By Jennifer Blanchard
Once you have a plot for your NaNo novel, the next step is to create your main characters.
You want to know as much as you can about these people before you start writing your novel. The more you know about them, the better you can write your first draft.
Creating a character is a lot of fun. But it’s also a challenge for many writers.
If you’re someone who struggles with making your characters three-dimensional, real people, then you should get a copy of Holly Lisle’s Create A Character Clinic.
I downloaded this e-book back before I started writing my first novel. I knew characters were always an issue for me. Most of mine have come out flat and unrealistic in the past.
I was lucky enough at the time to have a six-hour block of free time one Sunday afternoon, so I sat down and worked through Lisle’s entire book. And I walked away, not only knowing my main character much better, but also having the first believable character I’ve ever created.
The book is full of great exercises that force you to write from your character’s voice and point-of-view. I think this is what makes it so successful in helping you create a believable character.
In section one you learn how to pull information from the character so you can better-learn who he/she is. In section two, you learn how to bring the character to life. Section three teaches the sins of characterization and how to commit them correctly.
Lisle also gives detailed information on what makes us who we are. She discusses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how this plays into creating a believable character.
If you have a hard time creating characters that feel real, you should buy Create A Character Clinic and spend the next couple weeks leading up to NaNoWriMo getting to know your characters.
If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo this year and would like help staying motivated throughout the entire challenge, be sure to sign up for my 30 Days of NaNoWriMo Tips for Procrastinating Writers e-mail newsletter.
