Creating Characters — 5 Mistakes Beginner Writers Make

Summary

The article outlines five common mistakes beginner writers make when creating characters, emphasizing the importance of setting, action, relatability, character count, and concise writing.

Abstract

The article "Creating Characters — 5 Mistakes Beginner Writers Make" delves into the pitfalls novice writers encounter while crafting characters. It stresses that characters must be grounded in a vivid setting, engaging in actions rather than being bogged down by internal monologues. The article suggests that characters should be multifaceted and flawed, mirroring real people with everyday problems. It also warns against introducing too many characters, which can overwhelm the reader, and advises writers to focus on a few well-developed individuals. Lastly, it advocates for clear and economical writing, utilizing the five senses to bring characters to life without over-writing.

Opinions

A compelling setting is crucial for character development, as it allows characters to interact with their environment and provides depth to the narrative.
Characters should be active participants in the story, with clear goals and motivations, to maintain reader interest and avoid stagnation.
Realism in characters, achieved through their reactions to relatable situations, is key to making them resonate with readers.
Introducing a multitude of characters can confuse readers; instead, a focused approach on a select few allows for deeper character exploration.
Overly descriptive passages and complex language can detract from the story; simplicity and precision in writing often lead to greater clarity and impact.

Creating Characters — 5 Mistakes Beginner Writers Make

Flush out your characters thoroughly so you would recognize them on the street

I have compiled a list of mistakes beginner writers make when creating characters. Remember, you are creating real people.

“When writing a novel, a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” Ernest Hemingway

1. Where am I? Lack of Setting

Imagine watching a film where characters live on a blank screen. That is the equivalent of a lack of setting in a novel. Show characters in their cars, homes, and offices. Use decor, food, and medication to define them. To create a believable setting in a novel, characters must see, smell, hear, taste, and touch in that setting. Characters can’t respond to their surroundings if they don’t have any. Make your character feel uncomfortable. Put them in a crowded lift or a traffic jam. Ensure there is no coffee in the cupboard when they most need it. Give your character's life through the setting.

2. Too many thoughts, not enough actions- Tormented heroes –

A common mistake occurs when a character reviews activities. And then thinks it through again. This reveals a lack of skill on your part when he feels he has not shown the idea the first time around. Your reader will lose interest if you do this.

Your characters need to move forward in a story. The reader needs to identify him as a person in trouble and understand his motivation. Many new writers spend too much time in their characters’ heads. We need to see him. To make the characters human, we need to see them act. Give them a goal to achieve. Make them get up and do things.

3. Cardboard cut-out characters

Give your character's life. They should argue with their parents, forget a friend’s birthday, and hope everyone will forget theirs. All of this must happen while they’re dealing with other people. The reader must see the characters as real people. They stub their toes, drop cell phones in water, and lost car keys. Surround them with evidence of their past, present, and future. Everyday things that happen to them, make them human. Writers create believable characters when readers can identify with them.

4. Overcrowding — Too many characters

Don’t crowd your feelings. Not every person in your book needs a name, especially if they only show up once. Only give your prime space to minor characters. They crowd pages and daze readers. Readers do not want to keep track of characters in a book. Less is always more. This also applies when writing memoirs. Work with four main characters. Make space for two characters who influence and support your two main characters. Make these characters memorable and quirky.

5. Over-writing — Too many words

Everybody does it when describing a character’s thoughts, actions, or motivations. Good writing means writing clearly and economically. Use strong verbs, precise nouns, and proper sentence structure. It means using the five senses on every page.

You want to achieve the reaching for descriptive heights, the excessive internal monologue. Excellent writing does not mean lots of words. It especially does not mean lots of big words. Don’t contrive a style. Correct, simple words show everything.