| In the Story Concept section of our discussion on | | | | And how does his past impact who he is today? |
| how to write a novel, we developed a basic | | | | What does he look like? What are his physical |
| one-sentence statement for our novel concept. | | | | strengths and weaknesses? What are his |
| Something similar to: | | | | emotional strengths and weaknesses? What are |
| When a middle-aged ad man who's been coasting | | | | his psychological strengths and weaknesses? |
| on his early success for years suddenly finds | | | | What's his greatest fear? What's his greatest |
| himself competing with a new, up-and-comer, he | | | | passion? |
| wages a life-or-death game of wits with his | | | | What does he want more than anything else in |
| competition. | | | | the world? |
| At this point, the idea will still be a little sketchy in | | | | What's his education? What does he do for a |
| your mind. Don't let that worry you. Go a head | | | | living? Is he happy with it or hate it? Is he |
| and explore it from every angle until you feel | | | | married? Does he have children? Has he been |
| comfortable with the basic premise. | | | | divorced? |
| Now, we're going to focus on character. | | | | Not every question listed above is going to be |
| Every good story hinges on character. Change | | | | important to defining your particular character. |
| the character and you change the story. For | | | | However, you do want to ask plenty of |
| instance, if you take the concept stated above | | | | questions. You want to come away with a clear |
| and change the character to a hard-working single | | | | picture of who your main character is, what's |
| mother with no formal education, you have a | | | | important to him, and how your story will grow |
| completely different story. See how this changes | | | | around him. |
| the way you interpret the story: | | | | Some authors like to use a form to help them |
| When a hard-working single mother with no | | | | discover their characters. Age. Gender. Education. |
| formal education suddenly finds herself competing | | | | Height. Weight. Eye color. Hair color. Weakness. |
| for her job with a new, up-and-comer, she wages | | | | Strength. Etc. You might also find it helpful to go |
| a life-or-death game of wits with her competition. | | | | through some magazines until you find a picture |
| So this is the next step, a very important step, | | | | of someone who strikes you as what your |
| of your novel development: defining your main | | | | character looks like. |
| character. | | | | Every author is different in approaching character |
| Who is this person your story is about? | | | | development. Use whatever works for you. The |
| How old is he? How does he see the world? Is he | | | | important point is that at the end of the process, |
| a positive person or does he always lament about | | | | you should have a clear idea of who your main |
| how the world is working against him? What kind | | | | character is and the driving force that will carry |
| of childhood did he have? What kind of a family? | | | | him through your story. |