The Best Way To Design The Characters In Your Novel?

When it comes to writing a novel, you need a solid plan. As the author, you will be responsible for the characters and their development over the course of the story. You will also be responsible for making sure those characters have depth and meaning within that world. 

If you don’t think about these things in advance, then chances are good your story will fall flat on its face once it gets published; no one wants that! So, what exactly should an author do when it comes time to create his or her characters?

Key Takeaways
1. Understand the importance of well-designed characters in storytelling.
2. Dive deep into character motivations, personalities, and backgrounds to create realistic and relatable individuals.
3. Explore character arcs and development throughout the story to engage readers emotionally.
4. Avoid common character design pitfalls, such as one-dimensional stereotypes.
5. Balance character-driven and plot-driven elements to create a cohesive and captivating narrative.

Look At Photos Of The Actor Or Actress

The first step to designing your character is to look at photos of the actor or actress who will be playing them on screen. This will help you visualize the character in your head. You’ll also want to pay attention to their background, as well as their physical description. 

The more information you have about a person and how they got where they are now the better able you’ll be able to write their story accurately.

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Think About The Character’s Roots And Motivations

As you design your characters, focus on their roots and motivations. This will help you create well-rounded, three-dimensional characters that readers can relate to.

Here are some of the things you should think about:

• The character’s backstory.
• The character’s personality.
• The background they grew up in (family history, education level, career).
• Hobbies and interests as well as what activities they engage in during their spare time (e.g., reading books or watching movies).

If your novel revolves around a certain topic such as science fiction or romance then it will be helpful to understand what motivates people who like those genres so much that they’re willing to read novels about them!

Give Your Character A Unique Skill

It’s important to give your character a unique skill. This could be anything from being an expert at shooting guns to being able to speak six different languages. Think about what the character is good at and how it can help them in the story.

Make sure that the special skill is relevant to the story you are trying to tell, though, or else it will just be filler that doesn’t add much value. 

You can give a character a special skill in several different ways: for example, by giving them a unique talent (like being able to play the piano) or through their training (such as James Bond’s spy training).

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Give Your Character A Defining Physical Attribute

Physical attributes can be as simple as a scar or as complex as a limp, but they should be something that is both physically obvious and allows you to describe it in detail. 

If your character has a birthmark on their face, you can use it to distinguish them from other characters and give yourself the chance to explain why they have that particular mark and how it affects them (or even better if there’s some history behind the mark). 

You can also use physical attributes to create conflict: maybe one of your characters has been embarrassed by something he did when he was young, so now he wears long sleeves all the time even though everyone knows about his tattoo.

Choose Names, Not Just For Their Meaning, But For Their Sound And Rhythm

We all know that a character’s name can be the difference between a reader remembering your book and forgetting it. But how do you choose?

It’s good practice to select names for their meaning, but don’t forget about the other aspects of a name as well. Some things to keep in mind:

Choose names that are easy to pronounce and spell. If your reader has trouble with either of those tasks, they’ll lose interest in reading about your characters before they get very far into your story!

Don’t choose common names. It’s tempting especially if you’re writing contemporary fiction but don’t give one of your characters the same name as someone famous or infamous from history or today’s news headlines (unless you’re doing it deliberately). 

And while people do occasionally have names like “Alfred” or “Abigail,” they’re not so common that they’ll be confusing for readers who aren’t familiar with them already (likewise, avoiding giving every character an unusual name as “Gaspard” helps).

Name length should also be kept at a reasonable level; aim for three syllables max unless there is some reason why this particular person should have such an elongated moniker. Finally, pick short nicknames too if possible!

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Use A Storyboarding Tool

Storyboarding is a way to visualize your novel before you start writing. It helps you plan the plot, characters, and themes of your story. Storyboarding also helps you plan how each scene will unfold, how it will end, and what happens next in the rest of the novel.

Storyboard software allows you to create a visual representation of your book before writing it, which makes it easier for writers with visual learning styles like myself.

Because we can see everything laid out in front of us as opposed to only being able to imagine it when writing prose (and often my imagination fails me).

Create An Interview Of The Character With Him/Herself

The first step is to create an interview of the character him/herself. You can use the first person, asking questions and writing down the answers. If you would like, you can add thoughts, feelings, and actions as well as motivations and background information.

In addition to learning about your characters this way, you will also get to know them in a very personal way. This will help you later when writing scenes where they are interacting with others or making decisions that have consequences for others (or even themselves).

Make A Physical Character Sketch Of Your Character

A physical character sketch is a visual representation of the main characters in your novel. It’s a great way to get to know them better and make sure they’re as realistic as possible.

You can use it for inspiration when writing about them, too: if you get stuck on what to write next or how to describe their appearance in detail, just look at your character sketch! You’ll have all the information you need right there in front of you.

A Physical Character Sketch Contains:

• A drawing of each main character (and maybe their family members)

Create A Cast Of Characters Before You Begin Your Novel

When it comes to designing the characters in your novel, you can’t just start writing and hope they’ll all work out. You need to have a solid plan before you begin. This begins with creating a cast of characters.

To create this list, first, decide how many main characters will be featured in your story. Then write down their names and roles as well as who they are related to (friends, family members) and how those relationships are portrayed in the story. 

By doing this, you’ll be able to keep track of who is who even when writing about multiple scenes at once or during different points in time.

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Consider His Or Her Living Situation, Possessions, And Lifestyle

Think about where your character lives. Is it an apartment? A house? An RV? Does he or she live alone or with a family? The answers to these questions will help you develop a more complete idea of who this person is.

The same applies to possessions: how does the environment reflect the character’s personality? For example, if your protagonist has just moved into a new home she picked out herself, chances are that she’s not only practical but also enjoys decorating. 

If the protagonist owns a large collection of books and rarely goes outside (she prefers reading over going out), this might indicate that she’s introverted or shy and probably doesn’t have many friends.

Have Your Character Make Their Playlist Or Soundtrack

If you’re struggling to find the right music for your character, there’s a simple solution: have them create their playlist. This is a great way of getting inside their headspace, and understanding what kind of music they would listen to.

If your main character is an introvert, they might enjoy listening to classical pieces or soft piano ballads. 

If they’re an extrovert or partiers, maybe they’ll be into rock or pop music instead. If they’re somewhere in between those two extremes, then perhaps something more eclectic like jazz would work well!

Create A Family Tree For Each Character

A family tree for each character is a great way to get inside their heads. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should provide enough information so that you can understand how the characters relate to each other and the world they live in.

When you’re creating your family tree, think about who raised them, what their parents were like, who they look like (and why), and what qualities did they inherit from their parents or grandparents?

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Plan Out Your Book’s Timeline

A timeline is an important tool for every writer. It lets you keep track of all the events in your story, and it also helps you figure out when these events are going to happen.

For example, let’s say that your story takes place over two weeks in October. If you want to be able to put this information into your timeline easily, try using a Google Spreadsheet or Excel file (or any other spreadsheet that can sync with online services). 

Then give each day its row and fill in what happens on each day during those two weeks you might even start with “Day 1” if that makes sense based on how much time passes between chapters or scenes within chapters. 

You could also use color coding to indicate different types of scenes: red for action scenes; green for peaceful ones; yellow for funny ones; blue or purple if they’re somewhere in between. You get the idea!

The point here isn’t necessarily accuracy but rather having an easy way to see what kind of moods will appear throughout each week so that as soon as someone asks about them later down line without having heard about them directly beforehand by reading through entire chapters over again.

Just because one little detail slipped through the cracks before now (as often happens when writing complex plots) there’d still be some sorta tangible reference point available which would allow us not only to remember specifics but also connect dots between details more quickly too because now we know exactly where everything belongs

Conduct Research On The Topic

The first step to creating a character is to research the topic. This will help you understand who these characters are and what they need so that you can write about them with confidence and authenticity.

Research is important because it gives you an understanding of your subject matter, which enables you to write in a way that feels authentic. 

If your protagonist is a scientist, do some research into the field of science and learn about its history. This will give you a better idea of what kinds of things might interest this person and perhaps even reveal hidden depths in their personality.

Conclusion

Character design is one of the most exciting and fun parts of writing a novel. It’s also one of the most important. 

The more detailed your character, the more complex their world will be, and that means that your reader will have a more enjoyable experience following their journey through it which makes all this hard work worth it!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to further enhance your understanding of character design and development:

Milanote Guide to Creating Memorable Characters: Dive into this comprehensive guide that provides insights and strategies for crafting memorable characters that resonate with your readers.

Character Development: How to Create Characters That Captivate Readers: Explore this resource to learn techniques for creating captivating characters that drive your story forward and engage your audience.

Character Profile: A Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Compelling Characters: Follow this step-by-step guide to developing compelling character profiles that breathe life into your fictional world.

FAQs

How can I create characters that readers will remember?

Crafting memorable characters requires a deep understanding of their motivations, flaws, and desires. By exploring their complexities and ensuring they evolve throughout the story, you can create characters that leave a lasting impact on your readers.

What role does character development play in storytelling?

Character development is essential for driving the plot and emotional engagement of a story. Well-developed characters undergo personal growth and transformation, which adds depth and relatability to the narrative.

How can I avoid common pitfalls in character design?

To avoid common pitfalls, make sure your characters aren’t one-dimensional stereotypes. Instead, infuse them with unique traits, internal conflicts, and relatable struggles that mirror real-life complexities.

What techniques can I use to make my characters more relatable?

Infusing your characters with relatability involves giving them relatable goals, fears, and vulnerabilities. This allows readers to empathize with their experiences and connect on a deeper emotional level.

How do I balance character-driven and plot-driven storytelling?

Balancing character-driven and plot-driven elements involves intertwining the characters’ personal arcs with the overarching plot. This fusion creates a seamless narrative where the characters’ growth and decisions shape the direction of the story.