Normally when I'm writing a short story i have the opposite issue: great characters, crappy plot. But I have the exact opposite issue with my novel: amazing plot, no characters. I know who the characters are, what they do in the story, but I don't know anything about them.
Any tips, good resources, brainstorming tools?
Four answers:
?
2012-03-30 13:10:53 UTC
If you already know what they do, the part they have to play in the plot, build their characteristics around that. For example, if one of your guys is in charge of raiding the villain's lair and beating the crap out of them, make him ex-military. Make him someone who grew up dirt poor and joined for the benefits. Make him someone who was deployed to Iraq and traumatized by what he experienced there. Make him unstable and in need of therapy and medication.
If you've got a character who serves to figure something out and put clues together, make her the resident brainiac. Make her an Ivy League dropout who hates authority. She doesn't work well with the team - she's too arrogant, too independent, too snobbish.
See what I mean? Take their basic function in the plot, what they do, and build a logical history and personality around it. Remember that they should all have major flaws that drive conflict, such as the soldier's psychological issues and the brainiac's aloofness.
?
2012-03-30 19:56:55 UTC
Find a page of character traits on line and mix & match.
When you write, make sure to have your characters exhibit the traits as they go on with their life, in dialogue, actions, etc. Eventually, you'll begin to easily associate a character with a certain trait.
Good luck in your story!
lions and tigers and bears oh my
2012-03-30 19:46:13 UTC
If you look online for 'the worlds longest (or is it largest, I can't remember) quiz' then you will find this huge quiz full of simple questions like eye colour, favourite food, if you like such and such a thing. Put yourself in the character's position and fill in the quiz. Either this or take likes/dislikes/social or family positions from your friends or people that you see online or something
2012-03-30 19:39:51 UTC
Put yourself into the story. That's pretty much the secret to a realistic character right there.
ⓘ
This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.