Many writers -myself included- often wonder “How can I make my characters more real?” “How can I get people to really care about my character?” I believe any good writer should always be on the lookout for new and better ways to make their characters come alive. You never stop learning.
It’s tempting to just focus on the action, dialogue, and intrigue as you race through a fast-paced, adventure-filled plot. But any good story, no matter its genre, needs thoughts and emotions, especially those of your protagonist. A whole book of just action and dialogue would be boring, as would an entire story comprised of thoughts and feelings. However, a mixture of both -in varying amounts depending on what you are trying to create- makes a good story.
It’s hard for some people to sit down and think what their character is thinking. That can probably have a lot to do with the author’s personality. A more thoughtful person will be more apt to convey their character’s thoughts, whereas a more active person may have a harder time doing so. Even I, as a more thoughtful person, used to have a hard time getting inside my characters’ heads. Then I found something that helped.
I’m almost always writing something. My frustrating cases of writer’s block are when I can’t find any inspiration for the stories I want to work on (like the novel everyone’s waiting for me to finish editing -sorry!) But my mind is forever pumping out new material. I’m almost always jotting down little scenes that may or may not ever end up in an actual story. Most of them I don’t keep; I just use them as “practice sheets” to perfect a new technique or style which I then use when I get back to my “real” story.
During one extended period of not being able to get anything accomplished on my novel, I kept a journal. Not my own, but my character’s. I don’t know why I did it. I just made up a character and decided to keep their journal instead of writing a story about them. I was just doing it for fun, as a boredom breaker. I was pleasantly surprised when I eventually returned to my novel, and found a whole new area of writing had been unlocked for me: being able to understand and convey my characters’ thoughts.
It sounds crazy, I know. but if you’re having a hard time getting inside your character’s feelings and thoughts, give it a try. You don’t even have to keep what you’ve written once you’re done; it’s just for practice. In a journal you pour out your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and prayers. Have your character do that. Give them a few crisises and then delve into their fears and struggles. Write out their struggles, doubts, fears, and their heartfelt cries to God. That is most important: dig into the roller coaster ride of faith. Does your character question God or surrender to His will? Does he try to figure things out in his own strength or does he trust in the Lord? Does he hold a grudge and harbor bitterness, or does he forgive? (Often, as you’re dealing with your character’s experiences, you will find yourself noticing things that you need to address in your own life.)
So if you want to get people to care about your protagonist but can’t figure out how on earth to get inside his head and unlock it for your readers, give this a shot-you’ll never know until you try it!
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