Characters

Obviously, characters are important to any story. They're also my personal favorite element. One of my all-time favorite books is just a conversation between two people. No action, no world-building, just pure character.

In your writing, whether you've got pontificating humans or a mostly mute garbage-collecting robot, all characters need the basics.

1. A physical description

Pretty simple, right? Maybe, maybe not. A good description can be either general or very specific, depending on what you want it to do. Do you want to go with defining character traits like Spock's ears or Reacher's size or Ms. Frizzle's hair? What does your character's ethnicity or gender (or species) tell us about them? Do you want to intentionally avoid much of a physical description so readers can read themselves into the character? What are the potential drawbacks of that choice?

TIP: Since I don't have the most vivid imagination for visuals, when it comes to physical descriptions, I will often use an online image search until I find the right picture and base the character's description on it.

2. A background and personality

Where is your character from? What sorts of experiences have they had that got them to this point? Unless you're starting your story with a newborn character or a Jason Bourne-level amnesiac, they aren't popping into existence in a vacuum. How have their experiences molded who they are and how has who they are shaped their experiences?

3. Relationships

Who are your character's friends? Does your character have a spouse or significant other? What were their parents and siblings like? Who do they work for and/or with and how are those relationships. I am a strong believer that every relationship has the potential to influence us in ways large and small—so, too, are characters in a story influenced by the people around them.

4. Motivation

Why is your character doing what they're doing? What are their goals, dreams and desires? These are most often tied closely to background/personality and relationships, but can be distinct enough that I think this warrants separate classification. Remember that good characters are like real people, i.e., their motives tend to be complicated and rarely altogether altruistic. 

TIP: If I'm having trouble sorting out my characters' backgrounds, relationships or motivations, I will sometimes interview them. See below for a basic interview template.

Now, you don't have to share the vast majority of the answers to these questions with your readers. The best characters are at least somewhat of a mystery, especially to start with. Like a relationship with a person, readers want to get to know the character over time. Have you ever been on a date where someone just word vomits all over you with every detail of your life? It's not pleasant. Readers don't want your characters to do that, either. Some things may only ever be internal to the character, something only you know. And that's fine! Not everything that makes your character who they are needs to make it to the page.

Challenge: I believe that good creativity starts with good observation. So consider this: Who do you think are some of the best (not necessarily your favorite) characters in your favorite books, shows or movies? Why? See if you can emulate some of those qualities in your next project.

Basic Character Interview

What drives you?

What do you enjoy about your job?

What do you hate about your job?

Who (or what) is most important to you?

Do you speak first, think first or act first?

Describe your relationship with your family.

What was it like growing up where you did?

Who are your closest friends and how do you know them?

Why are you here?

How did you come to live/work here?

Where do your sympathies lie in this conflict? Why?

Describe your romantic life.

Who do you admire, and why?