Guest Post: Creating Strong Characters by Gabriella Slade

"Readers are not sheep, and not every pen tempts them," -Vladimir Nabokov

We all love a strong character.

That's a fact. We as readers love the ability to pick up a book and fall in love with a person who exists only between the pages of a book. As a writer, it's our job, to not only create a compelling story that pulls a reader in but to write about strong, well-developed characters for people to read about.

If a reader doesn't like the character they're reading about, they'll most likely put down the story. It's as simple as that.

When I sent off my own book, Show Me, to be read by beta readers, much of the feedback I received said my main character, Kade, was not very likable. He was moody, and dark, and needed a lighter side of his personality to balance him out. It surprised me, but I knew the changes needed to be made, so I went back to the drawing board and took some more time to get to know my character.

What are some of the things that make a character strong?

• A backstory that is well developed throughout the course of the book/series
• Both Positive AND negative traits
• Quirks and Hobbies
• Things he/she believes in
• Passions
• Dreams or plans for the future
• Fears

Granted, that's a lot, so here are some questions used to develop these things even further than just a boring old bullet list.

1. Who were his parents? Were they present throughout his childhood? Where are they today?
2. What was his education like?
3. What does he like to do for fun?
4. What are some of his good and bad habits?
5. Is he religious?
6. What does he dream about doing one day?
7. What is he scared of?
8. Does he have any secrets?

OK, this is just yet another boring list, but it's also the starting point to getting to know your character even better.

When I dove back into Kade's development, I made sure to give him interests that weren't put there simply for the sake of the plot. I balanced out his darker, moody side by giving him a sense of humor, and made him less negative about every single little issue in his life. Sure he is still moody. He does tend to complain at times. But that's just because he's flawed.

A strong character is more an imperfect character, rather than a perfect one.

Maybe you're on the other side of the spectrum. Maybe you tried so hard to make your character good, that he is practically perfect. No imperfections. No fears. Unfortunately, that's just unrealistic and very unrelatable. Like it or not, you need to give your characters some spots. Does he take all his anger out on his family or friends? Does he blame other people for his mistakes? Does he lie, cheat or steal?

Just remember: Don't make the same mistake I did by making your character too unlikable because then you'll be in the same boat as I was.

You'll most likely spend a lot of time developing your characters throughout the writing and editing of your story. If you happen to be writing a series like I am, you'll have even more time to get to know your character. You'll also have the amazing opportunity to get to watch them grow. Maybe they'll mend some of their old flaws, and build new ones.

In the end, there will probably almost always be something you won't know about your character. But that's OK. Take the time, however, to learn about your characters, because if you don't know about your character, how will your readers?

~

Gabriella Slade is the author of the upcoming fantasy novel, Show Me. You can find her on Instagram @soulquestersaga, and on her website at gabriellaslade.com

Thanks for joining us, Gabriella! I hoped you learned something from her!

~The WordShaker

Writing a Novel is Easy - It's the Editing that Sucks.

"I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose," -Stephen King

Something I've learned about myself is that I can write a first draft in a breeze. About a year, and I have a mess of a first draft - but it's done.  Full of long and hard hours of cranking out emotions and characters and words.

And I thought I would just have to polish the plot, add a few things for depth, and clean up the grammatical errors and such.

But no.  Editing sucks so much.  It's boring.  Clicking through paragraph after paragraph to just change a word.  Formatting?  Shoot me in the foot.  Spelling? Gag me with a knife. And don't even get me started on the actual hardest part which is cutting scenes, reworking paragraphs, changing backstories, adding scenes.  Pounding and melting and shaping my story like metal in a hearth.

I hate it.  I hate it because it's boring.  I hate it because I love developing a story, I love writing scenes and spending time with my characters.  But with editing, I get to do none of that.

One of the reasons that I have been spending more time with my blog is because now that I have finished my story, I truly have nothing to write. And I have to write.  It's a way of life. If I don't empty my mind, I'll surely go mad.  And without a story, it feels like I am on the brink of insanity.

And having nothing to write fills me with an odd feeling.  Without a story to weave, what is my purpose?  It feels like everything meaningful in my life has been sucked away now that I no longer have a novel to focus my energy on.

Writing it is the easy part.  Because that's exactly what I am - a writer.

Plotting is slightly harder, since we're fabricating something from nothing.  But it's doable.

Editing is shit. It's unfun and dull and boring. Devoid of emotion and like sweeping a floor. Menial and awful.

The only way that I can keep myself motivated to edit is the potential my story has.  If I keep my eyes on the prize, maybe then the bloodshot eyes and hunched shoulders and unenthusiastic work wouldn't be so menial.

Because my words are anything but.

~The WordShaker

My WIP: A Cactus In the Valley

"As a writer, you ask yourself to dream while awake," -Aimee Bender

I'm going to do a little bit of self-promotion and give you all a preview of my book. I am going to do this in a list/category format so you can get the whole overview.

This story is Copyright 2015 by Olivia J - all rights reserved.

Title: A Cactus In the Valley

Plot in One Sentence: Two teens are stranded via a plane crash in the middle of the desert and have to survive together.

Genres: young adult fiction, contemporary fiction, action/adventure, drama

Back Cover Synopsis: When withdrawn Terra Lombardi wakes up in a smoking airplane in the middle of the remote Arizona desert, she realizes the only other survivor is the arrogant Wyatt Hartman.

Clouded with the uncertainty of how they crashed, the two strangers head west in pursuit of civilization. Amidst the environment and dangerous animals against them, they must band together to survive and even thrive in the rocky, sun-drenched Southwest. However, the elements force them to confront their inner demons.

Told through dual points-of-view and intermittent flashbacks, teenagers Wyatt and Terra brave the sun and sand alone. But it is through the hardest times in which we grow the most.

~

WARNING: There is some suggestive content in this book. Language, violence, emotional intensity, an instance of rape and drug use is included in this book.

Contact me at oliviajthewordshaker@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing this novel - coming this September!

Follow me on Instagram at @olivia.j.the.wordshaker

~The WordShaker

#GroupTherapy Inspired by Amy Sauder

"Write until it becomes as natural as breathing.  Write until not writing makes you anxious," -Unknown

First of all, I changed my Instagram username to @olivia.j.the.wordshaker to match my blog for ya'll. 

Since the wonderful Amy Sauder is one of my best writer-friends, I will be supporting her and jumping on her bandwagon of what she calls Group Therapy. This is a phenomenon where book characters (my book characters, specifically), respond to my life problems. 

So, here goes nothing.  These characters are all from my WIP, Deus Ex Eremus: God from the Wilderness.  This story has very few characters, but that's just the style and genre of the book. Like honestly, besides these 6, there are probably only like 4 more characters who are only in for a scene or two. 

Wyatt: He sighs and crosses his arms, looking at me with a certain intense kindness in his eyes.  "Well, if it makes you feel any better, this will all end one way or another. Nothing lasts forever."

Terra: She pauses before speaking, the gears visibly turning in her head. "You, know, I've been through something like this before, and what helps for me is to put it in perspective. Focus on everything good in your life. Imagine the future - if conditions allow, you'll probably live way past this problem anyways." 

Lilly: She immediately lurches toward me and wraps me in her soft, stick-like arms. No words from Lilly are needed

Harper: She tosses her hair and scowls playfully at me.  "Suck it up, I know you're stronger than this." But after her harsh words, she is generous with her affections. 

Wyatt's uncle, Adam: He clears his throat, scratching his salt and pepper stubble and smiling. "Don't die." Winking at me, he slaps a meaty hand on my back and laughs.  "Just joking.  You've got this, kid."

Terra's grandma, Eloise: With a cocked, half smile, she says to me.  "You're never fully dressed without a smile!" 

Hope you enjoyed hearing what my characters had to say! 

Follow Amy Sauder at amylsauder.wordpress.com

~The WordShaker

Why We Should be Proud to be Writers

"If a story is in you, it has got to come out," -William Faulkner

I am honored to choose the title of writer. Because writers have the most important, yet underrated job of all.  Over doctors, who just keep our bodies alive.  Over teachers, who fill our heads with knowledge.  Over any other profession, because writers are the givers of life.

We give life through our words.  Words are life.  With just one word, the creator of the universe spoke the heavens into existence, and as writers, we wield the power to create with nothing but the 26 letters and characters of the English language. We start from the bottom and build up.  We can manipulate everything that is displayed in your head with our word choice. We can paint a picture on your mind with long, flowing sentences.  We describe each tiny movement of a character's face to display their emotion.  We can drag you along for a bumpy ride with our choppy phrases and harsh words. We have power over all, except ourselves. Because words flow out of us like blood.

I have a story to tell.  I have many complex stories inside of me, and this must be told through the rapid motions of my fingers flying over these keys. My stories are everything - they are what I breathe, what I drink in, what I bleed out. They make up me, because they are breathed into me like life by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

You have that power.  I have that power.  So, be proud to be a wielder of words, even if you've been staring at a white screen with a blinking cursor for days, weeks, years.  

Just some daily inspiration from Yours Truly,

~The WordShaker

Fatal Flaws and Redeeming Revenues

"You can make anything by writing," -C.S. Lewis

First of all, ya'll should follow me on Instagram - @_wordshaker_

Anyways, I found this post on the infamous Tumblr that perfectly represents what us writers think when we say our characters are perfect.  It is as follows:

What I mean when I call a character perfect is "wow look at how flawed you are, how broken and three dimensional and well written. Look at how much of a disaster you are.  Look at how you are constantly torn between right and wrong, and you make so many mistakes along the way.  Wow, look at how human you are."  So basically, when I say they are perfect, what I mean is thank God they aren't. 

Sometimes, Tumblr just hits the nail on the head.  This leads in to what I want to talk about today, which is how every good character needs a fatal flaw and a redeeming revenue, hence the title. 

I am going to be using my wonderful characters from my WIP for examples, along with some other famous characters I am familiar with. 

But to start off, what makes or breaks a character is an imbalance of good and bad. For the protagonist (hero) the scale should, generally, be more towards the good side.  For an antagonist, vice versa.  But when things get interesting is when they are all shades of gray. The problem I have with older stories, and fantasy like stories, is how some of the characters tend to have an imbalance in their character traits, which I find unrealistic.  

For example, Terra. She's intelligent and resourceful, determined and emotionally vulnerable.  However, she's selfish.  She's passive aggressive. She's standoffish. Terra has enough good to make her a heroine, but enough bad to make her human. 

And take Jack Shephard from Lost.  Many fans of Lost dislike him because of his blaring negative traits, like being controlling and obsessive.  But, in defense of one of my favorite characters, Jack is also self-sacrificial, a natural leader, and a generally caring and fighting-for-the-greater-good kind of guy. Jack has the redeeming characters that make you like him, that make you want him to win, make you cheer for him and want things to all work out in the end.  But then he has his flaws, which make for more bumps in the road to getting there. Which is accurate to life, which I quite frankly love. 

And what I'm trying to say by all of this is that your characters need a good balance of good and bad  - and this will all depend on the characters themselves - to make them three-dimensional, making them more relatable, and in turn,  creating memorable characters for ages to come. 

~The WordShaker