This-n-That Thursday: Ways to Create Unique Characters

How do you create interesting and unique characters who also feel “real” to your readers?  

There are a variety of helpful tools to help us conceive our characters’ personalities and backgrounds. Some writers have designed their own charts and “interview” questions. A favorite of mine is the in-depth character chart generated by Jeff Gerke, which utilizes information from Myer’s Briggs and the book Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey on temperament, character, and intelligence.

It’s important to study our craft. It’s also easy for many writers—at least those of us who are introverts—to hibernate with our resource and “how-to” books. 

But …

Just like artists who understand color and shapes, photographers who have an eye for lighting and unusual /interesting shots, and CSI who detect things at a crime scene that passersby wouldn’t notice—writers must take in all that is around us.

Observe people around you …

Do your friends or relatives have interesting quirks or mannerisms that fit your character? By watching people in malls, restaurants, or grocery stores, you can discover ways that people move, react, and relate to those around them.  

Interesting people I recently encountered:

• A, petite, sophisticated lady in a full-length fur coat who appeared bored.
• A young man dressed in tight, black jean, a black pea coat, styled hair, and a black leather bag slung over his shoulder who looked like a professional in the arts on the move.
• A Caucasian mother remained very calm despite her hyper-active son, who was about eight with shaggy hair. Her Polynesian-looking daughter, about sixteen, was beautiful, well dressed, and oblivious to her brother’s antics.
• An owner of a hole-in-the wall café who was extremely rude to everyone/anyone who wanted to order lunch. He was Chinese. When someone asked for a glass of ice water, he said, “Ice! We got no ice! You only get cold water.”

Utilize photos …

I’m currently writing a historical romance and have been collecting photos to help me recreate that time period. I’ve also chosen three actors who fit my mental images of the heroine, hero, and the “other guy.” The opportunity to see these three individuals in movies or TV shows helps me visualize how they might act, react, or sound in a variety of situations. 

  

Mix and match …

In a contemporary romance that I wrote (not published), I created a secondary character who my critique partners (Annette and Ocieanna) loved. They warned me that I needed to be careful that Dalisay, (the heroine’s best friend) didn’t become so strong that she felt even more likeable than the heroine.  

This is how I created parts of Dalisay:

1)    I started with a character (crafted by a Chinese actress) who was loyal, witty, and a bit sarcastic to help give me a basic feel for how she’d act/react in situations and banter with the heroine.

2)    The story is set in Seattle, and we have a rather large Filipino population here. Although a modern woman, I had Dalisay come from a traditional Filipino family. What I didn’t know from personal experience, I researched. Her family is included in several fun chapters/scenes. Including another culture added dimension to the character.

3)    My oldest daughter is in theater, so I’m familiar with that community. I made Dalisay a set designer—and that role became important to the story.

4)    A close friend has a way of raising one eyebrow when she questions or disapproves something that’s said. I gave Dalisay that same mannerism.

So you see … there are a variety of things we can use to create characters who are unique, multidimensional, and have depth.

What tools or methods do you use when creating your own characters?

~ Dawn

What Does She Want? And More Deep Questions to Navigate Your Character’s Emotions Part 3

Welcome to Ask O Wednesday! Have you had fun writing this week? I sure did. Lots of great character-building fun. It’s so exciting to see characters transform into “real” people.

Speaking of characters, back to our series on Character Emotions. Last week we talked about not just asking, “What does she want?” but going deeper and asking, “What does she really want?” I used my character, Misty, a harried mother of preschoolers, for an example. We decided she really wants her kids to love and respect her enough to let her eat a bowl of Rice Crispies before it sogs up.

Longing for love and respect--sounds pretty deep. As a mom, those desires resonate with me, and I’m sure your characters touch you as well. But, friends, an even deeper question exists. One Misty is quite familiar with (if her kids are anything like mine). And that question is,

Why?

Why does Misty hunger to know that her long hours have born fruit in her kids? Why does she need them to respect her? Why does a quiet five minutes symbolize success to her? Why, why, why?

Not until this step do I really delve into my character’s emotions. Before this, I’m still grazing over the surface—perhaps afraid to probe the depths. But the “why” is like a deep sea probe, shedding light into areas I could never see from the surface. Deep, deep into her soul.

And what do I uncover? In the midst of all the chaos, Misty feels alone. Fruitless. Like a failure. Eating an uninterrupted bowl of cereal would affirm that perhaps she hasn’t failed—and she needs that affirmation as water to her soul. She needs hope.

After the first why, I continue asking why until I’m either satisfied that I’ve grasped her depths, or my own emotions can’t take anymore.

The “why” is the next step I take for every scene.

More?

Finally, I ask one more question. What does Misty really need? Her soul requires more than to eat a bowl of cereal, doesn’t it? She must find her hope in Christ. Accept her failures and her successes as a child of the King, knowing that He’s with her as she raises her children.

Do I wrestle with her real need in every scene? Of course.

Not All Notes at Once

In a symphony, every part is not highlighted at the same time. I also don’t lay out every aspect of her deep issues in every scene. But knowing what’s driving my heroine’s decisions affects how I portray her. Desires are sprinkled throughout, layered, shown in dialog, actions—big and small.

I promise you, taking the time to answer these questions has transformed my writing! And it will for you too.

Let me know how this works for you! And be sure to leave me your writing questions in the comments or on my website ocieanna.com.