NOTE: This is the second of two posts about the conference. If you missed it, you can read the first post here.
It was undeniably clear at last weekend’s Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference that your characters are the most important part of your story. This advice came across consistently from agents and editors and writers alike and in today’s post I’m compiling what I came away with.
A good character is…
vivid
complex
plausible
identifiable
likable
distinctive.
People aren’t simply the sum of their attributes. Having many attributes doesn’t make someone real and you must create a character who “lives” in the memory of your readers. To do this you want to show was your character is like – not just what he or she looks like.
When it comes to first impressions, faces and clothes are overused. Think about how you make a first judgment of someone you’re just meeting. Do you notice their hands? Body language? Walk? Be unique – you only get one chance to make a first impression.
When it comes down to it, hard thinking is makes your characters real.
Characters Must Be Active
Your characters can’t just have stuff happen to them and react to what’s being thrown at them. They must act. Stories are about conflict. Your characters are in constant flux and ever changing. They must be active. Your characters are moved to action by goals (what they want) and motivations (why they want it).
All Characters are Driven by Emotion
To pull in the reader you need an emotional connection which means that you must write (and edit) for visceral impact. Make the reader feel it. Write to the subconscious of the reader. It isn’t easy to create these ‘emotional hits’ and you have to be careful not to overdo it. Also remember to include a recovery for the reader after a highly emotional scene. You owe it to your reader to provide a sense of balance
This is just as important for your villain as for your protagonist. Of course you need a great main character, but don’t forget your villain. The better the villain, the better the story.
Never try to stuff a character into a plot. You must consider why your character would do what he or she is doing – and it must be consistent with how you’ve established the character.
Your Character’s Backstory
Backstory at the start of a story is boring. Reveal the character along the way. You can provide backstory throughout the course of the novel and it’s best to develop the character and the story together. At the beginning you only need to tell the reader enough for them to sympathize with your character.
Don’t tell the reader everything about the character. Let the reader bring something to the character.
Two Last Things
There are two other things I heard at the RMFW Conference that I want to share:
- Read. Read a lot. Read what you like. Read what you write. Study the books you read. Read them down. What’s good? What works? Analyze it.
- Don’t write what you know, write what you want to know. Think about what interests you and learn, explore. What you bring to your story is what Joseph Finder called the “texture of reality.” This is the culmination of your experiences, setbacks, triumphs and successes – the stuff of life that’s different from anyone else’s and that your readers can identify with.
Even if you feel you write plot-driven stories, don't forget the power of well-written characters. And thanks to Janet Reid, Carol Berg, Margie Lawson, Joseph Finder and James O. Born for filling my head with all of this great advice.