Characters—They’re everywhere

Having trouble developing three dimensional characters? Stop and take a look around you. So many interesting and unique characters interact with you daily. Co-workers, neighbors, friends, and relatives are full of personality traits that can inflate your flat character into a life-size hero or heroine that leaps off the page. You can even find some amazing villain traits. It all depends on who’s around you. Admit it, there is always that situation where someone stabbed someone in the back, or did a random act of kindness. I for one would love to get the shirt that warns people to be nice or they’ll appear in my next novel.

So, beyond the obvious what are some everyday happenings you can bring into your characterization? Recently I’ve struggled with a MG hero that didn’t jump off the page for me. All the character development question sheets and bio’s weren’t helping.

Last night my son showed me how to breathe more life into this hero. Here’s an example of a social interaction with my two younger sons that lead me to the character trait I’d been looking for.

My four-year-old hasn’t been able to sleep the last few nights because of fear of spiders. Here is how my six-year-old son handled getting his brother to sleep.

Son: “I’ll take care of it mom.”

Me: “That’s sweet, but honey I don’t know what you can do.”

Son: “Just come upstairs. I’ll call you to tuck him in. He’ll be in bed waiting for
you.”

Me: “Okay honey, I’ll be up in a few.”

Yeah right. If I can’t get him to sleep there is no way he can.

Fifteen minutes later.

Son: “Mom, we’re ready!”

Me: “Okay, coming.”

I walk up the stairs and find my six-year-old tucking my four-year-old into bed, both with a smile. I immediately check the room for some sort of contraband but found nothing. I tuck my youngest in and pull the door closed—well leaving a two finger space open—behind me without any complaint.

Me: “How’d you do it?”

Son: “He was scared of spiders getting him in the night.”

Mom: “Yes”

Son: “Today at school I learned to draw an owl.”

Son points to picture of an owl taped to his brother’s door.

Son: “Owls eat spiders. It will protect him tonight while he sleeps.”

My son the Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) showed me how to build a stronger MG hero. A character that uses logic to overcome obstacles.

Go team Sheldon!

Do you have anything that recently happened that could bring a character to life? If so, share. I’d love to know how real life people have influenced your characters. Do you have your own secret way of developing stronger charactes?