Writer Write

Characters drive your story along, their reactions to situations, events and each other.  If your characters are going to seem real to your readers their reactions believable you must provided some knowledge of the mental workings ‘inner life.  To do this you must go inside each character’s head.

Think about a person that you feel you know quite well preferably not a partner, as this can throw up all sorts of problems!  First list their good points – what it is that you like about them.  Then list their bad points – irritating habits, opinions and attitudes that you don’t care for.  Now think back to when you first met her or him.  Over time, how did you discover the things that you know and or feel about them?

To do this answer the following questions:

•   What was the first thing that struck you about them?