“Unlocking the Secrets: How One Unexpected Technique Breathed Life into My Characters”
Creating a compelling protagonist can feel like attempting to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded—potentially perplexing and definitely challenging! As writers, we often grapple with how to breathe life into our characters, transforming them from mere sketches on a page into vibrant beings that readers can’t help but invest in. Some characters stick with us long after we close the book, their complexities echoing in our thoughts and conversations. But how do we make that magical connection? One trick I’ve discovered is to visualize my character through the lens of a well-known face. Imagine channeling the essence of actors who’ve played characters who resonate deeply! This method isn’t just about physical traits; it dives into the mannerisms, quirks, and emotional landscapes that can make your character feel undeniably real. So, if you find yourself stuck in the quagmire of character development, let’s explore some fresh techniques that can spark your creativity and help you craft protagonists that leap off the page. Curious to unlock the secrets? LEARN MORE.
If you’re struggling to flesh out your protagonist, try this
Writing characters from scratch is hard, but writing complex ones that will make the reader obsess over them long after they finished the story is harder. It’s not that you can’t make a list of all the traits you want your protagonist to have, but having them in mind at all times is hard on your brain and you will slip up. It’s easy to forget that characters are constructs—composites of our imagination, fragments of memory, and bits of observation that we gather from the world around us.
And yet, some characters feel more real than people we know. But how do we write characters who transcend ink and paper? How do we ensure they each have a distinct voice, a separate heart that beats in rhythm with their own desires, their own struggles?
I’ve found that if I associate a character with a well-known face, this helps me tap into the character’s visceral level. So I think about an actor, or more specifically, a character played by that actor. I imagine him/her and my character comes to life — I see the appearance, fashion sense, mannerisms, temper, personality, habits. Everything.
Think of Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, that raw unpredictability, that quiet fragility masking a tempest…
