Characters—good characters—go much deeper than their job, their human/non-human status, their name, number of siblings, where they live, etc. Real characters are born out of
their
history, family background, worldview, religious beliefs, moral code, self-image, self-delusions, strengths, flaws, goals, etc.
How do you make each character unique?
- Know Your Character. Develop A Thorough Backstory. Examine Your Character’s Personality. …
- Write Your Character Into The Story. Develop Interior Dialogue. Create Authentic Dialogue. …
- Don’t Make Them Boring!
- Find Your Characters In The People Around You.
What makes a character stand out?
Firstly,
the character needs to be bold, and have a recognisable silhouette
. They’ll be seen at all different angles and scales, so they need to be readable no matter what situation they are in.
What makes every story unique?
Usually what agents or editors mean is that
they want something similar enough to other stories that they know they can sell the book
. (If a story doesn’t fit into a genre or category, how would readers find it on a bookstore shelf?)
What makes a character iconic?
An iconic character is essentially
someone whose presence is so desirable that it independently elevates their story
. Someone who you want to spend time with and go on any adventure with. They don’t always have to be relatable, or even heroic – just really interesting, and by extension, probably really cool.
How do you develop a good character personality?
- Develop characters who reflect your interests. …
- Reveal their physical world through detail. …
- Give them the right skills. …
- Create memorable characters. …
- Give the reader access to their inner conflict. …
- Subvert your reader’s expectations.
What are character types?
One way to classify characters is by examining how they change (or don’t change) over the course of a story. Grouped in this way by character development, character types include
the dynamic character, the round character, the static character, the stock character, and the symbolic character
.
How do I make my character stand out?
- Break Stereotypes. Does your story have a slick and corrupt politician? …
- Exaggerate Interesting Traits. Does your character get sweaty palms every time he enters a crowded room? …
- Provide Contradictions. …
- Contrast Them With Others. …
- Show Them Impacting the Story.
How do you make your OC stand out?
Tip: You can create your
own character sheet
or use a template, which you can find online. Explain the character’s role in the story. Every character should have a function in the story you’re telling. Consider what your OC is going to contribute to the story, then assign them a basic role.
What makes a good storyline?
A story needs
conflict and resolution; tension and release
; mystery and revelation. There should be losses and gains, setbacks and comebacks, peaks and troughs. And, above all, a story should be about people: their dreams and desires; loves and hates; problems and passions.
What are the 7 elements of a story?
- Character. This is so important, because unless your reader feels something for the characters, they won’t care what happens to them, and they won’t read on. …
- Plot. …
- Setting. …
- Point of View. …
- Style. …
- Theme. …
- Literary Devices.
What are some unique stories?
- “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. …
- “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang. …
- “Other People” by Neil Gaiman. …
- “In a Grove” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. …
- “Gooseberries” by Anton Chekhov. …
- “The Swimmer” by John Cheever. …
- “A Small Good Thing” by Raymond Carver.
Who is the most iconic character?
- Superman (first appearance: 1938) Created by Jerry Siegal and Joe Shuster for Action Comics #1 (DC Comics).
- Mickey Mouse (1928) Created by Walt Disney and Ub Iworks for Steamboat Willie.
- James Bond (1953) Created by Ian Fleming for nov el Casino Royale.
What are the 12 character archetypes?
- The Lover.
- The Hero.
- The Magician.
- The Outlaw.
- The Explorer.
- The Sage.
- The Innocent.
- The Creator.
What are the 7 character traits?
- Resilience. The “True Grit” mindset; the ability to hang in there, tough it out, persevere and recover from setback. …
- A Sense of Curiosity and Wonder. …
- Social Intelligence. …
- Gratitude. …
- Kindness. …
- Self-control. …
- Optimism.
How do you describe a character build?
- plump.
- chubby.
- stocky.
- overweight.
- fat.
- pudgy.
- medium build.
- small frame.