Writing Characters Options

[nome]

How do you write your characters?


I write mine by a basic character purpose and a general personality, then move into ethics and quirks and interactions, as well as relationship to other characters, speech patterns, manner in different places, etc, as they come up. The characters backgrounds keep changing as the story tells me more of who they are, and physical is never set until I've lived with the characters for a serious amount of time. More characters slip themselves in as the plot gets its patterns set and I realize I need red herrings, etc.

as well, I know some authors have characters based on real people, and was wondering who here does that. I don't, but experiences with real people shape my ideas on characters (i.e. watching my sister so much growng up has slipped some of her into at least one of my characters, but I didn't realize it until a year after writing).

Nome.

[QuickHare]

My characters are a strange thing. I have sen many stories and computer games and pick similar characters from these places. I then augment them into the type of character I want, and run with it. For example, a creepy, evil servant may come from Filch or a turncoat can be made easily from Snape. An all-powerful or wise advisor may be teased out from Gandalf.

Once I have the basis of each character, I know what they'll do. I have a brief plot outline in my head, and will know when I need a character to do what. The skeletons then attract flesh as my stories unfold, and not all details will be revealed by the end of the story. I only concentrate on necessary traits and ideas, but the look is important.

I get most of what a character looks like from the basis. However, I will add bits to make them my own, too. But I never describe them fully. I never say "Klale was about 5' 3", about 15st and had dark hair, a hunch back and a slight smell constantly emitted from his rear end". I'll only reveal a bit at a time.

As for plot, I add extras quickly, and spend time on more interesting characters just in case they are needed later on. That way, the reader knows only what is needed about each character at any one time. Then the plot will almost write itself and bring the characters with it.