Today, I would like to talk about characterization (again) and how to build your characters. The other day, I discussed making your characters seem realistic but that is really only a small point. As a writer, you need to know how to build a writer from the onset of the story. Giving the character relatable feelings, actions, and emotions is what makes them seem realistic, and building a foundation for the characters will let you as the writer know how the character would react to or deal with certain situations.

My main reason for writing this post is because, I was struggling with a character that I am currently writing about for my screenplay. My problem was that the character is the complete opposite of me and I kept writing her according to the story and not my initial character description. Then, I realized that the character description was a partially fictionialized bio of myself and not a description of the character, I was writing in the screenplay. In the screenplay, I was writing about a sweet, polite, southern girl who wants to follow the rules. I, however, am from the midwest and I love breaking the rules and being unconventional. But, the way the character grew up and where she was raised, it just doesn't make sense for her to be this wild free spirit.

Veering back to my main point, building characters starts with a basic outline of who your characters are. Write their full name, age, DOB, and current residence. Then, answer the following questions, "What are their likes/dislikes, interests,/hobbies? Level of education? What is their current economic status?" It is important to answer these questions, because, they are the foundation of the characters, these are the elements that makes them who they are. These characteristics also affect how they will function in your story.

In conclusion, once you understand your characters, they will either inspire, sadden, or anger readers. Knowledge of your characters and the ability to create unique, yet relevant, characters will impress your readers and you as a writer will have won the war. Remember, when the page comes to life...so do you.

Today, I would like to talk about characterization and how we as writers can make our characters seem more real. As writers, we usually know what stories we want to tell but sometimes we have trouble making the characters seem realistic. So, if you are having this form of writer's block, then this is the post for you.

First of all, you need to understand the setting and background of your story. If you are telling a story about the South in the 1800s then chances are your characters need to be black or white and need to be connected to slavery in some way shape or form. Why? Because most of the Southern population at that time was black or white and was involved in slavery as slaves, masters, overseers, or slave auctioners. If you want to be different, you could use a Native American perspective to tell a story of the South in the 1800s that is not normally told.

Returning to my main point, characterization is key to a great story. If the characters are unbelievable or if people can't relate to them then the appeal of the story will be nonexistent. Another good way to write strong characters, is to use people around you as inspiration. If you have interesting people in your life, such as, the drama queen, the liar, or the crazy, alcoholic uncle then create characters similar to them and adapt them to the situations happening in your story.

Movies can also help create great characters. Movies are a visual medium that give you a chance to see the characters and interpret how they look and behave. Use these characters as models for yours. If you don't like something they did or said, then change it in your story.

Characters are the essence of a good story because they are what keeps the story moving. Therefore, it is important that they be complete and believable so that the story has foundation and room to expound upon. Characters must be so real that people talk about them like they exist. For instance, my friend and I love the book, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston because of Janie's (the main character)love interest, Teacake. We are always jokingly saying, "Where's My Teacake at?"

Characters are the life of the story so remember, When the Page Comes to Life...so do you.