In order to start your novel, you have to create characters first. Without them, there is no world for them to notice, no plot for them to take part in. Depending on who you are you may want to spend a lot or a little time for creating your characters. You want to know them like the back of your hand. If they do anything or say anything that doesn’t fit their usual decisions your readers will notice. Knowing your characters is imperative to know how your novel will play out.
Creating the Character
I always start with a name, for me, a name gives me a basis on what I will base the rest of the character off of. Names give me an image in my head to work off of. It allows me to create their image and their personality. Names do have power.
I then go into what I want their personality to be like. Establishing a personality will let you know what part they will play in the story. By knowing how their personality influences the choices they make you can know how to place them. Whether they should be the main character or a secondary character.
I finish with what they will look like. The ways they perceive themselves versus how others perceive them. How will their looks affect what happens? Will their looks affect how other characters treat them? All things that must be taken into consideration. Then it gets fun. What color of hair, eyes, body build, skin color and clothing do they wear? You’re inventing a person with just words.
Establishing the Character
To truly be able to accurately write your character you need to know them. Not just what they look, or act like but who they are. A writer must always know how their character describes things, how they speak, and everything in between.
The best way to achieve this (in my opinion) is to write their backgrounds from their point of view. You get to know your characters as a person as well as how they would react to/describe things. It really lets you understand the character you are building into your story.
Incorporating them into the Novel
Once you have built and spent time with your characters then you can begin to figure out how they fit into your story. Knowing them allows you to understand how they can best support the story’s development. Will they be secondary characters you want your reader to feel connected to? Or will they be the protagonist/antagonist of the story?
I hope that this little insight into how I build my characters helps even a little bit. Although the plot is what people read a book for the character are how they connect with it. Allow your readers to make important connections to your characters so they may continue to enjoy the plot.