Getting to know you.

I’ve heard writers say they talk to their characters, that they can hear the character’s voice in their own heads. I’ve heard readers say that some fictional characters feel like old friends.

I have books like that on my own bookshelves.

The key to having your readers feel that way about the characters you invented, is getting to know them, really getting under the skin of each character you present.

You can do this in so many different ways. Some people like index cards with a set of notes on each character. Some people conduct lengthy interviews with each character. Some have notebooks, or files, with each character’s back-story. Some just try to hold in all in their heads. Some wing it, make it up as they go.

In many ways it really doesn’t matter what your method is, as long as each character you present for us to read, is fully fleshed and real. What matters is that the writer knows the character well, knows what makes them get up each morning, what makes them pull the covers over their head and refuse to get up. The writer needs to know why that song on the radio makes a character flinch, or smile.

If you don’t know the little things, then the character may as well be cut from cardboard, and the readers will lose interest.

Me? I’m off to weed my garden, and have a chat with Elois’ Dad….

If you’re in need of a book, mine are now available from here:

I’ll even sign them if you like, just ask in the comments section of your order.