Building A Believable Character: Part 1
Written by timmyjake
Let’s face it. As writers, we do experience difficulties when building a character in our books, short stories, poems—everything. In building that piece of art, whatever the case may be, we take an immense amount of time to develop that character.
Some things are simple when creating characters. Clothing tastes, dislikes in food, height and hair color, etc. Those things are easy because you have those likes, dislikes and similarities. We all know what it is like to love ice-cream, or hate white cheese (trust me, I know. It’s all moldy, anyway), but when it come to the details, the small oddities that really build the character into someone that is believable and loved, that is where the trouble—and the fun—comes in.
Everyone’s eyes grow wide, everyone grins, and everyone talks excitedly. But those common reactions that people make—those actions that are universal with human beings—just fade into the background. It is the character that chomps uncontrollably at the bit, wanting to go, go, go! The character that has a funny nose twitch, a lazy eye, or perhaps just has a funny habit of saying a particular word. Those characters make an impact on your readers because there is something about them that is different from everyone else. Something unique.
An example of a deep character, one that everyone can relate to, but still isn’t Normal Joe at the same time is Percy Jackson, courtesy of Rick Riordin.
Percy is lost just about all the time. He never knows what to do, only that is has to involve his sword… Always has to involve his sword—and water. He would do anything for his friends, even to die for them. If only that they would remain safe. Percy is a troublemaker, a seaweed brain. But at the same time, behind that mischievous face, the guy has a big heart... He cares about everyone. And most importantly is that when fighting a Titan with nothing more than a sharpened toothpick, he is still afraid. He is a normal person who is afraid of evil, but still goes out with the intention of stopping it.
You see, all of those little things add up to make a character. It doesn’t take one small oddity to make your character have depth, its takes dozens. Many small quirks that makes your character more than just a fictional person to your reader. It makes your character a hero.
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