Creating Characters #2

Here: http://mediocrewriterrachel.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/creating-characters.html I created a post about making 'realistic' or 'human' characters. The summary of what I said was: Think about how your character will act and how they're talking. Could you relate them to somebody you know? Then well done. Can you not? Can you imagine them as a human being with flaws and positives? Well done.

But I want to add a few more pointers to it.

One thing that every character needs is a problem. No matter how small this problem is it's a standard quality required in your character through the story. (Or it's a personal problem which affects the story. Whichever works for you.) How will your character react? What do they say in response to this problem? What can the character learn from her problem? (Or what can the reader learn?)

But if you don't have a problem for your character then they're not much of a character. Everybody right now, everybody you meet today or tomorrow, every person you pass on the streets or see on public transport, everybody will have a problem. There is no such thing as a character who has no problem. No such thing.

What usually comes skipping merrily behind this problem is a motivation that will drive your character to overcome or solve this problem. If your character encounters the problem and just goes on about their day like it was nothing then honestly? What the hell are you doing? Motivation gives rise to action. Action gives rise to more problems. Problems give rise to consequences. Consequences gives rise to more action. And so on.

Everybody has a motivation. (Unless they're just heartless, but even then there's a motivation of some kind.) No matter how small the motivation is there is always one.

Let's imagine a scenario:

Leo is a seventeen year old teenager. His problem? He's locked out of the house and wants to get inside but nobody's home. His motivation? It's the middle of December and it's cold.

Simple.

It's not rocket science. But because he has a problem and a motivation he will have an action. This action could lead him anywhere, it is down to you as a writer. But:

Problem = Motivation = Action

Happy Writing.