Characters part one: the main character

Note: These steps are for if you stuck and/or writing a book. These steps aren't necessary for a good main character.

Characters are the back bone of of a story. There are a lot of things to think about when you create your main character.

1. you need to come up with a basic idea of what you want you character to be like. Let's say I'm writing a story about a human teenage girl, who usually has her head in the clouds.

2. I would come up with a name to suit the character. I'm going to go with the name Charlotte Marie Clementine. If you write a lot of fictional stories, I advise you to have a list of girl's names, boy's names, fantasy names, last names and a list of names for fire fighters, writers, scientists, etc. for minor characters who won't be mentioned very often. Phone books are great places to find first and last names.

3. Get a piece of note book paper and write on the first side things like the character's hobbies, eye color, hair color, family, etc.. On the other side, write a paragraph describing the character. Here's an example of that paragraph with one of my minor characters from BtLoN:

"Tasha is a quiet, barely teenager who is in her first year of college. Her bubbly sister, Nia, is constantly getting on her nerves. Tasha's interests include: poetry, violin, piano, singing and ballroom dance. She plans on being a music teacher after college."

4. Give your character some flaws. Let's say that Charlotte has a bad habit of biting her nails and she trips when she goes down the stairs. Maybe have you main character be self-conscious or made fun of for something.

5. Give your character some personality and add whatever else you see fit.


Next weeks "Words on a Page writing assignment": co-stars