- Interesting: a dull character; predictable character; one who always reacts in the same way. For example, the hero is always noble and the heroine is always virtuous; the villain is fiendish; provides character with logical yet unanticipated aspects of personality; another example is Matt Dillon in the movie: Crash: he saves the woman he fondled. Ethnic characters often made interesting by virtue of such handling.
- Memorable: Select unique aspect of body, mind, background and personality
- Viewpoint: Whose skin are we in? Five things where characters is concerned. 1ST-it’s through the viewpoint character that you orient your readers to a story. Let them know whose story it is. 2ND, being inside somebody’s skin is a major way to grip readers. It provides instant identification and empathy with character. 3rd, you cannot enter another character’s mind. 4TH, he can’t lie about his inner feelings.5th audience will be a key in your choice of viewpoint. First person is “I”, Second person is “you” and third person is “he/she”
- Protagonist: character who has a goal. Character made unhappy by a change in his/her situation and goal motivated to a course of action that’ll return the happiness. Keep protagonist an individual instead of group.
- Antagonist: the villain
- Love-interest: love/desirable
- Bit-players: “incidental”, minor character in fictional worlds. For example: passing subjects in mysteries; friend and co-workers and neighbors of Hero and Heroines; waitresses and waiters.
- Character in depth: Give character background, dreams, doubts, inner conflicts.
- Nom-human Character: What are alien are unique characteristics? What does an alien have in common with reader? What’s the purpose?
- This list is not alphabetized
jun 27 2012 ∞
jun 27 2012 +
jun 27 2012 +