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Character Creation
by Jeff Heisler

Creating believable characters is an essential element of fiction. The story rest on your characters shoulders. If they don't hold up then your story collapses. So how do you make believable characters?

First recognize that different genres of fiction have different needs. A tightly plotted action or suspense thriller may not need characters fleshed out in detail as much as a literary novel. Also be aware that the more outlandish your plot is, the more important character believability becomes. Read any Steven King book and you'll see this. The reason he can take us on these journeys through strange and unusual events is his power to create realistic characters.

When we believe the character, we believe what's happening to them.

The process of creating characters is so varied I suspect there are as many methods as there are authors. As always, take these tips as guidelines- not law. Every writer must do what works for him or her. These ideas will hopefully serve as a springboard to get you on your way.

Here's how I create my characters:

* Step 1- Consider the story. In general the more my emphasis rest on the plot of the book, the more my characters need to serve that plot. If the story focus is more character based then my plot needs to serve the character.

If I need a character that will chase down a killer then I better design someone who's able to do that. Everything from their build to their psychology must help them get to the killer. Now it's important not to make the character a perfect fit. No one is perfect, that's what makes life interesting. Your characters should have flaws that make it uncomfortable for them to reach their goal. For example the character chasing the killer might have a wife and family that worry about his safety. This creates tension- tension drives story.

When constructing a more literary work then the character should be in mind already, and the plot forms around them. For example- a coming of age story requires a young character who will experience events that will shape their life. If you don't have those elements you don't have a coming of age story- so your plot must support your character.

* Step 2- Get to know your character. I like to use a form that looks like an extensive dossier when I create my characters. For supporting characters the dossier is smaller, but still quite detailed. Design one for yourself and be sure to include details about:

• The character's appearance.
• Their habits and mannerisms.
• Their motivations.
• Their past.
• How the character will change in the course of the story.

Copyright © 2002 Jeff Heisler

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