How to Build Fictional Characters

Where, who, what, when, why and how…

Education, school, occupation, workplace, purpose,

Conflict, dilemma, opportunity, choice/action (benefits and consequences),

Health, gender, spirit, life stages, danger, victory/failure, growth/decline, death,… If you’ve come to the character building step, perhaps less At least you already have an idea of the plot.

• If you’re going to create a massive, epic storyline like The Lord of the Rings , you’re going to need a whole world of characters – some good, some bad, male, female, or any gender. whatever character you can think of, even some characters are both good and bad, neither male nor female.
• If you’re going to write an introspective story, you may only need one character.

• Perhaps you want to create a protagonist (the good guy) and a villain (the bad guy), because conflict is the foundation of the plot. You may also need a supporting character such as a servant, best friend, dream lover, partner, or another meaningful character. Note that the character we think is the main character is sometimes drawn with the villain, such as the character Kong in “King Kong”.
• You’ll probably need villains like Clint Eastwood in Angel of Punishment ; sympathetic “villains” like Lennie Small in Of Rats and Men ; wild guys like Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean ; a woman of deadly charm leading her man on a mission as great, difficult, dangerous or calamitous as Jessica Rabbit in Who Killed the Rabbit Roger ; treacherous friends like Iago in Othello or Petyr Baelish in Game of Thrones ; or a con man like Smeagp in The Lord of the Rings . Each of these characters begins with role models and is then shaped as the story progresses.

• Choose male or female character or other gender. This will create a general perspective of the character, hint at the character’s personality traits based on the model, even create a point of contradiction for your character and story in the eyes of society’s prejudices. , whether fair or not. For example, an arrogant male character will be perceived differently than an arrogant female character. (Both of these points will deepen the character!)
• Age is also a factor to take into account. Older characters are often seen as wiser, but this is also perceived in other ways. In general, a young evil character will be seen as a bad seed or simply a madman. An old villain has all of these qualities, but can change depending on the circumstances, adding depth to the character’s personality. A young hero full of ideals will evoke a different feeling than an old veterinarian who is only doing the right thing in a monotonous way. And when these characters die, the reactions will also be different.
• Sometimes this element also contains the opposite. Don Quixote is an old and crazed man who spends his days in his room reading chivalry novels, pitifully naive. However, this innocence leads him to seek adventure and love, creating illusions from the world around him when reality is not what he expected.

• The way the character overcomes the inevitable obstacles on the way to the finish line will best show the character’s personality. In complex stories, this element can constantly crisscross with the motives and successes of one character getting in the way of the other, which in turn leads to action and other turning points, gradually pushing the romance forward. high-stress situations.

• Make a list of the things the character likes and dislikes, making sure the list is balanced. In other words, you shouldn’t list ten things your character hates, but only one thing they like. Even the most irritable people have their favorite things, even if it’s as small as a mirror.
• A character’s attitude is often made up of secondary traits that can lead to unexpected actions and change the audience’s perception of the character. For example, a character who likes freedom may not like people in power; If the character likes greasy cupcakes or luxury cars, the character probably doesn’t like frugality or restraint. The image of a character with a cold, callous appearance, but with the unexpected action of rushing into a burning building to save a baby will force the audience to rethink that character.

• The more habits and traits you create for your character, the more “lively” you make your character in the eyes of your readers.

• Does your character live in a posh neighborhood (upper class) or a shabby neighborhood (hard life)? Most of the details you choose should suggest something about the character or the character’s history.

• Note the physical features – the shape of the face, eyes, nose, ears, body shape, clothing, and manner of walking.
• If you like someone’s physical appearance, describe what you find attractive in them and attribute it to your character. If you see someone who looks scary, honestly ask yourself why that person scares you, even if the reason seems irrational or wrong. Apply these points to your characters.
• Combine these traits to build characters – don’t build a character based entirely on one or two people, as you could get in trouble if they find out.

• Roses fade quickly but are always loved.
• Snakes have erratic temperaments and can attack suddenly.
• Stone buildings represent stability and resistance to change.
• Storms with thunder represent fierceness, but also a sign of growth.
• A sharp sword would be a danger to even the one who forged it.