Today's Card: The Hanged Man (rev.) ~*~ March 15, 74th day of the year ~*~ Today's Color: Brown
Developing your characters is a crucial step in creating a story that readers will connect with and remember. When your characters are well-rounded and dynamic, they will not only propel the plot forward but also create an emotional connection with your readers.
To start, think about your characters' motivations. Why do they do what they do? What are their goals and desires? The more specific you can be, the better. For example, a character might want to find true love, but what does that mean to them? Is it about companionship or validation? Are they looking for someone to fill a void or to challenge them in new ways?
Once you have a clear understanding of your characters' motivations, think about what's standing in their way. What obstacles or conflicts do they need to overcome to achieve their goals? This is where the central conflict of your story comes into play. Your character's arc should align with the central conflict, and the obstacles they face should challenge them in ways that reveal their strengths and weaknesses.
As you flesh out your characters, consider their fears as well. What are they afraid of, and why? This can add depth and complexity to their character, as well as create opportunities for growth and change throughout the story.
When developing your characters, it's important to remember that they are not static entities. They should change and evolve throughout the story, in response to the obstacles they face and the lessons they learn. This is what creates a satisfying character arc, a well-rounded character, and makes your story feel like a journey. Your readers want characters to root for and against.
One technique for developing dynamic characters is to create a character profile. This can include details such as their age, appearance, background, and personality traits. But it should also include their goals, fears, and motivations. You might also consider writing a backstory for each character, even if it doesn't appear in the story. This will help you understand their motivations and create more nuanced, complex characters.
Another way to develop your characters is to use dialogue to reveal their personalities and motivations. When characters speak, they reveal information about themselves and their relationships with others. Pay attention to the words they choose and the way they interact with other characters. This can help you create dialogue that feels natural and true to your characters.
Finally, it's important to remember that characters don't exist in a vacuum. They are shaped by their relationships with other characters and the world around them. When developing your characters, think about their relationships with other characters and how those relationships change throughout the story.
A story is only as good as the characters in it. Start by understanding their motivations, fears, and desires. Use this information to build a character arc that aligns with the central conflict of your story. Remember that your characters should change and evolve throughout the story, and use techniques such as character profiles and dialogue to create well-rounded, dynamic characters that your readers will love.
You may have noticed that I have added character backgrounds on the main characters from Fire in the Mountains here on the blog. I want that story to have well rounded, dynamic characters that could possibly exist outside the story, in the real world. That is how I know how important character development is to a story. And, in the meantime, head over to Kindle Vella and check out Fire in the Mountains, a romantic thriller serial.
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