out some sort of outline for my chapters and pointers I want to include in my chapters. 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
I’d never heard of the word ‘pantster’ until I started blogging!
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dgkaye said:
Lol, well I usually refer to myself as a Plotser! A combo of both. 🙂
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P.J. MacLayne said:
I usually start with only s shred of an idea of my characters’ personalities, then I just go along with what they want to tell me about themselves!
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Stevie Turner said:
We make it up as we go along!
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aurorawatcherak said:
I have no idea how to build a main character from scratch. I can sometimes do it for short stories, but if the character doesn’t speak to me, then writing about them is just hard work and that’s not why I write.
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aurorawatcherak said:
Reblogged this on aurorawatcherak.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the re-blog!
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OIKOS™-Redaktion said:
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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franklparker said:
My characters don’t arrive fully formed but I learn more about them as I confront them with difficult situations. I have been known to explore their nature by putting them in a situation that has nothing to do with the plot I’m working on – but may one day end up as a short story!
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Stevie Turner said:
Sounds a good idea!
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Priscilla Bettis said:
I try to include different senses. “She always smelled like lemons,” or, “Every time I kissed him I tasted salt and the sweet allure of cloves.”
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Stevie Turner said:
Good idea.
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jenanita01 said:
This list is going to come in very handy, so thanks, Stevie!
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Stevie Turner said:
You’re welcome.
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jenanita01 said:
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for re-blogging.
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robbiesinspiration said:
Good advice, Stevie. Thank you for sharing.
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