The first thing to know about creating characters is to KNOW your characters! It isn't enough to have an idea about them. You need to know them intimately! You need to know their entire life before your book starts - though you don't have to tell their entire story. This will help you understand what they feel and why they react a certain way to certain situations. This will also let you understand what governs their decisions and actions. Try creating a character sketch for EVERY character that appears in your story, no matter how minor a part. This will help you connect with them.
Remember that characters need to have a motivation! All characters want something. What is it they want? Without a motivation there is no conflict. Without conflict there is no story. And for each desire, there should be an obstacle to overcome. You can't get something for nothing.
Desires create emotions. But remember, show emotion, don't tell it. There are several ways in which to show emotion.
1. Through the character's actions. Actions speak louder than words.
“You have a lot of nerve, girl!” he bellowed as he stood, threw the chair behind him, and placed his hands on the table. He leaned over the table toward her and looked as though he might move to strike her.
2. Through dialogue. For information, physical description, etc., remember the rule of three and move on. (So make those 3 things descriptive enough to count!) You can also show character traits through dialogue too.
“What in tarnation do you want?” the woman sneered.
“Well, Nana and I were baking pies today and I thought you might like one.”
“And what devil would you possess to make you think a thought like that?”
“Do you like cherry pie, Mrs. Winters?”
“That’s no business of yours,” she growled.
“Then I’ll just leave it here on your porch for the birds and insects,” Alice retorted.
“Now that’s the devil talking, it is. What kind of person would irritate an old woman so?”
“Can I put it on your counter for you then?” Alice asked, pleased that her previous comment worked the way she’d hoped. The woman grunted and moved aside so Alice could enter.
3. Bodily sensations and physical reactions.
He looked up slowly and their noses almost touched. Her heart quickened as he gazed into her eyes and moved one of his hands up her arm and over her shoulder. “It doesn’t matter now,” he whispered as his gaze dropped to her lips briefly. She wanted to press the matter further but found herself mesmerized by the magic that seemed to have enveloped them suddenly. His thumb began to caress her neck as his other hand moved to her back and began to pull her onto his lap. “Can I kiss you?” he whispered as he moistened his lips with his tongue.
Her mouth began to water as she longed for him to do just that. She longed for the feel of his lips against her own. Then, within seconds of nodding her head in the affirmative fashion, his head descended and his lips captured hers in a tangle of ecstasy. He wove his magic about her and she simply drowned in the lushness of it all. His arms wrapped tightly around her and she allowed her arms to go around his neck. She ran her fingers through his hair and their exchange deepened while the passion heightened. At that very moment, all thoughts were obliterated. For at this moment, she knew that Caleb’s heart belonged to her and that her’s would always and forever belong to him.
4. The character's internal thoughts - these show what the character wants to do which may or may not coincide with outward actions.
Her feet remained rooted to the ground as she stood there staring at the man; her mind playing tricks on her again. There was no plausible reason this could be the man he appeared to be. Was there? She had seen that face so many times before but only now did realization dawn upon her. This man’s image had haunted her dreams for thirteen long years and only now could she put that face with a name. Oh, she had longed for the man in her dreams to be that boy she had once loved but could it really be he? Impossible.
As she continued to gawk at him and her mind whirled, the man smiled and she fought desperately to keep her tears restrained. Who was this man? And why? Why did her mind plague her with the memories of that boy from so long ago? She was happy now. Her life was just as she had planned it that night after… Yet she found herself wanting this man to be that boy. But… Why was this all coming up now?
“Good morning Miss Frank,” the low sultry sound of the handsome man’s voice rang out.
“Uh…good morning, Mr.…uh…sir. Mrs. Newman,” Alice managed to say in greeting to the pair.
“Good morning, Alice. Do you remember my son, Caleb?”
Alice could feel the lightheadedness begin to settle in as she began to sway just slightly. “Of course,” she finally choked out. It really was him!
She saw the smile spread across Caleb’s face at her sudden change of character from moments before. Then she heard the shuffle of feet and muffled voices as the room started spinning and going fuzzy. A moment later, her knees gave way and everything before her went dark.
