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	Deep Characters
	by Susan Molthop

Revised August 3, 2007

When you think about your favorite work of fiction, what jumps to mind first? The setting? The plot? I'll bet it's the characters. Whether it's Holmes, Scarlett, or Spock, an unforgettable character is the key to bringing your story to life. Here are some tips for making your characters memorable.

Motivation. Your character must have a very good reason for being in your story and for everything he says and does when he gets there. Here is an article about character development from a screenwriter's point of view: Developing Characters and Motive , from "The True Art of Screen Writing," by Blake Harris.

Conflict! Conflict! Conflict! The LAST thing you want is a "comfortable" character. Here's an article about sci-fi characters, but it works for all genres: Constructing Characters, by Robert J. Sawyer.

Give her a secret. Make it something important, that helps explain "how she got that way." Build curiosity in the reader, first, then let the reader in on the secret. Make sure there's a dramatic scene in your book or story where the secret is revealed.

Give him a skill that isn't obvious. Doncha love it when the 90 pound weakling kicks the bully's butt cuz he learned karate during summer vacation? Again, let the reader in on the secret ahead of time.

Let her make a few mistakes. A "perfect" protagonist is boring. If you want your characters to seem real, they must stub their toes a few times. Be careful, however, that you don't pick a flaw that will turn off your readers. If she's trying to quit smoking and bums a smoke in a moment of weakness, I can forgive her--if she steals a pack of cigarettes, I can't.

Let him grow/change. Remember Jack Ryan in The Hunt For Red October? He couldn't stand the "turbulence" on the plane in the beginning of the movie. By the end, he was sleeping like a baby on a commercial flight. When a character grows, it gives readers a sense of accomplishment, as if we've helped him through his difficulties, just by reading the book (or watching the movie).

If you write a series character, remember, she doesn't live in a vacuum. We all suffer disappointments and tragedies. We all experience triumphs and disasters. Sprinkle a few of these in book one, then remind the reader in book two. This will make your character seem like an old friend to your readers.

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