20 Enjoyable and Inspiring Character Writing Ideas
by Brilliant in Writing Ideas 0
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| Where do you get your character writing concepts? |
Where do you get your character writing concepts?
One of the crucial troublesome issues to execute nicely in a bit of fiction is a sensible character. We’ve all read stories through which the characters have been uninteresting or hole; they come across like clones of the identical characters we’ve met in dozens of tales before.
Readers want characters who are as distinctive and complex as actual people.
Are we, as writers, obligated to deliver such characters?
Not necessarily. Plenty of stories are plot-driven or centered around theme moderately than character. But the stories that resonate essentially the most have vivid, layered characters. Readers and writers often sing the praises of character-pushed fiction. So, the one best option to intrigue readers is to offer them characters they can’t forget.
Character Writing Ideas
You possibly can spend hours, days, weeks, or months creating character ideas. Whether or not you launch into your story with little information of your characters or create full sketches and backstories for each, there are many tips and strategies you should utilize to encourage characters and to breathe life into them.
1. Use real individuals as fashions to your characters. Consider all the folks you recognize intimately, people you're keen on as well as folks you despise. Take their strongest and most fascinating traits and qualities and provides them to your characters.
2. Want a face to your character? You should use individuals you already know for this too, but you may as well use celebrities and other public figures. Some writers discover that putting a face to a personality brings out a extra strong personality. Try it!
3. Baby name dictionaries are a terrific beginning place for names, and names may also help you generate ideas on your character sketches. Take into consideration how names influence our perceptions of people and sketch a character that matches his or her name.
4. Start with a predicament. Then, you may need to create characters who've the abilities to get out of that predicament. Thieves, for instance, can choose locks, so in case your characters have to get one thing out of a locked room or constructing, one in all your characters may have some expertise in burgling.
5. Dwell out your dreams. While you were a kid, did you wish to be a rock star or an astronaut? Well, now you may dwell vicariously via your characters!
6. Flip to fiction. Books, movies, and TV exhibits are full of incredible characters that audiences have already fallen for. Don’t attempt to copy these characters, but by all means, use them for inspiration. Ask your self what made your favorite characters so compelling.
7. We all have quirks, so it makes sense for characters to have quirks too. Freckles, bitten fingernails, a limp, or a lisp are all methods you possibly can set one character apart from the others.
8. Household and friends make us who we are. Draft sketches on your characters’ household and associates (even when they’re not going to seem within the story) and you could study a factor or two about your character.
9. Have some type! From a contemporary city princess to a bum on the street, every particular person has his or her own style. Your characters ought to too! What do they wear? How does she make up her face? Does he wear cologne?
10. Most people have interests, hobbies, and passions. Even when your character’s personal interests aren’t tied directly to the plot, they might enrich it, they usually’ll actually make your character extra believable.
11. I’ve all the time discovered mannerisms and gestures fascinating. You often see the same mannerisms mirrored all through a family or group of friends. In fiction, give each character his or her own distinctive gestures - biting the bottom lip, scratching one’s brow, and tapping one’s toe on the ground are all good options.
12. Have you ever seen that everyone you understand has their very own particular method of talking? We every have a singular voice comprised of how we string phrases collectively, expressions that we often use, and our intonation. You may make a personality more realistic by simply giving the character a unique voice through dialogue.
13. Among the best characters are extreme or over the top. Think of Luke Skywalker, Robin Hood, and Indiana Jones. These characters have sturdy personalities and are deeply driven by larger values and private desires. Think about how your characters’ philosophies and targets shape their personalities.
14. Not all characters are human! Stories might be enriched with pets; they is probably not essential to the plot, but they can add to the emotional value of a story.
15. Do you write science fiction or fantasy? Overlook non-human pets. Strive creating characters who are not of this earth: androids, aliens, and mythological or fantastical creatures.
16. If you’re recent out of fine character writing ideas, attempt taking your characters out of the story altogether. Write a scene from a personality’s backstory, or draft a monologue in your character’s voice.
17. Spend some down time along with your characters. What do they do once they’re not battling conflict or saving the world? Where do you characters eat, how do they set up their closets, and what do they take heed to while understanding? Typically taking a peek at your characters’ most traditional moments provides you with insight to who they are.
18. Balancing traits amongst a bunch of characters implies that every character brings something different to the table. Harry Potter was a hero, however where would he have been without smarty-pants Hermione and dependable Ron? Distribute different strengths and weaknesses amongst your characters, particularly when you’re writing an ensemble piece.
19. The literary canon is full of historic and archetypal characters. From the herald and the hero to the trickster and the villain, myths, legends, and fairy tales can encourage and inform your characters. Put a new twist on these old favorites by forming (somewhat than copying) your characters from these confirmed standards from storytelling.
20. What about you? It’s the oldest trick in the e-book: basing a personality on yourself.
What are a few of your favorite character writing ideas and activities? How do you provide you with new characters or make your characters sensible? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
