Creating believable, compelling characters is the driving force behind classic novels like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and also more contemporary novels like The Stand by Stephen King or Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (one of my most favorite books).
There really isn't a right and a wrong way to do it. However, really well-developed characters can drive a story better than characters that are vague and mysterious. In my own personal writing projects, I keep a file of each character.
Physical characteristics
Weaknesses
Strengths
Personal values (Example: believes in capital punishment, objects to same-sex marriage, believes communism is a better way of life than democracy, etc.)
Favorite color
An incident from their childhood that defined them (Example: almost drowned when she was 7, was in the car when his mother gave birth to his brother, contracted rheumatoid fever while traveling in a third world country, etc.)
Personality traits
Physical ticks that are unique to the character (Example: she rubs her nose when she's nervous, his eyes pierce through you when he looks you directly in the eyes, she blinks rapidly when her mind is overloaded, she always reached for a cigarette even if a heavy sigh would have been sufficient, etc.)
Their life mission
Significant relationships - family, friends, love interests
Offbeat quirks - (Example: obsessed with all things voodoo, still has a "blankie" - the same blankie she had when he was a toddler, believed she had an encounter with a ghost, etc.)
Emotions this character regularly feels - morose, sad, joyful, excited, happy, paranoid
How does your character usually handle problems? Diplomat? Team player? Struggle on their own?
When I was coming up with my own process for keeping track of characters I read about writers that make collages for the way in which they envision their characters. They clipped pictures of outfits, books the character liked to read, the house or apartment they lived in, and other things that were notable about the character they were creating.
In my work as an editor, I have read really wonderful manuscripts where the author clearly invested time and thought into bringing their character to life. Even if you never use some of the traits and quirks you created for your character, in your manuscript, you have a pool to draw from to know how your character will behave. You already know their weaknesses and strengths and the defining moments in their life.
Challenge: Take fifteen to thirty minutes to create a profile for your main character.
Tip: Use this same process to create all your characters.
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