I, like most serious authors often struggle with character creation. It is hard. You are giving birth after all. Developing a new person all on your own, in your own head. They have a personality, a life, apart from yours even if they are not real. So, how do you do it? What should you remember? I found this beautiful piece of advice by Rick Riordan and thought that it applied well to all forms of writing.
Because so much of our craft is about refining and growing I thought I would showcase the most important advise I found about writing characters thusfar. For those of you who don't know Rick Riordan is a Y.A. Author who writes the Percy Jackson series as well as the Kane Series.
Goodreads Summary
Rick’s Top Five Tips on CHARACTER
"5. Define a character first through action, second through dialogue and description, never through explanation."
Right, so... check?
It is soooo hard to do this sometimes as a writer, you just want to go off like an encyclopedia about a character you have spent days, weeks even months developing. Maybe they love Pistachio Pudding but can't stand actual nuts. Perhaps they have a secret fear of stink bugs. Whatever it is that makes them near and dear to you you want to share it.
The thing is, the readers do not care. They don't. It is like the saying "Actions speak louder than words". It may be cliche but that is because it is true. Your characters actions define who he is.
This more than anything has spoken to me.
Number 4 tomorrow.
Number 4 tomorrow.
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