Efficient Tricks that Build Characters in a Story
Readers are very difficult to be fooled. They always have it in their minds that the account they're reading is a story... a made up fabrication of lies and falsehood. This might sound disappointing but sadly, readers know that stories are stories. Now what? Take the challenge of fooling them and winning them over!
See, any story or novel has its base formed by the characters. As writers, you need to build the characters live and strong... make sure that the readers might forget the name of the book after three decades but not the characters... the characters should come and talk to them... haunt them in their dreams... make them cry... make them laugh... make them feel as their individual selves... make them believe in them. And it is here that your blood and sweat will be shed and it is tough.
Showing and not telling: This is imortant. if you say that Sameera was old readers will take it as an information. But in their minds there wouldn't be any appropriate picture for her. Show it by what she does... say:
Sameera took her steps slowly as she walked down the hills. The sunrays touched the wrinkles near her nose as she stooped downwards holding her stick. "Oh! The sun!" she said to herself as the corners of her lips drooped down.
This serves my purpose!
Dialogues: They are very effective and you're almost there near perfection if you've used them efficiently.
Dreams: Yes... This is a great tool.
Madhu turned his head with a creaking noise and hurled towards me. She picked me up and threw me from one corner of the room to another. I was sweating and struggling for fresh air. The telephone rang and I opened my eyes. It was a dream.
This makes an impression that Madhu is a bully.
Letters: If suddenly in the middle of the plot you realize you need to share a background information about a character, you've got it... you can always use letters. They're a fabulous way to help your characters come out open with their thoughts and feelings, letting the reader find out more about them.
These are the few tricks that I've used to build characters and there are many more. But yes, you the basic rule is you have to know your characters. Think about them. Interview them. Talk to them. Make sure that every aspect of the character has been covered. And be prepared to let your characters and their responses surprise you.
Keep writing to explore them.
