Writers Tip #54: Do You Know Your Characters
Great tips for soon-to-be great writers
When you read your story, does it sound off, maybe you can't quite put your finger on it, but you know you've done something wrong? Sometimes–maybe even lots of times–there are simple fixes. These writer's tips will come at you once a week, giving you plenty of time to go through your story and make the adjustments.
Today's tip: Show (Not Tell) Your Characters
If you saw your main character walking down the street, could you tell it was him/her by the confidence in their stride, the tilt of their head, the way their eyes scan the crowd? Could you smell their unique after shave/perfume? Do they talk with their hands or clench their fists when they're angry?
A large percentage of real-life communication is nonverbal. Everyone has unique mannerisms that separate them from their peers. Don't depend upon dialogue tags to characterize your actors. Show me they're shrieking by their wide eyes, their flying hands, the way people around them pull back as though struck by the shrillness. If they're whining, show it by an ingratiating smile, in slumped shoulders. We should be able to identify who is talking without the tag.
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Filed under: characters, communication, writers resources, writers tips Tagged: characterization, characters, writers tips
