Characters 101: Color Me Simple

Once you know what you wish to write about, and how it will be laid out, you need to focus on the WHO of the story… the characters, the Main Character(s) in particular.

I’ve learned to bear in mind one phrase while writing my book folks: keep it simple & keep it real.

Characters (especially the main characters) follow along with the ‘write what you know’ lesson of yore. As a writer, that elusive hint of realism hovers as the Grand Prize in any marathon of prose-creation; if you are writing about humans, then basing your book folks off people that you know well--whether you like or dislike said people--infuses your characters with human traits.

Here are some important things to consider while forming your character’s personality:

1. Avoid the alluring realm of Perfect. No one wants to read about flawless people who have all the looks, wealth and talent of the Mount Olympus deities and as a result never encounter any difficulties/disappointments in their lives. Give you characters human flaws, human habits and human problems. For instance, while some of the characters in my books may be physically attractive, (some are not) they have annoying traits like stubbornness, they sometimes jump to conclusions, make bad decisions or even possess nervous habits like nail-biting; try to include a fallacy in your character which is shared by many humans in many cultures, such as ‘insecurity’. One can even write about 'ugly' or plain characters and pull it off resoundingly, such as in C. S. Forester's The African Queen.

   
   




2. If your characters have flaws, then use them. Most folks on this planet feel disappointment, have arguments, stumble over a social faux pas and make stupid decisions, once in awhile. Most humans also usually learn from their mistakes, sometimes take advice and grow in maturity, over a period of time.

   
   




3. Avoid the incredibly cliched character whose thought process is riddled with Indecision. The number one over-used plot is The Love Triangle; this device dogs the heels of the indecision-prone character like a gray wraith of unhappiness. Again, avoid this by modeling your main especially after a real person, and have them act accordingly. Most thinking humans can and do make informed decisions each and every day.

   
   




4. Avoid slang; some minor characters might use slang or even a few cultured colloquialisms BUT doing so predominately in the prose ‘dates’ your book and substantially limits your audience. For instance, in ten years, readers may not 'get' the significance of the text abbreviation OMG. If you see a bit of slang in your characters dialog or even in the narrative, try to think of how the sentence would look in the eyes someone outside your own circle, or even more challenging, try viewing the prose from the perspective of a foreigner.

   
   




5. Keep it simple: don’t over describe your characters appearance; if possible, try to do this through the eyes of the other characters. It is very easy to say ‘too much’ about clothes, belongings or one’s home. Once you have described the character, avoid repeating said descriptions over and over again; the audience is intelligent enough to remember what they look like.

   
   

Recommended Reading List: The African Queen (C. S. Forester), My Family & Other Animals (Gerald Durrell), Mrs. Mike (B & N Freedman), Pride & Prejudice (Austen), The Horatio Hornblower Series (Forester again), The Testament (Grisham), The Legacy (Nevil Shute) & The Count of Monte Cristo (A. Dumas).