- Write a full page about your character. Don't stop until you've reached the bottom of the page. It doesn't matter if the reader will never know any of it. You need to know it, in order to know your character better.
- Defining Qualities:
- Step 1: What is your character's defining quality?
- Step 2: What is the opposite of that?
- Step 3:Write a paragraph where your character demonstrates the quality that you wrote down in Step 2.
- Step 4:
- What is the one thing you character would never say?
- What is the one thing your character would never do?
- Step 3: What is the one thing that your character would never think?
- Step 6: Find places in your story where you character must say, do and think those things. What are the circumstances? What are the consequences?
- Inner Conflict:
- Step 1: What is it your character most wants?
- Step 2: Write down the opposite of that.
- How can your character want both at the same time? What would cause your character to want them both? What steps would s/he take to pursue those conflicting desires?
- Motive:
- Step 1: Pick a scene in your novel that features your character. What is his main function in that scene? What is he trying to do?
- Step 2: Write a list of the reasons why your character does what s/he does. Write down as many motives as you can think of.
- Step 3: Now circle the last motive on your list.
- Step 4: Rewrite a scene, this time with your character motivated by that last item on your list.
- Stakes:
- Step 1: What is your character's main problem, goal, conflict, need, or desire?
- Step 2: What could make this problem worse?
You don't have to do all of this. But if you do, it will really help your character development. Trust me, I know from experience.
Happy characterizing!
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