How to Make Your Characters Believable by Gaelen VanDenbergh, author of 'Running Against Traffic'
Paige Scott spent her childhood shuffled between relatives who ignored her, and her adult life hiding in her crumbling marriage to wealthy David Davenport. When David suddenly thrusts her into a remote, impoverished world, Paige is forced to face the betrayals of her past - not to mention the colorful townies of her present. Unexpected friendships and her discovery of running propel her on a jagged and comical journey toward learning how to truly live.
How to
Make Your Characters Believable
Your characters are crucial to a good story. Yes, there must be a
plot. Things have to happen to these people. But in my opinion, if the
characters are not believable, the most riveting story will fall flat.
You have to know your characters. What do they like to eat? If
they had a day entirely to themselves, alone, what would they choose to do? Do
they have secret dreams or desires that no one knows about? How do they react
in various situations? If you think about a close friend of yours, think of all
that you know of that person's idiosyncrasies. Carefully consider your
characters in the same way.
Consider personal history. Where did they grow up? What was their
family situation? Do they have brothers and sisters? Were they nurtured or
neglected or something in-between? What turning points occurred in their life?
What were their relationships like with partners over the years?
If I find myself struggling with the process of getting to know
one of my characters, and this has happened many times, I pretend we are
meeting for a drink, and I ask them questions. As the conversation in my head
progresses, I begin to sort out who this person is and what made them who they
are, what brought them to this point in their lives, what they are going
through in the present. I can be very nosy.
Once your characters become real to you, your writing will portray
them honestly, and they will therefore be believable to your readers.
Finally, pay attention to the details. For me, once I have truly
gotten to know a character the way I would know a close friend, I can hear them
talk, I see their body language, and I often think I know how they would react
in certain situations. Though, as I write, they sometimes surprise me, and then
we have to go back to the bar to discuss it. Why did they do that? What made
them say that? Don't let them try to change the subject. This may be
their story but it's your book. Find out what's really going on.
If this seems like a lot of work, consider your friendships in
real life. Did they just come about, or did you spend time getting to know
these people? It wasn't really work, was it? Well, with some people it's work.
But with people you have created, it should fascinate and engross you. For me,
it's the absolute best part of the writing process.
ABOUT GAELEN VANDENBERGH
I am a writer, runner, reader, compulsive list-maker, mother and zookeeper (it feels like it, anyway). I grew up in Philadelphia, moved around a bit – Maine, Boston, NYC, back to Philly – and I have lived here for the past twelve years. I live with my husband and daughter, a fat cat, several fish, and a one-eyed dog.Pump Up Your Book and Gaelen VanDenbergh are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!
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- This giveaway begins September 2 and ends September 27, 2013.
- Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, September 30, 2013.
- Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
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I always start with a face. I look for a picture in a magazine or on the internet that fits my idea of the character. Once I have the look, my process is more or less the same as yours. I think about their history, the little things they do throughout the day, what they think about, what it would be like to have a drink with them etc.
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