Creating Characters

Creating characters can be a real challenge - even "walk-on" characters need to have a backstory that helps define how they handle whatever it is you need them to handle.  A few tips might help.

First, Linda Goodman's classic "Sun Signs" can help you define a character's background. Pick an astronomical sign, then read the kind of man or woman who's likely to have that sign.  This sounds simple, and it is, but it is also very detailed.

Next, check out John Gray's also-classic, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" - this helps you define your character based on common traits that define men, or women.

Both authors have created "line extension" books that let you see how their insights play out in certain circumstances, such as at work, or "single again" or dating, etc.  They are inexpensive if bought used, and can give you lots of useful tips and tools.

This blog - and all the blogs on this blog-site - are from my forthcoming book, "Tips and Secrets for Writing Successful Fiction and Non-Fiction," a companion book to my also in-development book, "Tips and Secrets for Book and Author Self-Promotion"