Having fully developed, relatable characters in your story is essential to catching the attention of your audience, whether that's an agent, publisher, or reader. Author Jeanne Lyet Gassman has been praised for her character development in her award-winning novel Blood of a Stone and provides some questions new writers need to ask themselves when conceptualizing characters. First, what does your main character want or need and what is keeping the character from reaching this goal? Second, what are the character's strengths and weaknesses? If you have a troubled character, what are his or her redeeming qualities? She also recommends taking your character's formative or childhood years into consideration - how has this impacted the character? Being able to answer all of these questions about a character will ensure that they are well thought-out and developed.
Glad you found this helpful. Write on!
I have the characteristics for my character and I can make them stand out more. I do appreciate the information and I could take you to learn from. What I just learned and I will use it
I appreciate the tip about the friends disliking something about the main character, I have never considered that. I was thinking his rival could like the same traits his friend dislikes. In my story the main character meets over a dozen people who resembles his physical appearance but are completely opposite in multiple ways including intelligence, temperament and skills.
I believe I have the character building part right in developing my characters for my novels. I will take tips from this leaning video. Thanks.
I would love to take a look at that character building sheet.