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Writers, how do you get to know your characters? Readers, can you tell how well an author knows their characters?
Having a thorough knowledge of your book’s characters is imperative in writing fiction. You have to be true to the character you’ve created for their world to be believable.
Some writers fill out long questionnaires about their character's history, likes, dislikes, friends, educations, etc. Some choose a personality type and research their likes, dislikes, fears, and dreams in a book that discusses personality. There are some authors who start with a vague idea of their character and fill in the details as they write.
There are a lot of fun ways you can discover your character’s personality. How about taking your character out for a field trip? When you go to the mall, figure out which store your character would head into and why. Go to a restaurant and decide which items your character would order off the menu. Do any of those dishes have significance to your character’s past?
I mull my characters over a bit before I even start writing. To tell the truth, they will occasionally surprise me by revealing an interesting fact while I’m writing. But that’s okay, as long as their actions are believable and consistent with their personality.
What are some of the most memorable characters you’ve read? Mine was Amber St. Clare of Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor. It was published in 1944, and I read it in 1976. Amber is memorable because of her strength and her faithfulness in love.
For more info: Books about personality types: What Type Am I?: The Myers-Brigg Type Indication Made Easy, Discovering Your Personality Type: The Essential Introduction to the Enneagram
Comments
One word of caution, don't actually speak to your characters while you are dinning in a restaurant. :)
Great article Megan.
I've tried doing the long questionnaires about my characters and they just don't work for me. I talk to my characters until they start telling me their stories, then I start writing. Unfortunately, I sometimes have to ask them why in the world they are doing something. Also, Jan, this means I have to be very careful when writing in public.
I have a list of criteria to design a character. I like to include favorite Freudian defenses like denial, sour grapes, rationalization,etc.
Lately, I have googling for such sites as Myers-Briggs to get ideas for new characters. I have have gotten that tip from you.
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