How to get to know your main characters

say hello to your main character

When you come up with a new story idea, it’s tempting to just dig in and start writing. But even when you create unforgettable characters, it’s not uncommon to get confused on and mix up the details. Not every reader will catch your mistakes, but it’s a good idea to remain consistent. Don’t make him come from a poor family where they couldn’t afford to buy shoes and later mention that he took swimming lessons as child.

Novelize helps you keep track of physical traits, such as their height and eye color. It also allows you to illustrate the internal and external conflicts this character is dealing with. Maybe they’re depressed about being overweight, and they always fight with their family when they see them.

Here is a list of the things you can keep track of inside the Novelize notebook right now:

  • Name (use the name generator for inspiration)

  • Short description (shows up in the list of characters under their name)

  • Height

  • Weight

  • Body type

  • Eye color

  • Hair color

  • Skin color

  • Basic nature

  • Birthday

  • Marital status

  • Nationality

  • Details (fill in a longer description of your character here)

  • Personality

  • Mannerisms / habits

  • Internal conflicts

  • External conflicts

  • Education

  • Occupation

  • Family & friends

  • Enemies

Building out your character can be a lot more intensive though. To really understand them and their journey, you’ll want to dig deep into their world. Once you understand their journey through life and what they have dealt with in the past, you’ll know exactly how they would handle any conflicts or challenges thrown at them.

If you need more inspiration, check out this awesome characters bio template from SelfPublishing.com. Their lists include endless suggestions, including your character’s tattoos, favorite movie, and whether they’re a night owl or morning person. You can fill out this template for each of your main characters to give you a good starting point for your story. After that, they’ll come alive in your head, ready to act in the drama you’re creating for them.

Don’t get overwhelmed trying to come up with all the details, but you should spend some time putting yourself into your main characters’ shoes. You definitely want to hone in on what makes them tick, what their goals are, and how they will grow over the course of your story.