10 tips on How to write a story

3) Developing Characters

3) Developing Characters

In order to develop a living, breathing, multi-faceted character, it is important to know way more about the character than you will ever use in the story. Here is a partial list of character details to help you get started.

- Name

- Age

- Job

- Ethnicity

- Appearance

- Residence

- Favourite colour

- Friends

- Favourite foods

- Drinking patterns

- Phobias

- Faults

- Pets

- Religion

- Hobbies

- Single or Married?

- Children?

- Temperament

- Something Hated?

- Secrets?

- Strong memories?

- Any illnesses?

- Nervous Gestures?

- Sleep Patterns

Imagining all these details will help you get to know your character, but your reader probably won't need to know much. The most important four areas are:

- Appearance. Gives your reader a visual understanding of the character.

- Action. Shows the reader what kind of a person your character is, by describing adjectives rather than simply listing adjectives.

- Speech. develop the character as a person - Don't merely have your character announce important plot details.

- Thought. Bring your reader into your character's mind, to show them your character's unexpressed memories, fears and hopes.

Take some time to create your main characters...

Jam