Tag: Ideas for writing characters

First Impression: Protagonist or Sidekick?

How to write a novel

I’m back again to get your first impression: protagonist or sidekick? Sidekicks and secondary characters add so much to a novel. I’ve had so much fun developing them for my Rae Riley Mysteries series. And the fun thing about writing a series is that a minor character in one novel can become a major character in another. I’ve also discovered that my protagonist, Rae Riley, can have different sidekicks depending on the mystery she’s solving. Her cousin Amber is her sidekick in my third novel, A Riddle in the Lonesome October, but she doesn’t play a role in the current novel I’m writing.

Let me know in the comments if he’s a protagonist or sidekick.

Here are more writing prompts for creating characters.

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First Impression: Protagonist or Antagonist?

How to write a novel

I often start building a character by seeing a face that captures my attention. I try to pay attention to my first impression. When I see that character, what do I think first? Major villain? Kindly grandmother? A hero? Or the hero’s best friend. So when you look at this portrait, what’s your first impression: protagonist or antagonist?

I won’t prejudice you by giving my first impression; I’ll put my initial reaction in the comments.

Here are more tips and prompts for writing characters.

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Where Do You Find Characters for Your Novels?

I’m always interested in how other writers, and even other artists, work and find and develop inspiration. So where do you find characters for your novels? Do you pull mostly from people you know? Are you inspired by characters in books or movies? Do you scroll online for inspiration?

Inspiration for my characters fall into two broad categories–inspiration for their physical features and inspiration for their personalities. When I see a face that catches my attention, whether I see it in person or online, it usually suggests a personality to me. For me, the face and personality have to work well together or the character will fail. If I decide this character will be a major one, I explore their personality based on my experience of human nature. So while the character’s physical appearance is inspired by a 1940’s movies star, her personality is based on a mom I know from my kids’ school.

One of my favorite places to find faces is old movies. Eighty years ago, producers cast roles differently from the way they do now, so you’ll see actors who can look different from the ones working now.

Let me know in the comment where you find characters for your novels.

Here are more tips for creating characters.

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Writing Tips for Creative Fun with Characters

Writing exercised with characters

This post from January on how on writing tips for creative fun with characters was one of my most popular article this year. Enjoy!

I’m a character writer. I start with developing characters and getting to know them. Once I understand them as well as my kids, it’s time to throw them into a story. When my writing isn’t going well, I look to my characters to rescue the narrative. And to put the fun back into a story.

Fun Ideas for Characters 

Here are some ideas to write about characters for just the fun of it.

  • Create two very obnoxious characters. Then put them in a scene together.
  • Write from your pet’s POV, especially what it thinks of you.
  • Insert yourself in a scene with one of your favorite fiction characters like Sherlock Holmes or Bilbo Baggins.
  • Insert yourself in a scene with one of the characters you’ve created.
  • Reverse a famous hero-villain pair. For example, Superman terrorizes the world, and only Lex Luthor can save it.

Fun Ideas for Characters in Your WIP

If you’re writing on a deadline, you might not have time to write something outside of your WIP. So below are ideas to consider adding to your WIP, if you’ve found all the fun has gone out of your current project but you can’t step away from it.

  • Add a scene or two with your favorite supporting character.
  • Have two characters who don’t like each other meet.
  • Have your main character (MC) fight wither their closest friend.
  • Have your MC do something that’s outrageous for them.
  • Have your antagonist do something outrageous for them.
  • Bring together two characters who haven’t had a scene together yet.
  • Add a character who isn’t supposed to be in the story. For example, you decided you didn’t need your MC’s grandma in the story and sent her on vacation. Bring her back and see if she can fit in the story.
  • Write a scene that isn’t working from the POV of a different character.

What suggestions do have for writing fun with characters? For more character prompts, click here.

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Write a Backstory for These Characters

Character writing prompt

All my prompts this month for Monday Sparks deal with characters. When I was looking at photos for this prompt, this one leaped out at me. The two figures inspire so many questions. So my prompt today is to write a backstory for these characters.

What is the relationship between the little girl and the robot? The obvious one is that the robot protects the little girl. But what if we flipped it? What if the robot protects the girl only until someone tries to rescue her. Then it is programmed to kill her before that happens, Why?

Or maybe the girl belongs to a family that is protecting the robot. It stores the last program to fix a computer virus. And certain governments are after it.

Let me know how you’re inspired in the comments!

Find more character writing prompts here.

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