Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Get ideas for your character
• Method 2 of 3: Shaping the character
• Method 3 of 3: Get to know the character thoroughly
• Tips
• Warnings

A convincing character is a must when writing a story. Nobody likes to read a story where the characters are boring! Before you start writing a story, make sure you know your character.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Get ideas for your character

1. Observe people. Take note of certain characteristics of the people you know that distinguish them from other people. Does that guy who lives across the street have a habit of knocking things over? Does your best friend talk to her hands when she's excited about something? These could be the whims of a character you made up yourself.
2. You can also base the character on an existing person. If this is your first time writing a story, or you are unsure of how to make your character credible, base your character on an existing someone. It could be a friend, a family member, a celebrity, or even yourself! If you base the character on someone you know, you will know how they react to situations, which makes writing a lot easier.

Method 2 of 3: Shaping the character

1. Create a file. Keep everything you need to know about the character in a folder. This keeps you organized. Alternatively, you can create a folder on your computer and type everything into a word processor.
2. Know the character's appearance. How tall is the person? Does the character have an athletic build, is he or she slim or chubby? What color hair and eyes is the character? How long is his or her haircut? Are the hair curly, wavy or straight? Look online for "face makers", or if you have a Sims game, create a Sim that looks like your character and take several screenshots. You can also view photos online and in magazines and find a person who looks like your character. This will help you get a strong visual idea of ​​your character's appearance. Place photos of your character in their own folder or file.
3. Make character sketches. This means making up things like the full name, birthday, ethnic background and every detail of your characters' personality. Search for character sketches online. Many of them are very useful. Work them out and write down the basics, such as:
   • When is their birthday? How old are they?
   • Who are their friends?
   • What are their dreams / goals? What do they want to achieve?
   • What is their past?
   • What kind of family do they have? Do they have relatives? Pets?
   • What are their favorite things?
4. Choose a name for your character. Names are important and should suit your character's personality (although the name you choose will usually fit in the end, as readers will get used to the combination). The name should reflect the time period and location in which your story takes place so that it is appropriate and convincing to readers. For example, a boy living in a small town in southern Georgia in the 1980's will not be called Throckmorton.
   • Sometimes a long, complicated name is appropriate, but keep in mind how many times you will have to write the name and your readers have to read it. There is nothing worse than not being able to pronounce the main character's name!
5. Give the character fears and secrets. These can form excellent stories behind them and are a great help when you are stuck. What if Oliver is afraid of heights? What if climbing that rickety bridge a mile above the ground is the only way to save his sister? Knowing the secrets of your characters can also make for an engaging story. By slowly revealing the secret, the plot and characters can be brought to life even more.
6. Draw the character. If it helps you, try drawing your character. While the personality of characters is much more important than their appearance when it comes to being convincing, appearance can also contribute to character development.

Method 3 of 3: Get to know the character thoroughly

1. Know your characters inside out. Know their greatest wish as this will keep the plot going. Know their past, and their greatest fears, their most embarrassing moments and their darkest secrets. Even if some of these don't show up in your story, that's okay. By knowing your characters, they come to life convincingly, and the same goes for the readers.
2. Interview your character. Once you've got the gist down, start interviewing your character. How does he / she see the world? Pretend you're someone on a talk show interviewing a celebrity. Check out some talk shows for ideas on questions to ask your character. Ask as many questions as you want until your character really looks good on you.
3. Make sure all aspects of your character are written down and saved in the folder. Place the map in an easily accessible place so that you can refer to it continuously to take another look at the details of your character as you write. This will keep your character strong from start to finish, rather than starting strong and becoming less and less convincing as the story progresses. Start your story with a strong, compelling character!

Tips

• Make your character credible. For example, a grandmother would never say "That's cool" or "Awesome!". She would say something like "That's beautiful" or "That's beautiful!" Credible characters are not always mean, happy or sad. Use all kinds of feelings and qualities.
• They don't have to pretend they are a certain age, it's supposed to be realistic!
• Don't be afraid to make characters human. Give them fears, weaknesses and flaws.
• Don't try to come up with all of this in one day. It can take weeks, or even a month, to get to know the character well.
• Make sure you have the character in mind before you start writing seriously; otherwise, at some point you will desperately need to revise your writing.
• Creating a notebook in Evernote is a great way to organize your character information. And since all your notes are stored in the cloud, you can add things to them from your computer, or from your smartphone, if you come up with something on the go!
• Consider the genre you are writing in. In a romantic novel, aliens are unlikely to attack Earth (unless that's the main plot of your story). Your characters will be less far-fetched and more contemporary, or "just".
• As mentioned above, fear is a great way to reveal a character. Don't be nice to your characters! If he's claustrophobic, lock him up in the trunk of his uncle's car with a friend. Not only does it advance the plot, but it also teaches the reader how the characters react to certain situations.

Warnings

• If you are basing your character on someone, you should change their name so that the actual person will not take offense.
• Make sure your character isn't Mary Sue - someone perfect in every way.
• Be careful about basing a character on someone you know! While this is a great way to portray the character's traits, it can just as easily offend someone.