How to Create a Character for Creative Writing

Creative writing projects commonly require outstanding characters. A writer may go to great lengths to create a character that will have a profound impact on the audience.

There are countless approaches to coming up with a wonderful character for creative writing. The personality may be central to the story or a supplement to the work. Either way, taking time to develop a three dimensional character will pay off.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Journal or notebook
• Writing instrument
• Access to images

1. Picture your character. Creative writing often starts with images. Try browsing through art books that feature portraits. Family photos, magazines and Internet are great resources for finding inspiring faces.

2. Include all of the senses. The visual image of your fiction character is just one aspect. There are many other details that you can include. How does this person sound? What scents come to mind? What about the feel of his skin, hair and clothes? Even flavors come into play; a lemon smile, for example.

3. Write who you know. Successful creative writing projects often begin with real life inspiration. You can create a character that is a virtual Frankenstein of traits and features of people you have met.

4. Build the personality beyond the story. The fiction character that you create should have a past and a future. Get as many details in your head about this person as you can for your creative writing project.

5. Write a character sketch. This process is helpful in getting a deeper perspective on the persona. The character sketch does not have to be an integral part of the story. The purpose is to build a realistic being for the story.

6. Add details in the character sketch that may include:
   
   Physical description
   Career
   Hobbies
   Hopes
   Fears
   History
   Family
   Dreams
   Flaws
   Attributes
   
   This list is in no way comprehensive. Add anything that helps you understand the character better.

7. Think in metaphors, not in stereotypes in your creative writing. The bully can be an adorable little girl instead of a thick-necked thug with a bulldog face. A willowy man who is lenient and flexible is a metaphoric fiction character.

8. Make your fiction character realistic. Include positive and negative traits. A villain that evokes sympathy is far more powerful than a fiend that is rotten to the core.

Tips & Warnings

• Draw a picture of your character if you're able.
• Eavesdrop on conversations for ideas.
• Mix the good and the bad. Everyone has flaws.
• Believe in your character.
• Avoid using names of people you know.

Resources

• A Character Sketch

[WritingNag]

on 12/8/2008 Thanks for the good advice, you have some great ideas for writers!

[shewolf52002]

on 11/14/2008 Love the ideas! Thanks

[LonnaLight]

on 1/26/2008 Nice article! A lot of very good information there! The eavesdropping part could get you into some trouble though, so be careful there! ;)

[srhgompf]

on 1/26/2008 I like this article. It's very informative. I'm going to use these steps to develop the characters for the novel in my head. Thanks.