Hint: How to give more depth to the characters of your story

[Leto85]

Note: This is a topic for all the writers out there who want to make the characters in your story behave more realistically in all the situations, and especially disaster situations which you will confront them in your story. You can still be succesfull with writing without reading furter, but this topic is specially for all of you who are willing to put that extra attention in your story.

As you all may know the success of a story depends mostly in how far the reader can have sympathy for the characters in the story. All characters will behave differently in all situations in your story based on their personal character, the mood they have at that moment and the relationship they have with the other character in that situation.
The best thing you can do to define a character in depth is giving each important one a personal profile, just like professional book writers, script writers for movies and soaps, comic book writers and every self respecting writer that is out there have for the characters in their story.
Depending on the story it is up to you which character traits will have a benefit in the story and the given situation but the more important your character is the more indepth his or her personal profile should be.

What also is important, and what easily can be forgotten in a characters personal profile is their opinion about other characters. Based on that opinion, and on the traits that character has, including the mood he or she has every character will act differently compared to another. This defines all the scenes where monologues plays an important issue. Monologues are therefore a very important way to show the character of the person to your writher.

I've found a file on my computer (from 23 June 2004 17:51) with the questions you should know the answers from about the character of your story. What you should put in your characters profile is an Interview with each important character to give them more depth. This file contains the following information:


CHARACTER INTERVIEW

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS OF A CHARACTER THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED

What is the most important trait in my character?

What is the quality of a man/woman (opposide of the sexe of the inverviewed character) which I prefer?

What do I prefer the most in my friends?

What is my most principal shortcoming?



OTHER QUESTIONS

What is my favorite pastime?

What is my dream of happiness? (don't confuse this with lifetime wish. This can be different in the story you're writing.)

What will be my greatest mistake?

What do I want to be?

In which country would I really want to live?

What is my favorite color?

The flower I love the most?

Favorite bird?

My favorite prozawriter?

My most favorite poets?

My hero (male and or female) in the world of literature?

My preffered composers?

My preffered painters?

My heros in the daily life?

My heros from history?

My favorite names?

What I loathe above all?

The historical figures I loathe the most?

Militairy event I admire the most?

The reforms I prefer to see implemented?

One power of nature I would like to possess?

How do I want to die?

My mental condition at this moment?

Shortcomings who will inspire me the most to allowance?

My motto/slogan?

[RainBeau]

Hey Leto, just came across this and it is helpful, thank you. I am about to embark on a storytelling adventure and it is good to remember these things. Thank you

[Leto85]

You are welcome.

[SimBlip]

Sims seem very much defined by their personality traits. But as a writer, you can virtually make them think, feel and act in almost any way you like. As a writer, you may come across a Sim, well known for such or such personality trait, and still be surprised. That's where one has to go with heart, rather than a set character. I find that observing my Sims, gives me prompts to their true nature. I appreciate your list of questions to ask, but I like the way most of my characters seem to grow organically into very distinct persons, and that, all of their own right.

[Leto85]

Sims seem very much defined by their personality traits. But as a writer, you can virtually make them think, feel and act in almost any way you like. As a writer, you may come across a Sim, well known for such or such personality trait, and still be surprised. That's where one has to go with heart, rather than a set character. I find that observing my Sims, gives me prompts to their true nature. I appreciate your list of questions to ask, but I like the way most of my characters seem to grow organically into very distinct persons, and that, all of their own right.

What a nice observation.
I have read your post before but didn't know how to responce to it so I left it for the moment. But I agreed with what you are saying here, which is in contradiction to my first post here, which I'm fully aware off.

The irony, oh the irony.

[Schipperke]

I've never noticed this topic before, but now I'm wondering why it is in the Miscellaneous Stories Board.  Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be in the main Stories board with all the other stickied threads about improving your writing skill, etc?  Leto, it's your thread, so I'll leave it up to you, but I think this thread would get more attention in the main board. 

[Leto85]

I've never noticed this topic before, but now I'm wondering why it is in the Miscellaneous Stories Board.  Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be in the main Stories board with all the other stickied threads about improving your writing skill, etc?  Leto, it's your thread, so I'll leave it up to you, but I think this thread would get more attention in the main board. 

First reaction: It's mine, MINE you hear! Mine. Not yours, MINE!!!

(... thinking...)

Second reaction: Okey, off to the main Stories Board with this, if you say so.

[ladyaya]

First reaction: It's mine, MINE you hear! Mine. Not yours, MINE!!!

(... thinking...)

Second reaction: Okey, off to the main Stories Board with this, if you say so.

Lol, I love your reactions Leto. 

[RainBeau]

Lol, I love your reactions Leto. 

I know, he's so ridiculous in a very cute way, Leto, and that is a compliment.

[ladyaya]

I know, he's so ridiculous in a very cute way, Leto, and that is a compliment.

Oh yes it is. 

[Leto85]

I am thereby happy to announce that both ladyaya as well as ombradellarosa are dangerously offtopic now, ehehehehe.

Ow, how I LOVE to exploit my Moderator powers!

[ladyaya]

I am thereby happy to announce that both ladyaya as well as ombradellarosa are dangerously offtopic now, ehehehehe.

Ow, how I LOVE to exploit my Moderator powers!

Yeah, but it was all your fault in the first place.
Anyways, does a sim really need as much detail as that? It's a sim. I mean yes, they do need personalities, but favourite writers and flowers and such? 

[Ricalynn]

Yeah, but it was all your fault in the first place.
Anyways, does a sim really need as much detail as that? It's a sim. I mean yes, they do need personalities, but favourite writers and flowers and such? 

Leto isn't just talking about how you play the game.  He's talking about characters in a story being written.   Would my Grims really be the Grims if the Boss didn't exist? 

[ladyaya]

Leto isn't just talking about how you play the game.  He's talking about characters in a story being written.   Would my Grims really be the Grims if the Boss didn't exist?

That's true.

[Leto85]

Leto isn't just talking about how you play the game.  He's talking about characters in a story being written.   Would my Grims really be the Grims if the Boss didn't exist? 

Hm, couldn't say that better myself. Rica's got my back.