Getting to Know Your Characters: A Friendly Guide

Understanding Your Characters

Hey writer friends! We all know that creating compelling characters is crucial to any story. If your characters feel flat or lack depth, they might just leave your readers hanging. One of the best ways to bring them to life is to really get to know them. I mean, how can we ask readers to connect with our characters if we don’t even know them ourselves? So, let’s chat about how you can dig deeper into your characters' personalities.

The Enneagram Approach

One method that I swear by is the Enneagram personality typing system. It's a fun way to categorize your characters based on their motivations, fears, and desires. Each type has its unique strengths and weaknesses, which can dictate their actions throughout your story. Understanding your character through the Enneagram can provide insight into how they might react in different situations, which is super helpful in crafting authentic dialogue and interactions. Plus, it adds an extra layer of complexity to their personalities, making them feel more relatable!

Hobbies and Daily Routines

Now, we can’t just stop at personality types, right? What are your characters into besides the plot? Giving them hobbies and interests not only adds freshness but also makes them feel real. Imagine your character’s daily life. Even if their job isn’t pivotal to the story, knowing what they do for a living is essential for building their routines. Ask yourself – what does their average day look like? What are their weekends like? Do they prefer Netflix binging or hitting the hikes for adventure?

Oh, and don’t forget about vacations! Are they the type to plan extravagant trips abroad, or do they prefer to chill at home with a good book? Maybe they enjoy discovering hidden local gems or just enjoy a weekend picnic at the park. These small details can add so much richness to your characterization.

Remember, you want to create characters that feel like they could actually exist outside the pages of your story. The more you know them—hobbies, routines, the way they think—the more real they will become. So grab your notebooks and start jotting down every little quirk about your characters! In the end, it all boils down to making your characters as relatable and genuine as possible, ensuring they resonate with your readers.

Happy writing, everyone! Can't wait to see all the fantastic characters you create!