I am trying to write a book and need some help...?

Question

particularly with character development. I have a plot and plan on how and when to introduce and execute things, but creating sound, interesting and "deep" charaters are very difficult to me. Can someone please assist? Any responses are appreciated.

I also want to point out that this book falls into the suspense/thriller category so the charaters are key..

Answer 1

The answers you've gotten are great. Knowing your characters, their backgrounds, how they're different and how they're the same is key. What ties them together? What pulls them apart? What are their strengths? Their weaknesses? Their achille's heels? What makes them lovable? What could cause us to hate them? In a mystery/suspense, it would also be critical to know all their secrets.

I'd create character cards on each. You can create these on actual cards, or on the computer. List basics: age, gender, hair color, eye color, height, date of birth, hometown, where they went to school, where they went to college. Brothers, sisters, parents? Then flesh them out a bit. Are they married? Is he nursing a life-long crush on his sister's best friend? Did she take ballet classes?

And as you write, add to these cards. Did you just call his sister Cissy? Write it down. Did you just give him a twitch? Jot that down too.

The more you know about your character, the better you can tell us about that person. So get to know them. Find out what makes them tick. Then tell us.

Answer 2

First things first, practice with some free writing. Just think of a setting and then think of who might live there, or work there, or what have you.

Practice this a few times, it should start to become more natural, then, take one of those characters and really think about them. Do they have living parents yet? What about siblings? Where were they born? What are their goals?

Your characters should feel like real people, so when a situation comes to pass in a story, your character reacts accordingly, even if it goes against your outline.

Never force a character into a situation you know they would not do, they will do what they want to do as you write. It sounds strange, but other writers will know what I speak of.

Answer 3

I believe that when you are creating a character you should start from the basics... where was this person born, raised, what kind of parents did the character have? Any scars from childhood accidents? I know that it may sound a bit dumb, but if you think about what makes us who we are, its our lives up to this very minute. In essence we have to look at creating fictional characters in the same way.

Answer 4

Morgan, how attractive which you have that wisdom to have the skill to jot down a e book! right for you, I prefer you the desirable on your undertaking. the closest i've got come to writing a e book is amassing each and all of the recipes from distinctive generations of my kinfolk into one recipe e book and passing them directly to the youngsters and grandkids. it is mind-blowing how cooking terminology ameliorations over the years. besides the fact that, now that i think of roughly it, my hubby is often saying something like, "whilst it includes stepping into hassle, Gladys wrote the e book on it." So, according to danger I did write yet another e book!

Answer 5

I haven't planned on writing a novel yet, but I write short stories a lot. The best thing to do is to know your characters, and do a bit of reasearch as well (the logic of things). If you know your characters a lot, it will be easier to write them.

Answer 6

In light of any response being appreciated, I will offer one little tidbit. Research. Character development comes from an intimate knowledge of the environs that character comes from. Whether it's from the deep south or an orphanage in St. Paul, Minnesota, characters develop depth if you can plumb into their past.

Answer 7

know your characters. one way to create them is to know them completely. ask them what they would do in certain situations and how they would react/ respond to certain things like movies or music. i hope this helps some. good luck w/ your book.

Answer 8

Just keep in mind that how a book starts says alot about the book.

Answer 9

Pull from your real life ,pick people ypu know then add to them . And its fun too.
Play on there ways and your feeling about them.

Answer 10

try putting yourself in the characters' skin and see the events from their perspective...