What are some ways to develop characters/story plots?

Question

I already have some characters to work with, but I would like to develop them and create a story line. I'm not looking for story ideas, but for how to create them.

Answer 1

Okay, you say you've got characters.
How well do you know them?
Here's how I do it. Maybe it will work for you.

Write a 'character profile' for each one: Maybe four or five single-spaced pages for the main characters---the protagonist, the antagonist, the love interest, etc.
Maybe two pages for the secondary characters, and at least physical descriptions and ages for all others.

Once I've got the profiles written, I do a timeline on a long sheet of paper, like white shelf lining paper.
I put a line across the paper with tick marks labled for the passing years. Then, I mark the dates when things happened in each character's past: Birthdates, weddings, graduation from school, loved ones dying, significant experiences, turning points, etc..

Run the timeline from the distant past, right up to the end of your story. Keep adding to it as you develop the plot and write the story.
Refer to the timeline and profiles to keep your information consistant.

As you add characters, add information about their lives to your timeline. As you look at what each character is doing at different times, ideas for subplots will occur to you, and you will be able do add depth to the plot.

Don't forget the setting. Places change, too. When a house is torn down, or a new store opens in town, put that on the timeline, too.

Don't get locked in to an idea. If your story will be better by changing someone's history, then change it.
Just be sure to change the reference (profile & timeline), and then make everything else match the reference.

Persiphone mentioned cards. I've heard this advice from profissional writers before, but It hasn't worked for me. Maybe it will work for you, though.

Creativity is a very individual thing. My way may not work for you, but, if you're like most of us, you need some sort of organized system to help with the process.

Best wishes,
James

Answer 2

well theres no one way how to create a story line. What I usually do is pick a few interesting ideas, play around with them and find some that work well together. Just remember when you're creating the plot, try and make it fit well with the characters and it should come together with a great ending, with a real wow! Im not sure what genre you're doing but im doing fantasy. Use your imagination and write something you'll be interested in yourself, once you start with a great plot, you become part of yourself, good luck and I wish u the best

Answer 3

I'm writing a book, and the storyline just came to me. I randomly wrote a short story, and extended the plot line. Though inspiration or life experiences help - i wrote a poem about a hard time i went through, and devloped a story line from there. Your personal wants can help too, like in Michelle Paver's case, she apperently wanted to run with the wolves ever since she was a kid. So, she ended up designing an amazing series (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness).

For the characters i designed, well, because most of them are immortal, i base them on something, like, a wolf, or angel, or whatever.
Just to have fun for the story, while i was thinking up characters,I talked to each one of my friends and asked them what kind of immortal - or even mortal - they would want to be. I then designed a character around their personality, and it's going great so far.

I really truly HATE brainstorming on paper, but i do so a lot in my head, and that's where a lot of my characters come from. Or you can start with some random scene from the story that you have in mind, and just write. I did that, starting with just one character. But then i decided she needed some friends, and after an hour or so I had an entire clique created.

Inspiration is key though, just keep your eyes-and your mind- open, and wait for it to hit.

;]

Answer 4

The best way to create stories is to read a lot. Pay attention to how other writers develop characters and plots, and you will be in a good position to do the same to yours.

Answer 5

Develop your characters on separate file cards. Then spread them out on a table and start playing with mixing them up. Everyone's life touches other people's. Who likes who? Who hates who? Who is hiding what from who? Who just met? Who has known someone for a long time? Etc. That is how you develop backstories and subplots. I highly recommend a book called The Novelist. It is a wonderful novel about an author teaching a college class. During the semester, she actually writes a book for the class. The story takes you through all her writing steps. Very good story and great tutorial.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 6

you can develop a longer plot by keeping an open mind and thinking about different things that could happen to add a twist in your story but wont completely change or go against your main plot. then you can pick from the list you created after thinking and choose the ideas you can best fit into your writing and will be relevent to your main plot. after choosing the ideas you find best fit, you blend them in to make it longer and more interesting. keep in mind that if you make your plot too long and have too many changes and twists then it will be harder for the audiance to follow along with your story and you will loose their interest.

Answer 7

create some thinking maps that describe each character and connect them together

Answer 8

Easiest way to start is with y ourself, I think. Your own life and experiences, people you know and have observed. What is happening in the world and what you would like to happen.