Hello again! Is it really possible that another week has passed since the last writing tip? :-)Today we’re going to think about characters, because they are essential to the success of our stories.
“Character is king” is an oft-quoted phrase, but it really is true.
However gripping the plot, however exciting the setting, your characters are the key to the success of your novel. Your characters need to be people your readers care so deeply about, they want to keep turning the pages to see what happens to them.
Think of a novel you read recently that you enjoyed, or a movie you watched. Was it not the relationship you built up with the characters which compelled you to keep watching the movie/turning the pages? Did you feel deeply for them?
In the next few days, see if you can’t come up with a main character your readers will feel for, understand and engage with. Plot and setting will follow. In fact, your characters might take you to extraordinary places, once you set them free! Even if you never get round to writing the story, at least it will have been good practice. 🙂
Hope that’s useful. If it is, please don’t hesitate to share with your writer friends!
Many thanks,
Janet
P.S. If you would like to look further into characters for books for young people, why not consider doing the Write for a Reason course? We go into a lot more detail than we have space for here. Love to have you!