Happy Wednesday, everything is awful but we still have work to do.

So let's talk about character, and most importantly, characterization in books!

So, when I mention character the first thing people do is usually show me one of those thirty question "get to know your character" interview sheets.

Look, do those if you want, but they are largely unnecessary and just fun.

Characterization really boils down to the following:

outlook (which is formed by experience and their emotional need/truth)

word choice (which is formed by experience and their setting)

story choice (which is formed by the emotional need/truth and setting)

Notice your characterization is impacted by your plot and your setting! Because characters are products of their environments (as we all are) and they *should* change and grow as they live through the events of the story!

So, outlook:

What wound does your character carry around because of their experiences? What do they want? How does that impact the way they see the world? Are they bitter because of things? Or do they have a can do attitude? This should include their overall disposition.

Consider someone like Captain America. He stands up for the little guy because he was once the little guy. One of the reasons he is so very loyal to Bucky is because he was there for Cap before he was ripped and hot.

All of his decisions and his perspective flows from this truth

Word choice:

This is vitally important in crafting your character at a sentence level. How do they talk? Think? If you are writing in first person this should flow through every sentence, in third it's most important in internal monologue and dialogue.

And story choice:

What decision does your character make when presented by an obstacle? How does that decision play into their overall outlook and what you've shown the reader thus far. If your character is merciless why do they show mercy in that moment?

Story choice is the main hurdle to character consistency. The decisions a character makes should flow from the outlook and emotional need you've shown the reader. Otherwise, you get the dreaded inconsistent character and readers will balk.

Don't worry, its why we have revisions!

Sometimes it helps to write a character in a no pressure scene before you get started drafting just to make sure you know the person you're working with. It's why the first three chapters of a lot of books are unnecessary and can be streamlined: you are getting to know your MC.

And keep in mind you should know all of these things, outlook, word choice, and story choice, for ALL of your characters who appear on the page, even if only for a brief moment.

It will help them feel real.

Happy Writing!