Creating characters that are believable and memorable is the hardest part of writing, however, there are a few methods that can assist and author in this task.

1.) Interview your characters: This is my all time favorite method of creating characters. Write up questions based on your story. The more questions you write, the better insite you will gain on your character's nature. Write questions like: "What were you thinking when you robbed the bank?" or "What made you decide that leaving your husband was a good idea?" to help understand motive or "What is your earliest memory" "What is your favorite color?" "What makes you happy?" to gain insight on your character's personality and mindset. Also asking questions like, "What happened after he pulled the gun on you?" to help move your story along. Write all your questions down and ask them. Believe it or not, in most cases, you will hear your character's voice in your head answering them. It is a trick that is easy to use. Your create your character and their "voice" so you can actually create their answers to the questions and often hear the answers as you imagine their character would say them. Try it.

2.) Base your characters are people you know. This is obviously the easiest way to create lively characters. Think back on people that you have found funny or interesting and remember what characteristics about that person drew you to them. Incorporate these characteristics into your characters.

3.) Give your characters flaws. This will make your character seem more real. Have them have a bad knee and let it interfere occasionally. Have them have bad eyesight or an occasional stutter. Make them just a little too proud or little too shy. Give them a touch of anger issues or a complex emotional past that makes them have a hard time committing to a relationship. Everyone has flaws and a character is much more believable when they have to occasionally deal with one of their own.

4.) Make your characters do the things that make as human. Let the eat, drink and go to the bathroom (not too many details on the last of course!) Let them take frequent showers and buy new shoes or clothes. These things make characters seem more real because they are the everyday things that make us human.

5.) Only describe your character as necessary. Give the reader just enough information about the character's appearance as is necessary for the story. This allows the reader to fill in details with their own imaginations and makes the character seem more real to them.

Creating "alive" characters can be difficult but the steps I have outlined can go a long way to helping an author do just that.

Learn more about this author, Lindsey Stell.
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