For writers

Let’s move on to character creation. They are divided into main, minor and episodic. Episodic play a rather small role in the plot, appearing only for some one or more scenes. Let’s focus on major and minor characters. Creating main characters 1. Determine the character’s role in the story The protagonist (protagonist) is the one who drives the story. He or she must: - Have a purpose (rescue, revenge, love, survival). - Face obstacles (external enemies, internal conflicts). - Change in the course of the story (development or degradation). The antagonist (main antagonist) is the one who gets in the way of the protagonist. He: - Not necessarily a “villain” (may have his own motives). - Must be a strong opponent (otherwise the conflict will be weak). - Can be a mirror of the protagonist (similar traits, but different choices). 2. Come up with a biography Even if it doesn’t all make it into the book, it will help you understand the character: - Background (family, social status, childhood traumas). - Key events before the story begins (war, loss, success). - Skills and weaknesses (what he can do, what he fears). 3. Appearance and Character - Appearance: does not need to be detailed, but it is important to highlight 1-2 memorable traits (scar, unusual eye color, clothing style). - Character: a combination of contradictory traits makes a character alive (kind but irascible; smart but lazy). - Habits and speech: gestures, favorite words, accent. 4. Motivation and conflicts - What he wants (explicit goal: to save the kingdom). - Why he wants to (hidden reason: to atone for his brother’s death). - What gets in the way (external enemies, internal doubts). 5. Test for resilience Ask questions: - Why will the reader empathize with this character? - If you remove him from the plot, will the story fall apart? - Are his actions logical for his character?

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Create secondary characters 1. Determine their function Secondary characters are needed to: - Helping or hindering the main character (friend, mentor, traitor). - Revealing the world (a merchant will tell you about the economy, a soldier will tell you about the war). - Creating atmosphere (servants, passersby, random witnesses). 2. Simplified biography They don’t need in-depth elaboration, but are important: - Where they come from (town native, former warrior). - How related to the main characters (old friend, secret enemy). - One striking trait (talkativeness, cynicism, loyalty). 3. Appearance and speech 1-2 details are enough to be memorized: - Unusual clothing (always wearing a red cloak). - Speech peculiarity (whispers, speaks in proverbs). - Physical feature (limp, huge stature). 4. How they affect the plot Even episodic characters should: - Give information (tell a legend, warn of danger). - Change the situation (accidentally save, betray). - Emphasize the protagonist’s character (a cowardly friend makes the protagonist’s courage more visible). 5. Avoid “empty” characters If the hero does not affect the plot and is not memorable — it is better to remove him or combine him with another.

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Now you know how to create characters. Let’s give an example. Main character - Name: Karian. - Role: protagonist, former soldier. - Goal: to find his wife’s killer. - Appearance: scar on his cheek, wears an old officer’s cloak. - Character: silent, but ruthless in anger. - Conflict: wants revenge, but realizes that he will become like the murderer. Antagonist - Name: Lord Vane. - Role: secretly ordered the murder. - Motive: eliminated Karian’s wife to hide his plot. - Peculiarity: always smiles, even when threatened. Secondary Character - Name: Old Man Hobb. - Role: informant in the tavern. - Detail: constantly chewing dried fruit, knows all the gossip. - Function: gives Carian a clue.

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It’s pretty simple. But how do you figure out which character is major, which is minor, and which is episodic? - Main characters: if you take them out, the plot falls apart. - Secondary: if you take them out, the story loses details but survives. - Episodic: their absence won’t be noticed, but their presence adds atmosphere.