Subject: Characters don't have to be fully formed ahead of time
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Posted on: 2014-07-26 09:52:00 UTC

I find that it is easier for me to create a character if I start out with a basic outline and some personality traits, and let them "grow" as they react to the events around them. Their personalities fill out as they have a chance to interact with more of the world around them. If I start out rigidly prescribing everything about their personality, it can feel artificial and it may not serve the needs of the story very well.

But that's more a matter of style. The important thing isn't exactly how a writer gives a character their personality; it's that they do eventually end up with one.

Oh, here's a very silly but effective trick I use: I pretend I'm talking to my character, asking them about themselves, about recent events, or about their past. If you're at all into role-playing, you might find that useful, if you can get past the "oh jeez, I'm sitting here talking to myself" angle.

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