Inspiration for a great character can come from your own life, real people you read about, or other works of fiction. Reading biographies of famous people, contemporary or historical, is good way to gain insight into the flaws and foibles of those who lead extraordinary lives. While biography-worthy individuals are not much different than the rest of us when it comes to basic personality traits, the events in their lives fall outside the realm of normal experience. Fictional characters are often placed in bizarre situations (after all, who wants to read about an uneventful life?), and most of us can only imagine how we, or our friends, would respond to such events. Reading biographies gives a writer some idea of how it feels to be a general, a movie star, a king, a spy, etc.

Once you have drafted a character and mentally situated him in your world, the difficult part begins. As you write your story, every word will either bring the character into sharper focus or blur him in the reader's mind. Of course this is your story, and you will find your own unique way to tell it. However, there are a few common methods for bringing your characters and your readers together. You'll undoubtedly be able to find examples of great writers who have broken one or more of these "rules", but if you read a random stack of popular fiction books you will find most authors employ the strategies explained here.

The key to writing major characters is keeping it all in perspective- the character's perspective, that is. Most authors have more than one protagonist, but you need to pick a point of view for each scene, preferably for each chapter. Many writers rigorously stay with one character for the entire book (J.K. Rowling comes to mind). The reader needs someone with whom to identify in order to become fully immersed in your story. That character's thoughts, and no others, will be part of the story, and that character's perceptions will color all descriptions.

You will need to know your protagonist well. Her education, geographical location, age, gender, and personal quirks will influence your word choice, especially when it comes to metaphors and similes. A medieval knight would not be thinking that the news of his father's death hit him like a freight train (for chronological reasons!), but he might reel as if unseated by a well-placed blow from an opponent's lance. Avoid the temptation to show off your research. It's the character's knowledge,

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