Enriching Characterization Through the Small Things
29/07/11 14:52
As an editor, one of the biggest manuscript elements I typically comment on when doing critiquing (or when reading submissions for Carina Press) is characterization. Yes, of course I get manuscripts where the characters are beautifully written and compelling, but more often I tend to see stories where characters could be developed better. Where they just fall flat for me and don’t feel interesting.
For me, what sells me on a story is when I fall for a character. Does that mean the protagonist has to be perfect, or even a good person? Nope. It means he or she is compelling, interesting, unique. Someone who engages me, makes me want to read the narrative, find out how things will resolve in the end.
So, how do you do that? How do you make a character come to life?
One great way to make characters come to life, to feel like real people, is give them those little traits that set them apart from everyone else. Details go a long way to enriching narrative, and naturally that should spill over into your characterization.
What the heck does that mean?
Good question!
Let’s do an example. I recently got married. Learning about my husband, Chad, has been fascinating, to say the least, haha. I’m discovering all these little things about him as I study him closely, delve into what he does, who he is, what makes him tick. My “work” (aka, blatant nosiness) has revealed some interesting character traits. Here’s a list of things I’ve discovered about Chad that make him stand out and feel different than anyone else I’ve ever known:
--He doesn’t close drawers or drawers—like, ever. I walk into the kitchen and see the silverware drawer wide open. His dresser drawer in the bedroom is open. The cabinet doors are open. I have no idea why, haha. I just laugh and close them as I move through the house.
--Chad’s a mumbler. He mumbles things under his breath. It’s hilarious to listen to him. I’ve learned to not even ask what he’s mumbling about anymore. Sometimes I catch potty words and figure it’s better to let him get it off his chest in his own way.
--He twitches when falling asleep. One time he had his hand on my pillow, close to my head, and smacked me in the face on accident. I couldn’t stop giggling. Took me forever to get back to sleep.
--He irons all his own clothes and hems his pants.
--Chad doesn’t like loud humming sounds, like if the fan’s too loud or if the PlayStation is on but not being used.
--Animals LOVE him. He sits down, and all our dogs run right to him, plopping into his lap. It’s hilarious and cute.
--He loves washing dishes. It’s a way for him to see definite, concrete results of his work. Hey, no complaints here, haha.
--He tears up when hearing certain music, especially powerfully emotional ballads.
--He can eat an entire bag of Doritos by himself in one sitting.
Okay, the list can go on and on. So, what’s my ultimate point here? Those kinds of little details, when slipped into narrative, make us feel like the character is concrete, real. Those are things real people do, right? Reactions real people have. And they make story characters feel unique and different.
When you go to revise your manuscript, look hard at your characters. What ways can you add small details to make them feel more alive and fun and realistic and unusual?
I recommend keeping a small notebook handy. Study people. Look closely first at your friends and family. Make a running list of character quirks and traits you can pull from. Inspiration is all around you, so take it!
For me, what sells me on a story is when I fall for a character. Does that mean the protagonist has to be perfect, or even a good person? Nope. It means he or she is compelling, interesting, unique. Someone who engages me, makes me want to read the narrative, find out how things will resolve in the end.
So, how do you do that? How do you make a character come to life?
One great way to make characters come to life, to feel like real people, is give them those little traits that set them apart from everyone else. Details go a long way to enriching narrative, and naturally that should spill over into your characterization.
What the heck does that mean?
Good question!
Let’s do an example. I recently got married. Learning about my husband, Chad, has been fascinating, to say the least, haha. I’m discovering all these little things about him as I study him closely, delve into what he does, who he is, what makes him tick. My “work” (aka, blatant nosiness) has revealed some interesting character traits. Here’s a list of things I’ve discovered about Chad that make him stand out and feel different than anyone else I’ve ever known:
--He doesn’t close drawers or drawers—like, ever. I walk into the kitchen and see the silverware drawer wide open. His dresser drawer in the bedroom is open. The cabinet doors are open. I have no idea why, haha. I just laugh and close them as I move through the house.
--Chad’s a mumbler. He mumbles things under his breath. It’s hilarious to listen to him. I’ve learned to not even ask what he’s mumbling about anymore. Sometimes I catch potty words and figure it’s better to let him get it off his chest in his own way.
--He twitches when falling asleep. One time he had his hand on my pillow, close to my head, and smacked me in the face on accident. I couldn’t stop giggling. Took me forever to get back to sleep.
--He irons all his own clothes and hems his pants.
--Chad doesn’t like loud humming sounds, like if the fan’s too loud or if the PlayStation is on but not being used.
--Animals LOVE him. He sits down, and all our dogs run right to him, plopping into his lap. It’s hilarious and cute.
--He loves washing dishes. It’s a way for him to see definite, concrete results of his work. Hey, no complaints here, haha.
--He tears up when hearing certain music, especially powerfully emotional ballads.
--He can eat an entire bag of Doritos by himself in one sitting.
Okay, the list can go on and on. So, what’s my ultimate point here? Those kinds of little details, when slipped into narrative, make us feel like the character is concrete, real. Those are things real people do, right? Reactions real people have. And they make story characters feel unique and different.
When you go to revise your manuscript, look hard at your characters. What ways can you add small details to make them feel more alive and fun and realistic and unusual?
I recommend keeping a small notebook handy. Study people. Look closely first at your friends and family. Make a running list of character quirks and traits you can pull from. Inspiration is all around you, so take it!
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