how to create a story character: a guide by subhana

Hello! Today I will be showing you how to create a character for your story. I have created a lot for my stories and they are actually very easy to make!

Choose your character's gender, name and age.

And all this should tie in with the story. If there is a certain age limit for doing certain important things your character must do (eg. time travel, supernatural abilities, etc etc) and if they have an important name that is supposed to drive the plot, then do so. Remember - don't let a character have a very unusual name for their time/place unless it drives the plot and the age limit mustn't be unrealistic (you can't make characters climb mountains and shoot guns when they're like, seven).

Give your character a personality.

For the sake of this post, I shall choose my character Vivian Wren as an example. The character must have strengths (eg. Vivian's good at combat, deception and is loyal) but weaknesses, too (not quick to trust anyone, very judgemental, pessimistic). Also don't let either strength or weakness outweigh the other; they must be evenly balanced. Don't give them too many weaknesses because the reader is supposed to sympathize with the character and not dislike them, and don't turn them into a Mary Sue either because these characters have little to no depth. Also, give them quirks, habits, and favorite colors, foods, things to wear, how to travel, just little details.

What about their looks?

Not stunningly beautiful but not so ugly they look hideous. Find the right balance. If a birthmark or scar they have is important to the plot, then that's fine. Vivian, for example, has black hair down to her hips, pale skin, and blue eyes. Note that I didn't say pretty. Or beautiful. Adjectives shouldn't be used to describe their general appearance. Maybe "their hair was black as jet" or "her eyes were like stars" but never the whole general appearance. Also, take note of what they like to wear; do they constantly wear a different hat each day, but always a hat? Anything purple, but always purple? Make sure their wardrobe ties in with the timeline.

The best part: backstories!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE creating character backstories. This should be the last part because I like weaving all the intricacies of their personality and looks into a unique, interesting story. Why do they do the things they do? Why don't they do the things they don't do? From where have they acquired their little quirks and habits? It is so fun to do when your imagination is working at top speed. Explain their parents, their siblings (if they have any), why did it mold their personality this way, etc.