Let's Talk Characterization

Bland characters are an immediate turn off for readers, thats just a fact. But when you make your character an individual, with personality traits that contrast what is expected, you create a character that surprises your reader at ever turn. So how does one make a character realistic? You need to follow a few simple steps.

1) Descriptions:

When you meet a new person, they don't tell you ever detail about themselves and then get on with their conversation, no you learn about someone by talking to them, seeing how they react in different situations, and what kind of jokes make them laugh till their stomachs hurt. It's the same for your characters, you need to describe them by the way they live, talk, and interact with others. Of corse you can do some description the regular way, and just say it, but the more you use indirect characterization the more real your character is to your reader.

2) Diction:

The words you use do affect how your character will be viewed. Vivid descriptions help your reader picture your character better, so they can truly view them as a person and not just a fictional character. When your reader can picture your character and understand their personality, they can come to feel close to your character, and that's how you create what is called a "fandom", a kingdom of fans for your stories. So you could say "they wore a purple vest," or you could say "They were adorned with a deep violet, velvet vest that hung loosely on their slim shoulders." Which sentence do you prefer?

3) Moral Dilemma:

Something that really shows your characters motive for action, a vital part of characterization, is how they react when they've been place in a moral dilemma. What do they care about, what do they wish to protect, these and many other things drive the character to decide in a moral dilemma. I would place this near the end of the story, maybe make it the climax of your story, but thats just my preference.

And with those simple steps, you can make interesting, realistic characters to draw in readers!

Hope you enjoyed reading, come back next week to read, "Moral Dilemmas, How??"!