Character Development?

Question

What would be a good exercise to help with developing charaters?

Answer 1

What would your character wear to church and why, answering that should spur intersting character development

Answer 2

Development a set of standard questions that could be asked of any character. Design the questions to reveal the physical attributes of the characters (age, hair, eyes, distinguishing marks), the character's personality (how they react in a given situation, how they feel about some issue), and the character's current situation, his goals, and the obstacles in his way. Even ask about his favorite movies, books, music, memories. Treat it like an interview. Type out the questions, leaving plenty of room for rambling answers, and then go back through, answering the questions as though you are the character, stay focused on the character's answers and not your own.

Answer 3

I have probably 10 pages written for each character in a story.. I see their lives in my head and write it down.. I then build my outline for the story based on how these characters could have met.. etc.. and then go on with the plot..

It was even a bonus when I played my first D&D campaign.. I had so much history of the character the DM changed his entire world around her..

Just take a character a night.. and write.. ANY little detail.. what's locked in a box in her closet, where'd she get the scar on her knee.. What was her opinion of animal disection in high school.. it all builds the character.. and even if it never shows up in the work itself, it can be hinted to, it can be developed later on.. Just know them like you'd know your own children..

I havent' actually tried writing a story in over a year, but I have TONS of characters.. and I know them by heart.. I think I enjoy character sketches more than storytelling sometimes.. although, I have been pulled to write lately..

Everyone so far has good ideas..

Answer 4

Be nosy. Go to a restaurant and listen to people. How do they talk? Do they have certain words they use, certain ways of organizing their sentences? Do some of them answer in one-word grumbles, while others rattle on? How do they dress? What does it say about them-- or what do they want it to say about them? If you have the plot in mind and you know how the character acts or have a sketchy idea of who they will be or what they will look like, pay attention to people who remind you of your character. Do you see any quirks you could add? If you add it (like snapping gum, smiling a certain way, walking a certain way), what does it say about your character? What do you want it to say?
I always create a file for each character. I start with some physical traits, and then get into their heads: what are their motives? Do they get angry easily? What happened in their past?
But like a lot of people said here, some of the information will never be used in the story. I always try to choose details that work for character and plot if I can (for instance, if I take the time to show what happened in the character's past, it has to be important to the plot as well).
When I edit for character, I go through each scene and ask myself what each character is thinking in that scene, how they feel, where they've just come from. And I edit the dialogue-- add in different speech patterns for each character, some phrases they like to use, or (in the case of a story I just wrote) I edit out excess dialogue if I want the illusion that the character is quiet.

I hope these ramblings help. Good luck.

Answer 5

Go off someplace by yourself, so other people won't think you're weird, and have conversations with them! Talk about all sorts of things, and try to imagine what they would say and do. When you go places, imagine that the character is there, and how s/he would react to the events you're experiencing.

Answer 6

I would make an outline for your characters. Know them. Be them. Breath them.
Honestly, though, I would put yourself in their shoes completely. You may not agree with some of their actions, but if they are vital to the story, go for it!
Do you see what I mean?

Answer 7

You should write down there names and everything about them, including their favorite things to do and things. When you right your book you'll probably know more than the reader ever gets to see but oh well.