A Layered Method for Creating Consistent Characters

By Ann Harth, @Annharth 
Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: A great character has more to them that just a few obvious traits. Ann Harth shares a layered approached to creating compelling characters readers will love.

Developing believable characters is one of the most important components of writing fiction. One technique for creating three-dimensional, consistent characters is to know them as well as you know yourself – even before you start writing.

If you struggle with creating characters, it may help to think of developing a character layer by layer. Here is one simple, 8-layer method for developing a realistic character.

Layer 1. Create a still image.
Start by creating a sketchy character file that includes only physical attributes. Have a clear picture of your character in mind:
Hair color, length and texture Eye color, shape and size Skin tone - fair, dark, clear, spotty, splotchy Height and build Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com