Let's begin by describing what characters in run-of-the-mill novels look like. They look, talk, dress, act, struggle and appear the same. They move with the same set of gestures. They speak in the same manner. They react to the problems of the story in the same predictable ways.
On the other hand, charactes in bestselling fiction differ.
They look different, from the clothes they wear to the the structure of their faces. Some have big noses. Others walk with a limp. Still others have their hair pulled back in long ponytails.
They sound different. They use different words, different language patterns, speak shorter or longer, more or less, with bigger or smaller vocabularies.
They react differently. They each show a different take on the story problem. Some give into the problem. Some fight it. Some try to negotiate with it. Through the actions and reactions of the story people, we (the readers) learn the many facets of the central struggle of the story.
In short, bestselling authors create characters that look, sound and react differently from each other.
We'll discuss characters more deeply in other blogs. For now, let's look at the story you're working on right now, or a future story you plan to write.
Ask the following questions of your story:
- Are the characters in my story all different from one another?
- How are they different in how they look?
- How are they different in how they speak?
- How are they different in how they react to the main story problem or the central story question?
This should get you started.
Until next time, Keep writing.
C.H. Kokoski
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