Part of good storytelling is making the audience believe in the story, believe that the characters really existed, acting out events exactly as the author outlines them. This means everything the character says and does needs to be rooted in who the character is. An author must always be aware of why a character acts and reacts as they do, so that audiences never stop to consider the invisible hand behind the curtain.
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Writing Different Characters (102-05)
Where To Start
One of the longstanding challenges is writing characters who are different from the author. Everyone has a unique identity, and part of that identity is their age, their gender, and their ethnic heritage. In short, how does an author write from the perspective of “other characters”?
First Impressions 103-02 (Revealing Character I)
One way to engage audiences is through characters. Audiences enjoy getting to know the characters, building up to an “ah ha” moment, when the audience understands a little more about who the character is, and how that relates to the story as a whole.
Engaging Characters 103-01
Within the story all characters must engage the audience, which is to spark and maintain the audience’s interest and attention. A good character needs to do two things: advance the plot, and reveal interesting details about themselves.
Lamentable Flaws 102-10
1. Deceiver
Lying is one of the broadest character flaws; ranging from white lies to cruel deception. When it comes to liars there are three parameters that govern whether lying is a minor flaw or a serious transgression: how frequently the character lies, how significant their lies are, and their motive for lying.