The Invisible College Lesson Four: Creating Characters
May 21, 2017
A playful lesson on making fictional people feel alive. Tips on tiny habitual details that reveal character. Quotes and archival clips from famous writers about how personalities appear and why minor figures must matter. A vivid origin story of a daring hero and why a single false note can spoil a book.
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Specific Details Make Characters Feel Real
- Great writers make readers forget characters are invented by building vivid habits and ticks.
- Cathy FitzGerald argues deep, specific detail creates believable fictional people.
Be Nosy About Small Character Details
- Be nosy: learn trivial private facts about characters like breakfasts and hair parts.
- Use those small details to inform behaviour and make scenes credible.
Give Minor Characters A Clear Purpose
- Give even minor characters a distinct purpose or trait so they justify their presence.
- Avoid filler characters without a clear role in the novel's argument.