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How to Write
Character Description that Pulls in Readers
In order for your
readers to buy into your story, creating believable character's is
important. Through character description, you can bring readers
into the fold. Before you start working on your story, take the
time to develop character descriptions for all the major characters
in your book.
Think about your
favorite characters. What is it about the characters that draws you
in? How did the author develop the protagonist, antagonist, and
other characters?
When you create
character descriptions, you can include some or all of the following
information. The character's...
Name
Occupation
Physical Characteristics
Plight
Personality
You can write as
much or as little as you want. For some stories you may need light
character descriptions and for others more detailed character
descriptions. There isn't a right or wrong approach. All that
matters is that you have the necessary information to create
wonderful characters.
Sample of a Light
Character Description
Lola Martinez:
protagonist, 22, college student
Nole Brown: Lola's
abusive younger boyfriend, 19, high school dropout.
Sample of a
Detailed Character Description
Merced Davis: A
teenage runaway who is accused of killing a popular town resident.
Eva Brenner: Busty
blonde attorney who doesn't fit the bimbo stereotype. Her breasts
are real and even without them she would have received A's
throughout her college career.
Mable Poole: A
single-parent waitress who receives better tips when she shares the
town gossip with local residents.
Sample Character
Development Essay
Uncle Paulie is an
only child, and therefore is not a "uncle." He grew up in
Brooklyn and has an accent to match. He never admitted to being a
gangster, but some people think he's in the mafia because of his
smart dress. He has a quick temper that has gotten him into
trouble with the law. Uncle Paulie never did hard time because no
one ever pressed charges against him.
As you can see, the
amount of character description you provide is up to you. As long as
you include enough information to ensure your character development
is strong, that's all that matters.
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