Memorable Characters

Writer's Workshop

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Developing a Memorable Character in a Story

Author hard at work old style

• Use a static character as foil to show off protagonist's characteristics
• Teens - show them there are ways out of bad situations
• Character reveals who they are, revelation in life, not necessarily a change, e.g. find out you're obsessing, or learn something about yourself in a situation. Discover new depths.
• Make character distinct, someone you can identify with. Talent or character trait such as autism
• Character - what do they want? Driving the story. Make choices. Driven by choice.
• Develop back story. Character makes choices depending on his/her own characteristics. 
• What is your character's greatest fear? e.g. for someone brought up in the 1930s it may be fear of banks.
• Perfect characters are annoying.
• They should behave differently in different situations, e.g. introvert author doesn't like parties but gets high on writers' conferences.
• Not too many characters, can have composite characters.
• Actions - character revealed through actions, such as anger shown by chopping onions savagely.
• In first scene main character does something sympathetic.."save the cat."

My son's Fuzzy Kitty with his favorite meal

• Always need to know your character's motives. Motive was good e.g. take someone to park and have fun together. Motives drive decisions.
• Self-awareness in character at some time.
• An example of motive would be Gladiator - his motive was to get home. Motive is deepest desire, what is driving you to act, e.g. need to help poor. Self-aware teen or maybe adult, what they really want. Driving need, motive, back story, e.g. desire for more money might spring from a poor background.
• Reputation - what other characters think of your character. Give clues to reader.
• Habits can drive stories, e.g. addicted, revelation needs to change. Or shyness.
• Names of characters shouldn't be too similar.
• Are characters stereotypes? e.g. look like thug but acts opposite. Way to catch reader's attention.
• Face their fears to get where they're going, e.g. Indiana Jones fear of snakes, has to go into pit of snakes at the end.
• If there is no problem there is no story.

  Small boy reading to friends