Characters

So my favorite part of writing is characters. Basically they are writers' imaginary friends. And if you're a published author you technically get paid to have them. I am probably going to do multiple parts on characters because there is so much to discuss when it comes to them. 

But where do we start?

Usually I come up with an idea for a character by starting with their personality. I then write a scene with them and they come to life from there. But if you want your characters to be deeper. If you want your readers to feel bad even for your villain you have to give them something that they love. It doesn't have to be a person or object. It can be a feeling. Maybe they love to live, and throughout the story they will fight for that right. 

Something else that is important for your characters to have is a secret. A character having a secret is an easy way to make them almost instantaneously deeper. 

What is the secret?

Why is it so important for them not to reveal it?

Is it there secret, or are they keeping it for someone else? If they are, why? What does this person mean to them? Are they blackmailing them?

See what I mean?

Characters are not why we start a story, but why we finish it. 

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Remember to comment your questions.