From Paper to Flesh

As writers, we should all know one thing: characters are important.1

However, making these characters come from your head to the paper is difficult, and making them come from paper to inside the hearts of the readers is even more difficult. Understanding what makes a character who they are will help them make these difficult journeys.2

First of all, characters are mainly two parts: background and personality. Each one is very important, and without one, the other could not exist.3

When you create a character, you should have an idea of what their basic personality will be. Are they brave? Shy? Funny? Smart? A character's personality effects how they react to the things around them. For example, say one character breaks up with another. A character that loves knowledge might try to find out what he/she did wrong, but a character who is introverted might ask themselves what they did wrong instead of the significant other. Each personality is different, and no personality is set in stone. Every character is unique in their own way of doing things.4

Of course, personality is only half the equation. A character's background also effects how they react to things. Using the break up example again, the inner-focused character might not ask themselves what they did wrong because of their personality, but maybe because they've never been able to keep a relationship, and figure it's their own fault. Personality also factors into backgrounds, effecting how they reacted to situations in the past. 5

Even if you understand how these two character tools work, putting it to paper (or keyboard) is still difficult. Without a good personality, a character will seem flat and boring, but without a good background, a character won't relate to the reader.6

When you think of making a new character, you always start with something. Maybe it's a type of person to add to the main group, or a role you need filled. These scenarios would be starting with personality and background, respectively. All you have to do is add the other element. Ask yourself, "What happened to the character to make them who they are?" or think of scenarios in your head, just everyday things, and think how the character would react. 7

A friend of mine was told by a friend of his that a great way to develop character is to have a tea party with them. It sounds crazy, but once you try it, it really works. All you do is sit down and simply talk with the character. Write the conversation, and try your best not to lead your character. Just be open and easygoing. 8

And then there are minor characters. Minor characters are, usually, characters with a personality, but not a background. When making minor characters, keep in mind that every character, big or small, has a past, and it is a large part of who they are. Even if their past isn't told, create one in your head. This makes even small characters seem more realistic.9

Whether you know it or not, all characters are a part of you. Like a schizophrenic, characters are like facets of yourself that are simply emphasized. One character might be your funny side, and another the romantic inside of you. 10

Your characters are like children, and like children, if you spend time with them, you'll find out amazing and wonderful things about them that you might not have known.