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:

  1. First of all you need to mention the character’s name and physical traits – hair and eye colour etc.
  2. What about their personality?  Laid back?  Quick to anger? Compassionate?
  3. What are their likes and dislikes?
  4. Favourite food?
  5. What are their hobbies?
  6. How does this person talk?  Do they have an accent?
  7. Are they educated?
  8. How do they earn a living?
  9. Are they married?  Do they have children?
  10. Is this person a loner or an extrovert?
  11. 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: