Ten Steps to Creating Memorable Characters by Sue Viders

Author:Sue Viders [Viders, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-87536-5
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Published: 2010-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

EXERCISES

Her husband divorced her for a younger woman. What does she need in order to get her life on track?

His brother achieved financial success. What does this younger sibling desire that his elder brother has?

She is a twin, but she needs to feel special. How does she do this?

Heroine

Character:

Needs and Desires:

Hero

Character:

Needs and Desires:

Villain

Character:

Needs and Desires:

FAVORITES

What your character selects as a favorite can define who that character is and make a difference in how they function. Going to a favorite bar or having a favorite drink or food makes a character seem like a real person.

The women of Sex and the City loved clothes and fashion. Carrie Bradshaw had a whole closet of her favorite items — shoes — and she spent a good portion of her salary on them. Tom Cruise as Navy lawyer Lt. J.G. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men had a favorite bat he needed to keep handy, and he said he always thought better with it in his hands. Shirley in Laverne and Shirley had a Boo-Boo kitty from her childhood.

These elements give your characters a particular “feel” and make them different from other people. You can always use the favorite item in a story, whether it is the villain destroying a cherished keepsake so your character goes after him or a favorite restaurant burning down and your character wanting to help rebuild it.

In many stories, there is a favorite spot to which a character goes to simply think or reflect on her life. She may even bring her lover to this special place.

For women, a favorite object is usually a piece of jewelry, a memento, or even their pet. For men, cars rank high on the list as do sports items and, of course, a pet. But almost anything will work. A favorite could simply be a poster, a favorite CD, or a personal diary.

For a skier, winter might be a favorite season. A painter might have a special color; a musician, a special song.

Think of the things you love and use them in your novel.

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