Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: A great character has more to them that just a few obvious traits. Ann Harth shares a layered approached to creating compelling characters readers will love.
Developing believable characters is one of the most important components of writing fiction. One technique for creating three-dimensional, consistent characters is to know them as well as you know yourself – even before you start writing.
If you struggle with creating characters, it may help to think of developing a character layer by layer. Here is one simple, 8-layer method for developing a realistic character.
Layer 1. Create a still image.
Start by creating a sketchy character file that includes only physical attributes. Have a clear picture of your character in mind:
- Hair color, length and texture
- Eye color, shape and size
- Skin tone - fair, dark, clear, spotty, splotchy
- Height and build