How to Create a Fictional Character

• 1). Create a mental picture in your head. Don't focus on what your character will look like but how he will act in certain situations---how he will sound---what his basic personality will be.
  
  
• 2). Write out a brief character sketch, including a brief physical description, relevant background, personality, fears and motivations---anything you would be including in the story. Make sure to keep it handy so you can refer to it---this helps eliminate any continuity errors.
  
  
• 3). Give your character flaws. People like a character they can identify with. People are imperfect and your character should be as well. No one can identify with a completely flawless character or a one-dimensional stereotype.
  
  
• 4). Show, don't tell. Don't tell us that a character is nice, mean, funny, happy or sad. Instead, use dialog and situations to show what a certain character is like.
  
  
• 5). Write dialog that is unique and realistic for the character. An 81-year-old grandmother should not sound the same as a 12-year-old boy. An aristocrat would not speak in the same fashion as a street urchin. Above all, the dialog should sound natural for the place and time in which the character is living.