The last two posts (Part I & Part II) spoke about the Ten Plotting Problems. Today let us discuss ten ways to make your character multi-dimensional.
Imagine your character on paper. She's flat and two dimensional. With a little shading, a little color, and some background, she starts to leap off the paper becoming a three dimensional character.
So how do we "Get into Character"?
1. Likeability
The reader must like your hero and heroine.
A. What are his attributes and qualities?
B. How is he perceived by other characters?
C. Is the character sincere? Compassionate? Vulnerable? Etc.
Your character needs certain qualities that affect how other characters interact with him/her.
2. Give the Character Faults
A. Give the character something that sets him apart such as: OCD, ADHD, socially inept, stutter, clumsy, judgemental, easily angered, etc.
B. It's usually good to have him struggle with something from the past. This struggle should be inwardly as well as outwardly.
Struggles make the character more realistic.
3. Give Clear Goals
A. Make sure the character grows, emotionally & spiritually.
Character growth is what we call the character Arc.
B. have achievable goals: reconciliation, redemption, salvation. Make them "worthy goals".
4. Descriptions
These are to be worked into the story and through dialogue.
A. Above all else avoid stereotypes, but stay true to the region and culture.
B. What are the character's mannerisms? Health? Occupation (this affects who they are and what they do)? Martial status? Etc.
C. Mannerisms can include: hand talk, stutter, chatty, shy, etc.
5. Speech in Dialogues
Keep the speech used in dialogue distinctive, not cliched or flat/forced.
A. Diction, accent, and colloquialisms (the sayings of a region).
Unless he's a transplant a man wouldn't say "you guys" in the South, "y'all" in the North. I'll speak on colloquialisms at a later date.
B. Is his/her voice deep, husky, melodic, squeaky?
C. Use the same formula above to develop secondary characters. Secondary characters increase the depth of the main characters.
6. Special Skills or Knowledge
A. What hobbies does she/he have? Usually this can be used to help them later in the story.
B. Remember NO convenient happenings!!! you introduce this skill that will be beneficial to him and others well before the scene where it is needed.
7. Keep Your Character True
A. Be true to the time period, culture, and character.
1. If she is usually quiet-nature, it would be unnatural to have an angry outburst.
2. If he does something out of character make sure the reader knows it was intended.
B. Establish the character's behaviour early in the book.
8. Give a Past to the Character
A. No INFO DUMP
1. Gradually work this past into the story.
B. There MUST be a conflict. Something that is threatening to the character.
C. Details, Details, Details, people!
1. Family, birthplace, occupation, faith, talents, intelligence, ethnicity, education, view of self, etc. You don't don't dump this info all at once. It is shown through action and dialogue.
2. Is he is flawed, then why?
9. Gotta Have a Motive
A. You have to let the character grow.
1. how does her past effect her future?
2. What major events impacted his life?
B. How does his goal change? Is he the same as he was at the beginning?
C. Are new goals discovered?
D. Give the characters inner conflict to overcome as well. Let them inner journey parallel the physical plot.
10. Give the Character Obstacles
A. This will incorporate not only the personality traits, but his/her goals, and conflicts.
B. Obstacles strengthen the character's growth.
Now that your character is multi-dimensional then how do you really GET INTO CHARACTER? Next time, I'll speak on that. Until then, think on how you can apply these pointers to your characters. Which ones do you need to strengthen?
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