Learning how to make our characters strong, believable, lovable, loathed, and focused is something we all should strive for as writers. I want to fall in love with my character or hate them so badly I want to see how the book ends. I follow through with the liking of a character. There are some books, but by the time it ends, I wish the one I fell for would go away, as my alliance has shifted to the villain who is suddenly incredible.
If we stick to the physical aspect of what our characters look like, while we may describe the description, one can only go so far with looks. So invest in your characters, go to the root of what makes them who they are, what they are, and why I should, as a reader, get so invested in this one person. Chances are the book will not be read to the end if you don’t.
How strong are the characters in our book? Do they make the reader invested in them relatively soon, or does it drag on? The format is simple: Who? Where? What? How? When? Why?
Simple enough, but then break it down even further. Who did what and where, and how was it done and why? Or you can say how it happens to this other character in the book. The possibilities are endless, depending on how big your cast is in the book.
Also, talk about your character’s weaknesses. For example shows us what they like, fears, hopes, goals, strengths, and more. By doing that, you give your person the best chance of working, whether to be loved or hated. As a reader, the book, no matter how well written, will be either read and honestly reviewed or not read at all.
Invest in your characters, and they will do wonders for your book.
Sharon C. Williams-Author 