by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: February 28, 2009

Whenever we are writing and whatever we are writing, we are beginning the process of taking our subsequent readers on a journey. If we are writing a technical manual, we are taking them on a journey of education and discovery, if we are writing a news article we are taking them on an informative journey. If we are writing fiction, however, we are taking our readers on a journey of adventure, excitement and intrigue. In order to achieve this goal, we therefore have to ensure that the characters we introduce in to our story are interesting, believable and compelling.

When we are planning a short story or a novel, we of course have to consider first of all the basics and subsequently the specifics of the plot. We have to have a very good idea of precisely where we are going with our story or we run the very serious risk of becoming derailed and stuck somewhere in the middle. What we also have to consider, though, is how each of our principal characters is going to fit in to the plot and contribute to it in their own unique way.

In creating characters for inclusion in a story, we should believe that we are creating a living and breathing person. We have to be able to visualise them and relate to them if we expect our readers to stand any chance of doing likewise. This means that we have to give them such as likes and dislikes, hobbies, habits and peculiarities. Each and every character we create must be different and free from stereotypical classification. Think about people you have ever met who in any way resemble the character you are trying to relate and draw one thing from such people to attribute to your character. In this way, you give them very human and believable qualities which your readers are likely to recognise.

Just as our story itself will take the readers on a journey, we may consider that our characters in the story are going on their own journey. We have to consider where the character is in life at the start of the story, where we wish them to be at the end, and how we are going to go about describing the events and circumstances which will get them there. We have to make the trip an exciting one, full of unexpected twists and turns. If the character in the story is excited by the events he is experiencing, this maximises the chances of the readers being equally excited.

By following these principals, we will develop a story which hopefully keeps the reader hungry for more as they turn each page and enthralled in our work from start to finish.

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