Creating Characters: A Writer's Reference to the Personality Traits That Bring Fictional People to Life

by Howard Lauther

A frequent problem area for fiction writers is characterization. If writers jump headlong into a story with only a fuzzy notion about the people who are in it, the result is a collection of characters who are cliched, stereotypical and not very interesting. Creating Characters is an easy to use reference work that looks at character development from many different angles. The book does not tell writers how to write. Instead, it generates a thought process by asking crucial questions about characters' internal and external traits, wants, needs, likes, dislikes, fears, beliefs, strengths, weaknesses, habits and backgrounds. Following these questions, the writer will find an ever deeper and wider array of options. Thus, Creating Characters helps writers delve as deeply into a character's psychology as they want. All characters, and the stories they people, can be made richer and more compelling.

Genres: Writing

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jurgen Graanoogst]

Useful in many ways to uplift you writing skills

[Hurricane_ReD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hands-down the best guide to creating fictional characters that I've ever picked up. I found it by accident while browsing the shelves at the Iowa State University library in 2004, and ended up using it so much that I had a copy special-ordered from the book store so I could keep it at home.

[Darlene Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a whole lotta lists of characteristics, with questions that get your thoughts going and lead you to ideas of how to use the characteristices in devising plot. Great resource. Wish I owned it.