WRITING TIPS 2: CHARACTERIZATION
Can your main character carry an entire story on his/her shoulders? Here are some questions to help build a character’s emotional traits.
1. What is his/her overall goal in the story?
2. Who or what stands in the way of this goal being achieved?
3. What will happen if the main character does not achieve this goal?
4. What is the character’s greatest strength?
5. What is the character’s greatest weakness or flaw?
6. Who or what frightens the character?
7. Does the character have a secret?
8. Does the character have a dream?
9. Who or what does the character love?
10. Who or what does the character hate?
Pearly words…
“Motivation is the business of supplying your fictional character with plausible reasons for them to act as you would have them act in order for your stories to be dramatically effective.”
--Lawrence Block