I usually have a few things that I am reading all at once. Some are educational – often business or training related. There are usually a few books on travel or craft or plants or photography (all my hobbies) and always a few magazines to boot. But one thing that is as definite as brushing my teeth in the morning, is that I will have an easy read for when I go to bed at night – something that I read a few pages at a time and does not take too much brain power. My latest is a ‘who-dunnit’ by the queen of ‘who-dunnit’s’, Elizabeth George. I usually fall asleep quite quickly (and not because the books are boring – far from it!!!) so these go-to-sleepers are usually around for a long time.

It struck me the other day that these stories very much become part of my life. The characters are real, like good, old, well- trusted friends. They become alive. I think of them, wonder about them, love them, hate them daily, and cannot wait to get beneath the blankets (especially on these cold nights) to see what happens next. My conclusion was that developing the characters of our stories is integrally important.

So what is the best way to do this?

There is a lot of literature on how to develop a good character. One creative idea is to develop a biography for your character, which should remain in the shadows of your main storyline, but always inform it. It needs to be written before you commence your main story. Things that should be included are:

Where was he born?

What were the family statistics (which child was she? How many sisters / brothers)

Where did they live?

What sort of education did he have?

What tragedies beset her?

What was his favourite food, childhood activity / memory, colour (why?)

Was he happily married? If not why not?

Did she murder anyone, etc.

Make sure you include the finest details and once your biography is complete, you should use the information in the little asides that colour your characters and make them real persons your reader will wonder about during the day when they are not reading your story.

Go wild! Create a colourful character that may be everything you have always wanted or not wanted to be.

HAPPY CREATING!