Crafting Characters Readers Will Love Part 1 by Jean Hall

According to Elaine Marie Alphin (Creating Characters Kids Will Love p. 2)

“Kids read because a magical closeness springs up between them and the characters in books and stories—the same magical closeness I felt as a child. They read because a writer has brought a character to life on the page for them.”

Every great children’s story pivots around a character who has a problem, a desire or a need. Through the events and conflicts of the story this character, by personal investment and volition, solves that problem, gains that desire (or loses it) or meets that need. In doing so, that character changes, grows or learns something.

Here we have the elements that define “story.”

A memorable character

A problem or need

Crises that compel the character to make choices and to act

Resolution of the problem or need

Change and growth in the character

Every element involves the main character. That’s why we must create characters that kids love and admire, or like and root for, or detest and enjoy their demise.

So, how do we do that?

Here’s my take.

For me, every story begins with the main character. I’ll be thinking “what ifs” and a character will parachute into my head. This usually gets me pretty excited! I get a rough idea of what’s going to happen to this character and how they are going to react.

Next, I get to know that character really well. Some people fill out complicated character charts or profiles, some sketch pictures of the character. Some writers find a magazine image that looks like their character and post it above their desk or on their desktop. I chat with my character in my head. I get an image of the character physically. Then I hear them talk. I imagine their home, their parents, their friends. I imagine what the kid likes and hates. What kind of personality do they have? I guess I’m creating my own character profile—just not in print. Each of us as writers has to get that character fully imagined in our own heads before we start putting them into a story. We have to get to know that character inside and out.

As I write the first few drafts of the story I fine-tune my character’s actions and reactions. I refer to experts for this like PscheWriter and The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi.

I also try to keep the following in mind as I develop the characters. In Part 2 of this post I’ll expand on this list.

• Is this really how a kid this age would think? Talk? Act? If not, fix it.
• Is this really how a kid would react in this type of situation?
• Does this character have flaws?
• Does this bad guy have at least one redeeming trait? How else will we love to hate them?
• Have I created enough CONFLICT in this kid’s life or situation?
• Have I created a character readers can feel for? Connect with?
• Is this character bigger-than-life? EXAGGERATION well done makes readers laugh, cry and shriek with your character.
• Do I SHOW how the character thinks? Acts? Feels? Speaks?
• Are each of my characters distinctive?
• Does my main character have one primary trait that the story focuses on?
• Have I built motivation into this character? Is their need, desire or problem big enough to push them through the story?

Then, I put my character to the test by getting feedback from other writers, and sometimes, readers. They always help me smooth out the wrinkles. Or, sometimes, create more!

Please join me next month for a lot more detail about these bullet points.

Just Wondering…

How do YOU create memorable characters?

Need a little free advice about one of your characters?

Just leave a comment and I’ll respond with great joy!

Scroll to the top of the page and click on CRAFT, then CHARACTER to find other helpful A3 blog posts about creating characters.

 

BIO

Jean Hall lives in Louisville, Kentucky. She is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary. Her premier picture book Four Seasons series was recently signed by Little Lamb Books. Jean is a member of the SCBWI, Word Weavers International, and the Kentucky Christian Writers. Visit Jean at www.jeanmatthewhall.com, on Face Book at Jean Matthew Hall, and on Twitter as @Jean_Hall.