What a Character!

A great character in a book is similar to a good friend in the sense that they're both someone we want to spend time with. But, unlike our good buddies, great characters can be rotten to the core. So, what is it about certain fictional players that draw us in? Three of my favorite attributes are their intrigue, image, and depth.

Intrigue is what about them holds our interest. It's why someone should care about the character. What personality traits do they have that make them unique, or what behaviors do they exhibit that a reader could empathize with.

Image is what the reader makes a character out to look like. We don't really need to know if the protagonist has straight hair or curly, but if we can picture them-it closes the gap between our worlds.

My favorite trait to analyze is depth. Depth is how solid the character is. Can I get a feel for how they would act in any circumstance: even outside the story? Does the player feel authentic? This is done by showing the character's actions in a variety of situations and, every time, showing their behaviors are true to their personality and physical limitations. If a character is flawed or chaotic or rotten to the core, their actions must still make sense in the reality of their world.

If you're a writer, think about the characters you've created and analyze them. If they're bland, inconsistent, or hard to imagine, they will negatively impact your story. Interesting, well developed, players will be the ones readers want to hang out with.