Hello my name is... The Development
of a Character by Lorena Bathey
In the world of fiction one of the
toughest aspects can be creating your characters. Plotting can be
easy, wild, and weird. But the characters you develop have to be
someone that a reader would like. One who is reading the story
doesn't always have to relate to the characters life, but it does
help to endear the character to the person reading the pages.
What's the first step in character
development for me? What they look like.
Why? Because when I create their
outward appearance it helps me to then layer in the personality.
There are certain stereotypes that authors can fall back on; the
handsome hero, the beautiful damsel in distress, and the evil,
creepy-looking villain. However, when you create a story where the
characters are the plot, then you have to bring more to them.
As an author my story usually begins
with a character who will be the narrator. I let them speak in either
dialog or inner speak so you get their inflection and tone which
creates a picture in your head. Then I describe what they look like,
but I do this broadly because I want the reader to then fill in the
gaps. I want the reader to bond with the narrator and to become
invested in them and the story that builds around them.
Once you have the main character then
it's time to populate their world. Oftentimes different characters
pop up as the story progresses. But when I begin a book I try to
create a few characters a head of time that I know will be involved
somehow. How much or how little can be determined as the story grows,
but having established characters means you can use them to bring a
story to fruition. These other characters can be wacky, weird, or
anything you want. They are the frosting on the cake. In fact,
usually the wackier the better when it comes to supporting
individuals in your story.
Characters are the backbone of the
story, and can even be the whole story. But make sure that you create
a wave effect for them. In most books there is a problem that needs
to be solved and that the character needs to go through. Then the
apex where all may seem lost. How that character responds is integral
to the story. In the ending you can make it happy, tragic, or simply
realistic, whichever way you choose, the character's response must
make sense to how you developed them.
Creating characters is fun. You can use
your imagination. They can be everything the author isn't or
everything you want to be. Make them deep, interesting, and ready to
take what comes at them. It's a story. It's fiction. Think outside
the box and then let your character lead you through the story.
Bio:
Growing
up in Northern California, Lorena Bathey attended St. Mary’s
College in Moraga graduating with a degree in English.
Lorena
Bathey found characters were visiting her mind and wouldn't leave.
She was introduced to Marissa, Andrea, Lily, Deidre and Beatrice and
her first novel, Beatrice
Munson, came to life.
After finishing that book she was inspired to write more novels and
she knew that pursuing her passion was the best way to live her life.
So a writer she became.
After
meeting the love of her life, they embarked on the thrilling life to
follow their dreams, bringing their families along for the ride.
Today Lorena has nine novels in her writing queue.
But
writing isn't the only muse that inspires Lorena. She has become a
passionate photographer and likes to push the envelope taking avant
guarde shots. Travel, walking, enjoying new restaurants, and Italy
are other loves and things she makes sure she has time for.
Find
her at www.LorenaBBooks.com
