Read, Write, and Know the Character

Camp NaNoWriMo is just around the corner! Now that March is here, we’re starting to think about gearing up for our next writing adventure. Today, NaNoWriMo participant Vrushali Khadilkar shares a few tips on creating strong characters, as well as a book recommendation:

When someone asks me about how a writer finds their own voice, I always say that you have to read books in order to understand the tone of the characters and voice. You have to understand the scenes and you have to get totally into it. 

When you are not a traveler and can’t visit different places now and then, but you still want to explore new cultures, then you must get your hands on books. When you read books, you go miles away from the place you are. Once you understand this, you know how and what needs to be written down in order to create impact!

For a writer, it’s very important to understand the psychology of the characters you’re creating and how they will behave. Before getting on the journey to write, you should consider what genres you love to read and write about.

Challenge yourself to explore different genres. Get a hold of books from many genres and start reading! Notice which books you engage with and which books you never finish reading. Your habits and likes will change and make your writing style unique. 

What’s important is that you have started reading. It doesn’t matter how early or how late.

One of the books I’ve read that has helped me deeply engage with and understand the character’s motivation is John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down. It’s a young adult novel and I strongly encourage you to read it!

Just experience how well the author portrays the unique experience of being in this young girl’s mind:

“You remember your first love because they show you, prove to you, that you can love and be loved, that nothing in this world is deserved except for love, that love is both how you become a person and why.”

Even if you’re not a teenage girl in love, you can relate to the experience that she’s having in this book.

Why wait? Pick up a novel today to see what kind of character voices speak to you!

Vrushali Khadilkar is a commerce graduate and currently a freelancer. She writes on range of topics on her blog, which is turning20web.wordpress.com. Visit Instagram @april_autumn12 to find links to her podcasts and lots more.
Vrushali has been participating in NaNoWriMo since last year and it’s been an amazing experience. Thank you NaNoWriMo for providing this amazing platform!

Top photo by Raj Eiamworakul on Unsplash.